A mum-of-three who was criticised when she shared pictures of her 'six-week holiday survival kit' baskets full of snacks for her children to help themselves to during the holidays has revealed she is carrying on with the trend three years later.
Shannon Morris was called 'lazy' in 2019 when she shared a picture of her baskets of snacks for each child and a dispenser full of juice - explaining she sets them out each morning and the children can help themselves through the day so they don't ask her for something to eat or drink 'every five minutes'.
Shannon uses the trick during the long summer holidays, and now says that despite the criticism she is carrying on three years later, reports MEN.
Shannon said her children would not be eating the full contents of the baskets each day and she'd just set the photos up as an example of the types of snacks they would have, alongside their usual fruit and homemade meals.
Shannon is forced to defend the idea every year as the post begins to circulate each summer.
Shannon with sons Kalem and Theo when she first shared the idea (Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
Three years on and she's still doing the baskets, which she says are a massive help during the school holidays, when the kids are often 'asking for drinks and snacks every five minutes'.
"The snack boxes are a total game changer in this house," she told the Manchester Evening News. "The kids know what they are allowed to eat throughout the day and this has taught them to pace themselves as once it’s gone it’s gone.
"I’m not at all bothered about some of the comments calling me a lazy mum because I’m far from it. It’s been great for us and we will continue to use them. I couldn't give a toss what people think."
Shannon was accused of 'lazy parenting' (Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
In her original post, Shannon, mum to 11-year-old Kalem, six-year-old Theo and two-year-old Tate, said: "Six week holiday survival kit. One of the hardest times of the holidays is the kids asking for drinks / snacks every 5 mins so with this idea they can help themselves.
"The baskets will be refilled every morning but once it’s gone it’s gone so hopefully this will teach them not to be too greedy and a have bit of independence. Of course this is alongside breakfast, lunch and dinner and fruit is always available for them to help themselves to."
But after being criticised for her idea, the 30-year-old, who lives in Wales, edited it, adding: "I won’t repeat myself again! I put this up to try and be helpful, never did I expect it to blow up and me being judged as 'lazy parent'.
"I filled the basket with everything I bought as an example for the photo, they will not be getting this much each day - however yes some days they may so shoot me.
"Also as stated below there is fruit that they are more then welcome to have and have no cap on hence why it’s not in the basket."
