'AITA for not saying thank you when a parent returned my son's lunch box?'
"AITA for not saying thank you when a parent returned my son's lunch box?"
I (35F) have a son (4M), let's call him Ben. I pack lunch for all my kids and purchased Bento lunch boxes for each of them. They go for about $50 on Amazon. I label my kids' lunches, lunch box, as well as pretty much everything they own and take to school.
A few weeks ago when I went to pick up my son from school on a Tuesday, I noticed that his book bag was a little light, and when I looked inside I realized that he was missing his Bento box.
No biggie - I mentioned it to one of the after school teachers and she said that she had accidentally sent it home with another kid (he has a similar name to my son - let's say Ken). I should note that I have never met this kid or his parent.
Any way, again, no biggie, I just kindly asked her have the parent return the lunch box the next day. The following day I inquired about the lunch box and the teacher said that the parent had messaged her saying she would bring it the following day as they are PT students coming on T/Th. Alright cool. Thursday comes around and after school I'm like okay, where's my son's lunch box.
The teacher tells me the parent forgot it but will def bring it next Tues. I'm a little annoyed, but I figure I'll give the parent some grace. Next Tue comes, and no lunch box. At this point, I'm properly annoyed. I mention the missing lunch box to my son's daytime teachers. Asking them to reach out to this parent so I can get my son's lunch box back because wtf.
Fast forward to another WEEK. Still no lunch box. Apparently the mother is postpartum and very forgetful. She made a joke to the teacher saying the lunch box was getting closer to school because she put it by her front door. Needless to say, I'm properly pissed. I really don't understand why this is such an ordeal...just put the lunch box in your car or your kid's book bag to bring to school.
My husband wants me to find the parent and confront her myself, but the teachers won't give me her name, and I can never catch the kid or her at pick up. Sooo I send a very stern email to the principal, admin, and all my son's teachers expressing my frustration with this and explaining that I want my kid's stuff.
I guess they FINALLY are able to get through to this parent and the next Thursday (nearly 4 WEEKS later), she meets me and brings the lunch box. She apologizes and she tried to joke about the situation, but I was so annoyed that I just kind of stared at her blankly.
Then I just said okay, took the lunch box and left. She apparently told some of the other parents that I was rude to her and that I could have been more APPRECIATIVE that she brought the lunch box back. Ma'am...(eyeroll). So anyway, AITA for not saying thank you?
Here's what people had to say to OP:
thechaoticstorm said:
NTA. The school messed up but the problem should have been rectified the next time her kid went to school. I suspect she was planning on keeping it.
treatladie said:
NTA. If she can remember to pick her kid up, she can remember to return your property.
TissueOfLies said:
No, ma’am. I was ready to call you rude, but it shouldn’t have taken this long to get it back. NTA.
Shortestbreath said:
NTA taking a month to return something is beyond rude.
Salt-Improvement-263 said:
Nta. Her post partum has nothing to do with it because I doubt she forgets her own child's lunch too. I would be pissed too if everything was nicely labeled.
harchickgirl1 said:
Who buys a $50 lunch box for a 4 year old? YTA for your performative lunch boxing.
lechitahamandcheese said:
ESH. You wrote all the teachers, principal and Admin about a lunchbox?? And then your husband thinks you should confront her? I would’ve also been irritated if I was the one whose kid’s $50 lunchbox (wow) got taken by accident.
But if I finally heard that this is a PP mom with other kid(s) who’s probably hanging on by a thread, I would’ve offered to go pick it up and also dropped off some flowers or some chocolate and coffee/tea for her. Really...where are people’s heads right now and their lack of compassion and human kindness?