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Sweet Memories of a Lunchbox Surprise

hershey kisses copy

It was early morning, in the pre-sunrise hours, when Will was eating his breakfast and I was preparing his lunch for kindergarten. His bus came early — so early that we awoke before my daughter pretty much every morning. Those mornings were cool and quiet, as we both struggled to wake up while going through the morning routine. We’re not morning people.

“Mommy, my friend’s mom always sends a Hershey’s KISS in his lunchbox,” Will said suddenly, as he watched me pack up his favorites — freshly cut red bell peppers, carrots and hummus. Perhaps some cheese and salami slices. Crackers.

“Really? That’s nice,” I said, realizing that I rarely packed sweets for him. But then again, our school strongly advised against it. The last thing they needed was 15 kindergarteners hyped up on chocolate bouncing off the walls after recess.

“It’s to remind him how much his mommy loves him,” Will said. He didn’t say it, but I could hear the implied question — why didn’t I do that?

That’s when it struck me. It wasn’t about the chocolate. In fact, one little Hershey’s KISS is just that — little. A mere taste. No, it was about something bigger: the symbolism of it. A little reminder that brings a special smile and a bit of extra joy to the day. And although I spend time every morning creating creative lunches, maybe a little something special like that would make it mean even more.

“Maybe I will too,” I thought. And I did. Not every day, mind you. But often enough that it remained a special treat. Over the years, I did it less and less frequently. But this past fall when I realized we had some Hershey’s KISSES in the cabinet, I surprised the kids with them a few times. Then, after Thanksgiving, I shared a few of my Candy Cane KISSES too (that’s a big deal — those are my biggest holiday-time guilty pleasure).

Tomorrow, when Will heads to school, he’ll have a special surprise Valentine’s Day lunch. It will be filled with heart-shaped fruits and a sandwich. Perhaps some heart-shaped cheese with crackers too. And a Hershey’s KISS. It’s the little things that can mean such big things.

Anatomy of a Hershey's KISSES Chocolate

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Hersheys Kisses and The Motherhood. Although I received compensation for this post, all opinions and experiences are my own.

Katie Contests

Sunday 17th of February 2013

My mom and I used to split a bag of Kisses when we were kvetching about a bad day!

Jennifer T.

Sunday 17th of February 2013

My favorite Hershey's Kisses memories are when my mom used to put them in my lunchbox as a kid. She always seemed to know when I needed a little extra sweetness. jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

Prasert

Saturday 16th of February 2013

Always eating hersheys and popcorn when my daughters and I went to the movies when they were younger

Donna

Saturday 16th of February 2013

Annual trip to Hershey Park

Julie

Saturday 16th of February 2013

My favorite memory was my birthday last year. My boyfriend and I live on opposite sides of the country right now because of school and we were video chatting and he was saying how he wishes that he could give me a hundred kisses and then I hear a knock on my apartment door and it was him! With a ton of hershey kisshes!