'Unnecessary': Harmless detail in mum's lunch box photo sparks outrage

For once, the debate wasn’t about the contents of the lunch boxes but people were still mad. Do you see the issue?!

A mum from the Gold Coast just wanted to share a photo of her kids’ lunch boxes to a Facebook group dedicated to doing precisely that. 

However, fellow parents immediately took to the comments to point out a glaring issue with her image. 

Yep, while the group is called ‘b.box lunch box ideas’, the mum was called out for… sharing a photo of her kids’ b.box lunch boxes.

But for once, it wasn’t about the contents of what was in the lunch boxes (although from the judgy comments, it might as well have been).

Instead, people took issue with the fact she had a whopping 13 of them between her two kids. 

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Image: Facebook

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The 'wasteful' lunch box collection

Now, if you’re not familiar with b.boxes, they’re those fancy bento box lunch boxes that help you compartmentalise your kids’ lunches while making you feel like a less chaotic parent for a hot minute.

But they aren’t cheap, setting you back anywhere from $25 to $40, which is why people were mad. 

In the comments, people deemed it “wasteful,” “unnecessary”, and “show-offy.”

One person even called it “hoarding” and “overconsumption.”

“I can hardly afford one,” lamented one mum.

Another questioned: “Why do you need 13 for two kids?”

“You’re using them like single-use plastic,” a group member claimed. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“I have three kids. They each have their own colour, and that's it,” shared someone else.

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After reading the comments, the mum clapped back: “I can't believe how many people are mad about my children's lunchbox collection.

“They are literally just lunchboxes! It's lucky I didn't show their drink bottle and accessories collections.”

She also explained that she likes to have spares so she doesn’t have to worry in case her kids lose their lunch boxes. 

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"They take a different one every day"

Thankfully, she found some allies in the comments who said they had no issue with having so many. 

“I have all the colours too and only two kids - they take a different one every day,” one wrote.

Another agreed, “Who knows when they’ll lose their lunch box?”

Then, a different mum says she has a collection of a similar size but for another reason. 

“'I only have one kid and have five mini boxes, four snack boxes, and five large bento boxes. I make food ahead for the week and just add the fresh stuff the day of. This FIFO mum needs to streamline the morning when she is away!” they said. 

Originally published as 'Unnecessary': Harmless detail in mum's lunch box photo sparks outrage