As you buy (or better yet, “make”) your sweet gifts or lovely holiday cards for your children’s teachers, there are staff members you really should not forget – the cafeteria lunch staff.
They are often neglected by us, however – they feed our children everyday (even when little Suzy forgets her lunch at home or when Little Johnny has no lunch-money.) They never, and will never, neglect our children especially when it comes to a meal. Isn’t that worth a holiday card or small trinket of YOUR appreciation? Our children may not even appreciate them (they may not even appreciate us – jajajaja) and oftentimes our school body under-values them. I was told by a friend (a school dietitian) that she’s not even allowed in the lounge to take her meals. I thought this was ridiculous, but was told by other sources, “Nooooo, they don’t eat with us…they’re not teachers. They’re just cafeteria staff.”
My son brought lunches from home when he was in private elementary, middle, and high schools. However, he bought cookies, little 1/2 pints of milk, and sometimes potato chips and water in the cafeteria for lunch. He was adored for his polite manners and his ready salutations to the “lunch ladies.” In his school, the cafeteria staff were largely Latino. They saw in him a Son, a Nephew, a Grandson – a family member. He spoke to them in Spanish, “Hola…como estas?” or “Bien dia, señora” or “Gracias…hasta mañana.” They asked him about his grades (he was “tops” in his class, and they liked that…one of “their own” was doing splendidly.) They looked after him too. If things got a little “heated” among students during lunchtime, they would call out to him, “Jonathan, come talk to me for a minute.” If he had “sniffles” they would tell him, “Put that sandwich down and come have this soup…we made it fresh today.” If he wanted to buy some “sweets” they would monitor him, “Not today, Jonathan…you had cookies yesterday – buy an apple today.”
For my son, it was a blessing and a curse (jajajajajaja) but for me, it was another pair of eyes on my child during lunch – a time where students can become unruly. My family “appreciated” the cafeteria staff. So, we gave them cards, baked goods (they loved the biscotti), small crates of fruit, and even beautiful plants during the holidays…like we would the teachers. Many found it odd that we included the cafeteria ladies in our “gift-giving.” We found it odd that many took this attitude – especially when the school(s) would pride themselves on “equality” and “inclusion” for all.
Please…this holiday season, do not forget your school’s Cafeteria Staff. 
