This is What Revolution Feels Like

Our school forges on in its quest to serve sustainable, locally grown, freshly prepared, healthy hot lunch to every child for $5 a day, trying to carry out the ambitious vision of Alice Waters-who just wants to teach children what good food tastes like. Along with lessons in community, sensory awareness, sustaining the earth, and the joys of sharing a meal together.

The backlash continues and this week our hot lunch coordinator and cooking teacher--an amazing woman with two kids of her own--seemed beaten down. "I feel like people hate me," she said. "They tell me the hot lunch is not kid-friendly."

She was breaking my heart.

But all I could tell her is: "This is what revolution feels like."

Who would think trying to make kids eat well, and forcing parents to pay for good food, would be so controversial. Not even the parents who are complaining I don't think. And yet, this IS what it feels like.

It is not like the end of Les Mis. It is not like celebrations of the Revolutionary War after we beat the British. In the middle of it, while it is going on, it feels lonely, uncertain and often discouraging. Even when you know it is worth it, it sometimes feels like the energy against your deepest desires is insurmountable. The status quo will always be the driving force, whatever the conditions.

I say this as someone who is not bearing the brunt of parent complaints, inquiries, fears and skepticism. I am on the side-lines watching, and sometimes helping out.

But this is change. Small, incremental, difficult, with incredible effort involved just to move people's minds and habits a few degrees. It is true of all of us. It is sobering.

Alice Waters is coming to the Larchmont Schools on November 9.

Have you ever been part of a revolution? What did it feel like for you?