Single mom on budget abandons 'Lunchables' for homemade meals — son's response brings her to tears

A single mother told her son that she could no longer afford to buy lunch for him; instead, she would pack him homemade food daily. While the mom possibly felt guilty for not being able to provide her son with something he loved, his response reminded her just how empathetic kids can be. The beautiful post was shared by an individual who goes by u/big-love-5479 on Reddit in 2024. 

"I am in tears; I took a 6-hour pay cut for my dream job," the single mom wrote, explaining how she had been struggling with financial hardship all alone. To cut back on expenditure, she decided not to buy "Lunchables" for her son and cook for him instead. Confused and perhaps scared of how her son would react, she eventually broke the news to him. Fortunately, her child agreed, and she packed him a home-cooked meal for lunch. When her son came back home, he went to his mom and said it was the best lunch he had ever had. Reason? Well, he could "taste the love" his mom had put into the food, the child admitted.

The innocent confession wasn't as simple as it seemed, but it is a true testimony to how children sometimes surprise adults with their compassion and sensitivity. In fact, parenting plays a crucial role in fostering empathy in kids. According to a study by Keshia B. Wagers and Elizabeth J. Kiel, parents who adopt a balanced parenting method are more likely to raise kids who are more empathetic towards others. Here, balanced parenting means maintaining equilibrium between being authoritative and emotionally available at all times.

Meanwhile, reacting to the wholesome post, u/dragonloverg1rl commented, "I mean. Of course, you can taste the love put into a dish. The care and effort you put into a homemade dish, especially the one made for a loved one, can be very evident in how it ultimately turns out." Similarly, one user who goes by u/cy8909 on Reddit shared, "Kids can’t show empathy? When I was a kid, I overheard my great-grandparents talking about how they couldn’t afford my piano lessons but didn’t want to crush my dreams. I lied and told them I no longer wanted to do piano because I didn’t want them to stress about money."

Another user, u/numbersthen0987431, wrote, "I remember being 4 years old, and my mom had an issue with depression that she just couldn't take. So I put on a little puppet show to cheer her up. Kids are more observant and want to help more than people think." Echoing the sentiments, u/traditional_win3760 confessed, "My whole life my mom has struggled with her mental health. When I was a little kid, probably between 6 and 8, I noticed she had been crying a lot lately. So, I wrote a little song about how her tears were beautiful to me and recorded it on my MP3 player, and took it to her with my earbuds. She listened to it and was, of course, emotional, but it was such a nice moment. Some kids just have a lot of empathy and are more observant of how the adults in their lives are feeling."