My heart (sandwich) breaks

On the first day back to school after the break, I decided to send a little surprise in Aubrey's lunch. Instead of a regular, slap-two-pieces-of-bread-together sandwich, I made Aubrey's sandwich in the shape of a heart, using a cookie cutter. I have been known to do this on rare occasions, using different shapes, with great success. Not only does it cut the crust off, which never gets eaten anyway, it's fun to think outside the (lunch)box. (ahem.) "Wow, it's so cute!" and "Aubrey's going to be surprised when she pulls this out!" Were the thoughts going through my head when I tucked her lunchbag into her backpack. I expected to hear to be pleasantly suprised at the shape of her sandwich at lunchtime. I expected to hear about it that afternoon when I picked her up. I expected the conversation to go something like this: "mom, I really liked that heart sandwich you sent in my lunch! That was fun!"

I did not expect her to come out of school that afternoon and immediately demand, not nearly as amused, and much less amused than I anticipated, "why did you make my sandwich a heart, mom?" She had been less than thrilled, apparently. I tried to explain I thought it would be fun and special. She said, "hmph. I didn't eat it." I said, "where is it?" And she produced it from her bag. It was, by now, less than heart shaped, and looked really quite sad, having been squashed by her water bottle. Trying to retain some of my dignity after having my good idea chewed up and spit out, I said enthusiastically, "well, I'll eat it!" And began to pull it out of the bag, with intentions of doing so. (And to make a point.) She was instantly perturbed for some reason that I would take her sandwich and eat it (nevermind she wanted nothing to do with the cute heart sandwich anyway). So I thought she had come to see that it was actually cute and special, and wanted to eat it herself. I never saw it after that.

I thought she ate it.

That night I began packing her lunchbag for the next morning. Guess what I found:



I'm confused. I guess I embarrassed her at lunch? I'll never know.

The next day she got a regular sandwich, crust and all.