Mom's unique lunch notes to daughter inspire many
TAMPA, Fla. — Every day when she walks into the lunch room, Amelie Clarke knows there is something special waiting for her in her flowery, pink lunchbox.
“They’re handmade by my mom,” she said proudly, holding up a colorful note.
It’s something she looks forward to each day.
“My mom had four kids; three boys and then me,” Amelie's mom Julie said while crafting another lunch note. “She was busy probably just trying to keep the kids off the furniture.”
Julie’s mom may not have had time to hand-make notes for lunches but it’s something Julie has been doing ever since her daughter went off to kindergarten this year. Each night, and sometimes into the early morning, she gets out her paper and colored pencils and designs a personal message for Amelie. Usually they touch on a topic that impacts her life that day.
Then, she posts it to Instagram.
“It’s kind of neat that there are so many people looking at it,” said Julie.
And, they’re seen all over the world.
“There are so many. I know every day when I open my Instagram there will be a lunch note for Amelie,” said family friend Beth Gaffney. “With her posting it on Instagram we all benefit from it.”
Julie’s Instagram account is called amelieslunchnotes. There are right around 100 followers but the interactions over her 130-plus posts have had a far-reaching impact.
Some of the comments are from as far away as Germany. They contain advice and words of wisdom that are pertinent to anyone, not just 6-year-olds.
“You have a very important job to do,” Julie read from one of the notes she’s saved in a box. “You’re the only you.”
The words have inspired those who read them and made Amelie very happy to have such a creative mom.
“They just make me smile because they’re so colorful and nice.”