Every August, I feel a strong urge to improve my parenting skills. Last year, I pledged to let little things go?to allow my kids to go to school in shorts through the crisp fall air?to give them that extra minute on their iPads before brushing their teeth. I vowed to give them some autonomy so that I wasn?t fighting incessantly?but then it hit 50 degrees, and I said, no more! ?Go upstairs and get those pants on!?

I set up a token system the year before to promote positive behavior. They earned tokens for completing routines without a reminder and listening consistently with expectations laid out on a handmade poster. They added their tokens to a tube one by one until they reached the top. Then, they chose a piece of candy from a locked treasure chest?yes, unlocked candy disappears quickly in our home! As far as behavior goes, it was the best few weeks of my parenting career. Until it stopped working. Setting big expectations for permanent change
I let my high hopes take over at the start of every school year. This will be the year we make permanent change. Usually, by January, plans fizzle as I?ve realized that even the best parenting hacks lose their novelty. This August, I put my faith in bento boxes. But as we approach the new year, my idea has fizzled. Again.

The hype of bento box lunches came at me from every direction, social media and friends included. I saw pictures in magazines of perfectly cut pieces of fruit and sandwiches in the shape of hearts placed just so ...