Cookies from the President

Know how you can tell just from looking at your child that something isn't right? Such was the case when I swung by the lunchroom today after my morning PTO duties. I actually had an ulterior motive. I wanted to see the smiling faces of some happy 2nd graders. Let's rewind...

Somehow, Dash, has been "elected"...maybe appointed is a better word...President. President of what? I have no clue. I just know that he came home one day and told me he was the president. I asked how he knew this and he said the guys in his class told him. Apparently being named president comes with line-cutting privileges and other such cool perks. When I have stopped by the cafeteria before, the guys at his table have announced that Dash is president. I asked them who decided this. They all chimed in, "we did." ...wonder what the President's mother gets out of this deal...hmmmm...

So this morning, as I packed lunch for the president, I included a note with some cookies. "Mr. President, I packed some extra cookies. Please share them with your buddies at lunch. Love, Mom" I knew he would enjoy the surprise, and I knew he would like being able to share some cookies.

Instead of being greeted with smiles as I entered the cafeteria, I met a downcast Dash and a group of boys yelling "he got in trouble." Apparently, there is no sharing of food in our cafeteria. None, zip, zero! And evidently, you aren't informed of this policy in a kind and loving way. Seriously people??? They were cute little Christmas cookies!!! My kids are at school 7 hours out of the day, more than that if you count the time spent on the bus. You get them most of their awake hours. If I can't teach them about kindness and sharing in a small way like cookies while they are there, exactly when do I get to do this??? And if they do break a rule, isn't there a way to inform them with grace and love, rather than breaking their heart???

Now my dilemna is...do I teach him not to share treats, or do I teach him to just be more sneaky about it?