This mom turned to Reddit and asked whether she was wrong to refuse to change the kind of lunch she prepares for her son in preschool. Is there a deeper reason behind the request?
Mother and Son
OP has a five-year-old son who goes to preschool. The day she posted this story, she received a call from her son’s teacher a few hours after she picked him up from school.
Rude Teacher
OP said her son’s teacher made “absolutely no effort to sound kind.”
She said that in a “rude and annoyed tone,” her son’s teacher told her to stop packing her son “disgusting and inappropriate” lunches.
Unpleasant Odor
She added that the lunches that OP packs for her son have a “disgusting odor” that distracts others.
OP was appalled and surprised by what she just heard because she had always maintained an amicable relationship with her son’s teacher.
They Are Made According to His Preferences
Even though OP was shocked and frustrated, she tried to remain calm.
In her post, she said, “I told her that I understand her concerns, as the lunches I pack are definitely not the healthiest, but the lunches are according to my son’s preferences.”
His Usual Lunch
To give people an idea, OP explained that she usually packs small celery sticks with blue cheese and goat cheese. She also packs kimchi and Spam, as they’re Korean, and her son really likes them.
OP also added that she puts in some spicy Doritos marinated in sriracha, though she doesn’t put a lot in.
Not Bending
OP ended the call with her son’s teacher and told her that she appreciated her worries but wouldn’t drastically change her son’s lunch because of her comments.
She added, “It’s not my fault if other students are ‘distracted’ by his meal. It is very important to me what my son enjoys, and I want him to like my lunches.”
Not the End of It
However, their conversation over the phone was not the end of the issue. That same night, OP received an email from her son’s teacher.
In the email, her son’s teacher reiterates that “His lunches are ‘just too inappropriate to be sent to school any longer.’” She also added that OP’s response was “unacceptable.”
What Do I Do Now?
OP ended her story by saying she has yet to respond to her son’s teacher.
She shared, “I haven’t responded yet and don’t want to. I want to maintain a healthy relationship with my son’s teachers. I am confused as to what to do.”
The Community’s Reactions
Mostly, people think that some sort of racist belief powered OP’s son’s teacher’s motives. For them, it’s her son’s teacher that was inappropriate—not OP nor the food she packs for her son.
You Should Report Her
A top commenter recommended that OP report the said teacher to the principal.
The person wrote, “Report her to the principal. Her comments regarding your son’s food are ‘disgusting’ and have an ‘unpleasant tone’ aka ‘cough cough’ racist tone. She’s too inappropriate to be teaching at the school any longer.”
Your Food Is Normal
A Redditor also told OP not to worry as the food she packs for her son is perfectly normal.
She said, “Not the a**hole. Your son’s food is perfectly normal—for a five-year-old. Your family’s food is normal. The teacher is the a**hole for not recognizing that.”
She’s Clearly the Main Cause of This Issue
A user also shared that people like the OP’s son’s teacher are probably at fault for immigrants thinking they should be afraid of their food—their culture.
He said, “Not the a**hole. A lot of second-generation immigrants are ashamed to bring their food in public because of people like this teacher, who clearly is very intolerant. Asian food is not inappropriate; she is.”
Everyone Might Have Done Something Wrong Here
On the flip side, Korean Redditors who live abroad have much to say to OP for packing her son kimchi for lunch. It seems they disagree with her choice!
One said, “You’re the a**hole. I’m Korean, and I’m baffled that you would send your kid to school with kimchi. I would never send kimchi with my kid to school or take it with me to work, just like I wouldn’t pack fish because of how smelly it is and how rude it would be for me to do that to my coworkers.”
Do you think OP was wrong in packing food like kimchi in her son’s lunch? Or do you think the teacher’s approach could have been improved?
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This post first appeared as Her Son’s Teacher Rudely Demanded She Stops Packing Him “Inappropriate and Disgusting” Lunches That Distract Others Due to Their “Unpleasant Odor.” However, She Won’t Simply Back Down! on Quote Ambition.
