A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Meals (Kids; School Lunch)
If you’re this cardholder, toss the idea of a relaxing night out the window because it’s time to start packing lunch for the kids. Don’t let all the #schoollunch pics on Instagram get you down. Your Fair Play Minimum Standard of Care could be a protein bar, an apple, and a bottle of water if that’s all your kid will eat. And even if your child’s school provides lunch, you still have to take the lead and sign up for this program and provide lunch money to cover pizza Fridays.
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
The kids need to eat lunch
Planning
INSOURCED
- Menu and snack planning and purchasing containers (give list of items needed to “Home Goods & Supplies” cardholder or purchase yourself) OUTSOURCED
- Log into school portal to order school lunch and/or add money to account (exception: all other school forms go to “School Forms” cardholder)
Execution
- Preparing and packing into container (including filling daily water bottle and providing utensils/ice packs)
- Staying apprised of what child is eating/not eating
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Do the kids have a reasonably nutritious meal in their backpack every day and/or is it ordered and paid for (access to money)?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- It’s a Daily Grind: relentless and time-bound. Make sure each of you holds a fair share of these, ideally one from each suit.
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.