Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs... Meet Lunchbox Notes
Love, Belonging and Self Esteem
“You are amazing, just the way you are.”
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs…. meet Lunchbox Notes.
According to research by American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, love, belonging, and self esteem are basic human needs. Those needs are especially important for children.
So how can we help foster those needs on a daily basis, even when kids are away from home?
Meet Lunchbox Notes.
Nobody does it better. Wait, that’s a song. But this time I’m talking about Billy Ivey, who has been writing humorous, inspiring, and sometimes downright wicked lunchbox notes to his kids for fourteen years.
It has always been his ‘job’ to get packed lunches ready for their five kids. As he puts it, “My wife, Bethany, does 99% of everything else!”
Inspiration For Lunchbox Notes
In the eighth grade, Billy tried out for the basketball team. He didn’t make it. His Dad taped a note to his bedroom door that read,
“Today is going to be a great day. Attitude is everything. Today is not yet anything. Fill it with laughter.”
Billy kept that note for years. A few days before his 16th birthday, his Dad died. Billy said, “He wasn’t trying to change my life, just to change my day.”
The First Lunchbox Notes
When Billy first started, he wrote sweet things on Post-it notes. Things like, “Daddy loves you.” He soon switched to writing on napkins that he would tuck into the lunch bag.
As his kids got older and wiser, he started including humor in his notes. “That’s not rain. The sky is crying because of your math grade.” And his inspirational messages carried more meaning. “We ask for miracles every day. But let’s not forget that every day is a miracle.”
Going Viral
For a lark one day, Billy posted one of his ‘funny’ napkin notes on Instagram. He only had a few followers. His account went crazy, quickly mushrooming to more than 12,000 followers. His little napkin notes became known on social media as ‘Napkinisms’.
Billy’s napkins caught the attention of Chick-fil-A, who partners with an Atlanta based non-profit, Action Ministry, that helps provide free lunches for children in need. He wrote 3,000 inspirational napkins!
Children’s Hospital of Birmingham, Alabama then asked Billy to write messages that could be given to patients on their lunch trays. One of his first messages, “I bet you can’t say ‘I am awesome’ 50 times before lunch is over.”
Here are a few of Billy’s messages:
You are loved. Like, a lot.
Please eat all of your carrots. They are supposed to make you smart. And you need all the help you can get.
Gosh. I love your face.
May all of your dreams come true. Except for the ones with monsters and stuff.
Your teacher needs a hug. Or a drink. Try the hug first.
Today is National Superhero’s Day. Please do not spend too much money on my gifts.
Hope is real. But you still have to try.
If we could see the whole story and not just the chapter we are in, I bet we would be nicer to each other.
Reflect the light, kid.
You are younger than my blue jeans. Stop trying to tell me how to drive.
Today is National Women’s Day. Please try to remember that your Mom is one of those and be nice to her.
I was about to write, I love you more than your sister loves Taylor Swift…but I’m pretty sure that’s not true. Sorry.
You are my ❤
I doubt that Billy Ivey was thinking about Maslow when he started penning his Lunchbox Notes. But he has said, “To provide a word of encouragement is pretty powerful.” That sounds like he knows how important love, belonging, and self-esteem are for children.
Back to School
This week or next about 50 million kids are heading back to the classroom. (U.S., PreK - 12) and 20 million-ish of them will be bringing lunch from home. That’s a lot of PB&J and drink boxes….and hopefully Lunchbox Notes.
May your week be filled with kindness. 💚
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From the Kindness Magnet Vault you may also enjoy reading:
We Have Been Bested By Kindergarteners
Justice, 30 Cents and 25 Kindness Ideas for Kids
Check out all of the Kindness Magnet articles here. It’s a fun place to visit.
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As a lifelong teacher of English to immigrant and refugee adults, I realized how I could influence the top three tiers of Maslow's hierarchy in my classroom. It was a primary focus of mine along with basic life skills and language instruction. Now, as an old ( old old old!) woman, my desires for myself are in the ( yellow) third tier. You mentioned "...he knows how important love, belonging, and self-esteem are for children." I have to say, for older adults as well. I would love it if anyone sent a napkinism my way...Thank you, Heather.
Hi Heather. 👋 I really enjoyed reading this--it made me smile, and then smile some more. Thank you for writing this. 🙏🤓😊