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Parenting

what do you do when you have put on a lunch and guests children wont eat it?

74 replies

shoptilidrop · 10/03/2008 09:32

My dh invited one of his old friends over for lunch on sat. we havent seen them for years. He asked the husband if there was anything they didnt eat and he said no.
I had a spread of lovely cheese topped and plain rolls from the bakers, some with egg mago, some with tuna and sweetcorn, some cheese and tomatoe,some ham and tomatoe and some plain cheese. There was also crisps, humous and veg. Small choc biscuit selection, homemade spounge cake. Homemade fruit juice jellies with fruit in them and also yougurts.
Their boys, aged 12 and 9 refused to eat any of it and i was told they dont like it,but might eat plain bread.. i only had wholemeal, so apparently that was no good. I was horriby embarassed. One of the boys did try a tuna roll, but apparently it was discusting so he could not eat it!

So what do you do in this situation???

OP posts:
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Chaotica · 10/03/2008 09:51

Tough on the kids. You did your best. Don't be embarrassed (if I was your guest I'd be embarrassed by my own kids).

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TrinityRhino · 10/03/2008 09:53

they should have tried a little of something that they thought they might like, NOT coimmented rudely id they didn't like and thats it

I would have been embarressed if my kids had commented, very rude

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pouchofdouglas · 10/03/2008 09:54

Message withdrawn

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TheHonEnid · 10/03/2008 09:54

You did your best and it sounds like a very generous spread - maybe a bit babyish for a 12 year old boy [plucking reasons wildly from air]

very rude kids

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KaySamuels · 10/03/2008 09:55

Even if they didn't like the bread you had plenty of other things on offer, your spreads sound lovely. I would be embarassed if my ds had done this and would have told my friends so and insisted they not offer altternatives.

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pouchofdouglas · 10/03/2008 09:55

Message withdrawn

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TheHonEnid · 10/03/2008 09:55

top two would have had hummus and veg, plain rolls and all puddings (they really dont like tomato or cheese much)

dd3 would have had tuna

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TheHonEnid · 10/03/2008 09:56

I do that cod

never make a biggie out of it and give them toats instead

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pouchofdouglas · 10/03/2008 09:56

Message withdrawn

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TheHonEnid · 10/03/2008 09:58

I would have been mortified if I was the other paren though esp as you had obv gone to so much trouble

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shoptilidrop · 10/03/2008 09:59

i didnt make an issue of it at all, i just said never mind, and tryed to find something they would it.
I was just really embarassed and wondered what else i could have done.

OP posts:
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motherhurdicure · 10/03/2008 09:59

This reply has been deleted

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fishie · 10/03/2008 10:01

i would probably leave some rolls to be self assembled in attempt to stave off fussiness, or even just to have some filling without bread.

otherwise it is just a sad thing they didn't want any lunch and v embarrassing for parents that they were rude. would be equally rude for host to comment.

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barbamama · 10/03/2008 10:02

Nothing, it's their parents problem

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OrmIrian · 10/03/2008 10:03

Not your problem. The parents should have been the ones who were embarrassed not you. Mine are quite awkward about food sometimes but they know that they don't comment unfavourably at other people's houses.

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OverMyDeadBody · 10/03/2008 10:04

I'd do nothing. If they where really hunfry they would have eaten it. If they where that picky it's their problem and they can get something to eat when they go home.

Don't be embarrassed, those boys are old enough to put asside their fussiness when visiting other people.

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Anna8888 · 10/03/2008 10:04

You went to far too much trouble .

When we have other families over (or children on a sleepover) I purposely don't go to a lot of trouble with food in order not to embarrass the children, or their parents, if they don't like my food - and so I don't get upset .

So we have staples like pasta, sausages, roast chicken, crisps, plain bread, ice cream. If the children don't like any of that - well, tough (but it's rare) and I don't care since I haven't killed myself.

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BibiThree · 10/03/2008 10:06

You should not feel embarrassed, dh's friend should for his rude children.

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pouchofdouglas · 10/03/2008 10:06

Message withdrawn

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DeeRiguer · 10/03/2008 10:08

really very rude guests
if you have asked and they give you no clue as do what goes down and what doesnt and then no eating...its shabby behaviour as a guest imho

oh and they would go hungry sorry
am not a cafe

banana / fruit is the only other option offered

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TheHonEnid · 10/03/2008 10:08

agree with anna also

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TheHonEnid · 10/03/2008 10:09

roast chicken our friends over staple

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Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 10/03/2008 10:09

You went to SOOOOOOO much trouble. Poor you!!

Oh, all that lovely food , invite me for lunch next time, I wouldn't be fussy and I'd be very polite and grateful.

(Right MUST have breakfast and get off Mumsnet!)

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Beetroot · 10/03/2008 10:11

I would ignore.

You put out enough for them to choose something.

My kids were once given cotage cheese sandwiches b=y my great aunt (who was 95) I hissed at them eat oone and I will buy you an ice cream on the way home, then when she went out of the rom grabbed a few and put them in my handbag to throw away.

Job done

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TheHonEnid · 10/03/2008 10:12

lol I have done that

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