Hi Reader,

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Last week something happened to my neighbor that reminded me of the time the police came to my house when things went wrong with my pet sitter... 🫣
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And it also reminded me why we should always trust our instincts when it comes to keeping our kids (and houses) safe!
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I hate to be cryptic but want to protect everyone’s privacy. What I will say is this: we need to have an “out” ready for whenever we don’t feel comfortable with someone caring for our kids (or even pets). Because when you have that feeling, there’s a reason for it, even if you can’t put it into words.
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It doesn’t matter how late in the game it is, or how awkward it feels. If your gut tells you it’s not right, it’s as simple as that. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.

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That said, I’m the type of person who will worry about upsetting the caregiver even when I feel like it’s a bad situation!

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My husband is actually really good at handling this kind of thing, because where I feel the need to over-explain, he doesn’t. And I think in this type of situation, you don’t owe an explanation! I would probably still pay them just so I don’t feel bad about it, but I don’t even know that it’s necessary.
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Here are a few ideas for different situations:

If the caregiver is at your door / just arrived:

“Hey, I’m so sorry, but something came up and I won’t need care today after all. Thank you for understanding.”

If you’ve already left but need to return:

“I’m going to come back home and take it from here. I appreciate your time today, but I need to change plans.”

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None of these over-explain. You don’t have to say why! You don’t have to prove that you have a good reason. You just need a way to politely but firmly end the situation.

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Because here’s the thing: keeping your kids safe > keeping things comfortable for an adult. Always.
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Packed Lunches to Make This Week

If you have a kid who doesn’t eat sandwiches, or you’re just looking to switch things up, here is some inspiration for healthy packed lunches. These don’t look like anything special, and my kids’ lunches rarely do! But they are nutritious and filling, and have foods my kids like – and that’s what counts!

Weekly Meal Lunch Packing Help

Rounding out your lunch packing tools now that you’re getting into the swing of things this school year? This toolkit has all of my favorites linked so you can find the most helpful products to simplify lunch packing.
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And this printable allows you to make your own personalized lunch menu for easy packing, on repeat!

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This blog post has 40 ideas for nut-free school lunches and snacks.
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Have lunch packing questions? Reply to this email and tell me what you need – I’m here to help!

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Cheering you on always,

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P.S. My Meal & Snack Survival Guide is jam-packed with ideas to simplify feeding your family!

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Disclaimer: this message contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.​
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