I'm possibly the least indulgent dad in the world. Tantrums really piss me off.

But all of this get-tough stuff is nonsense. What you have here is a kid with blood-sugar hunger issues.

My son is the sweetest, mellowest human on earth. Really. Parenting him is stupidly easy 99.9% of the time.

But when he gets hungry, he can't think clearly. You can see the software shutting down in his brain.

I gave up trying to 'educate' and 'rally' him years ago.

My guess is that the key to your problem is getting good, healthy calories into this child more frequently -- and certainly well before the crisis hits with the backpack.

I'd also suggest something more enduring: protein, for example, rather than carbs.

And for all the folks snitting over how tough they'd be with your rebellious child?

Please. How many of you have freaked at the waiter for not arriving to take your order within thirty seconds?

"But when he gets hungry, he can't think clearly. You can see the software shutting down in his brain."

My son is 17 and is still like this. Maybe even the husband )))

I always pack my son an extra sandwich for lunch when he has a game after school.

Funny, my wife acts the same way. When she's particularly grumpy, I find a way to feed her (without ever, ever, ever letting her know my motivation) and she calms down and gets happy.

Sometimes she starves herself all day, because she's too busy to eat or whatever. I can tell.

I think Brian1965 might have nailed it here. I certainly can't think as well when I'm hungry, but I'm a grown up and get to eat when I want. A five year old may have to eat a ridiculously early lunch and then not get to snack until after he's about to lose it.

Thanks Brian. You posted exactly what I was thinking. My kids are the same way. Emily, I would suggest that he either removes the snack from the bag prior to the trip (and eats it on the way) or (as others suggested) attaching it to the exterior of the bag. My experience is that of Brian's, protein is the quickest route to stabilizing blood sugar. Perhaps a snack that incorporates peanut butter would be helpful. Individually wrapped cheese sticks are also good. I have to say I'm really shocked at how angrily people reacted to this. Judge-y McJudge-ersons, holy shit. The fact that so many people think Simon should be hit is disturbing. Er, don't look for the cause of the issue, just hit him. Excellent parenting.