Nathan is going to starve if I don't get better soon.

Poor Nathan. For 75% of our marriage, I have made his lunch every day.  (The other 25% was when his work provided lunch, pop, coffees, and smoothies for him - along with about 20 lbs). For the last week and a half, I haven't been able to make it. I am literally curled up on the couch in the fetal position, willing my stomach pain to go away.

So he's made it. He hasn't complained. Hasn't even made one comment about it actually. He really doesn't mind making his own lunch. And contrary to the title of this post, he won't starve, because he has no problems finding his way to the kitchen. But I feel bad.

I love making his lunch. So weird, right? I get a satisfied feeling EVERY DAY knowing that tomorrow he'll be eating a well-balanced meal. He's got his main course (nothing fancy, just a sandwich or leftovers), he's got lots of veggies (which he loves to eat raw), usually some chips and crackers, and a 100 calorie pack for dessert. Totally balanced. Lots of food (even if it's low-cal), lots of love, and he's on his way! Sometimes when he cleans up the kitchen after dinner, he just makes it. Deep down, I suppose I'm grateful (woo-hoo! A night off!), but kind of sad too (just like a teeny bit).

It's just that I make food better than he does. We could have the same ingredients to make a burger - and they would both be good - but the difference is that in MY burger, every bite would be perfect. It would have bun, meat, cheese, veggies and condiments in every bite. My friends actually make fun of me. If I order a sandwich at a restaurant, when it comes to the table I take off the top, rearrange all the toppings, so they are equally spread out, put the top back on, and VOILA! Perfect sandwich.

Same goes for lunch. Let's say it's leftover taco day (one of the best!!). What Nathan would do is get a big Tupperware bowl, put his chips in, put the meat in, put the lettuce/cheese in, and take a little tiny Tupperware with salsa.  Sounds ok, except by tomorrow the chips are soggy, when you heat up the meat, the lettuce gets warm, and the overall quality is really compromised.  Me? Chips in the big Tupperware bowl. On top of that in separate snack baggies or smaller Tupperware bowls are meat (to be heated up individually), cheese, lettuce, and salsa.  Yes, it's more work, but oh, in the end you have such FRESH taco salad!

I can't wait until I "have to" make both my boys' lunches too. I'll have little assembly lines, the little -isms (N8 likes extra mustard, Cash doesn't like strawberries, Declan wants more fruit) and I'll be so organized. My boys will be grateful every day (they will learn this from Daddy, who makes a point to tell me everyday thank you for his lunch and that it was great).  And I will be happy knowing that they are eating well, and not complaining, and look forward to seeing what yummy surprises Mommy put in their lunch every day,