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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenagers

teens friends-do they eat you out of house and home?

18 replies

brimfull · 22/02/2007 15:58

dd has some frineds round today,they've had lunhc and popcorn,finished all the juice and now are stuck in the fridge again.I have said no more and feel like I'm a misery.What are your rules regarding food and friends?

OP posts:

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3littlefrogs · 22/02/2007 17:19

This is a difficult one. Teens are expensive to feed, but if you provide lots of bread and cheap sandwich fillings it helps. You have to change your shopping habits, because they will eat EVERYTHING in the fridge. However - I think that making your teenager's friends welcome is a worthwhile investment. I'd rather they were in my house than loitering on street corners or wherever. I am sure yours will be eating some other poor woman out of house and home some of the time. It is a good excuse to get to know the other parents and keep in touch with what is going on - a sort of parents support group!

I used to set a limit, after which they clubbed together to buy pizza or a pack of sausages and bread rolls and that works well. It only lasts a few short years.

brimfull · 22/02/2007 17:23

yes,must stock up on bread ,we never have much as none of us eat it much.

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bobalinga · 22/02/2007 17:28

My DD's friends were like locusts. It was hard cos we're on benefits and I'd carefull pplan meals. Then the horde (and there would be 6 or 7 of them) would eat a weeks shopping in 1 day. I'm afarid I did feel resentful and its what has added to the rift between me n DD.
I wish it hadn't of done now.
Cheap noodles, bread, eggs and cheese would fill them up. they'd make a lot of omlettes. If they're not veggie then a pack of sauasages and bacon to make butties with is another cheap option.
As Littlefrogs says, its for a few short years. I'd give anything to have DD back and with friends, appetites and all!

brimfull · 22/02/2007 17:37

yes it's really annoying when you've planned a meal and then it's gone,but I am glad they're here .

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Faith8 · 22/02/2007 21:16

My dd's friends only seem to come here. Can be annoying but I agree it is not for many years and at least I know where they are. Good luck!!

Tortington · 22/02/2007 21:22

friends come over - have a meal and never help themselves to my food. my kids would ask " is it ok if we have xxxxx" and i would reply appropriatly - no helping selves to food.

MynamesMikeIswimlikeafish · 22/02/2007 21:23

Agree - get loads of bread, beans and cheese.

Beans on toast, cheese on toast, cheesy beans on toast. And Smart Price juice.

Mercy · 22/02/2007 21:32

I remember seeing my friend's younger brother aged 14 having a 'snack' of 3 pieces of toast with a whole tin of baked beans. And I remember boys at university eating massive cooked breakfasts - 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, beans, tomatoes, loads of toast. And still wanting more.

Scary. And I though it was bad enough when dd and 2 friends got through a pack of 10 fish fingers (Year 1).

I would say no helping themselves to food - they should ask - but equally as teenagers you should have enough in to feed them, IF you know they are expected. If not, send them down the chippy! Greasy hair notwithstanding!

myermay · 22/02/2007 21:40

Message withdrawn

brimfull · 22/02/2007 22:27

Thanks for your replies.Dd does ask permission if I am in and usually I don't mind .It's very easy to give in when they're all standing there in the kitchen looking starving and then watching the expensive juice etc disappearing.
Will just have to stock up on more bread and cheese etc

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3littlefrogs · 23/02/2007 12:34

I had a little discussion with my sons, when the friends weren't there and explained that they could eat certain things, but not the ingredients for dinner etc, and if they wanted more, get together and buy potatoes, cheese, beans etc. And always wash up. I am out at work a lot of the time, so I wasn't there to supervise.

My eldest is 18 now, and the friends still come round, ask nicely for drinks etc, and still say "thank you for the snack / drink" etc. It is rather sweet. And I have got to know them all over the years, which has been a good thing.

Lilymaid · 23/02/2007 12:39

My problems are that they will drink all the fruit juice and make themselves bowls of cereal using up the milk and not mention this later so it can be replenished. I was a little surprised once to come home early from work and find DS's friend in the kitchen serving himself some cereal without DS there! I felt a little uncomfortable that someone outside the family had looked through our untidy kitchen drawers/cupboards!

noddyholder · 23/02/2007 12:41

Yes My ds brings the whole lot in and they scoff everything!Leave the place a tip and grunt thanks!

noddyholder · 23/02/2007 12:43

Agree that I'd rather they were here than hanging about the streets.Lots of toast and kitkats get eaten here but the new thing is noodles!Very cheap though so don't mind xx

Pimmpom · 23/02/2007 13:31

Yes, DD and friends like noodles as well.

Thought I was safe last week when dd had a sleepover here. They had been to a birthday party at a restaurant then back here. Great, they won't be hungry I thought..........

They got the munchies at 2am!

Where do they put it all?

noddyholder · 23/02/2007 16:25

Sleepovers are the worst!No matter how much food I supply they always want more I must admit my organic and healthy eating principles have gone out the window a bit since I have seen what they bring round.Endless sweets crispd drinks etc nothing decent so I now supply some proper food and the rest crisps etc They are all skinny as rakes and full of energy

fizzbuzz · 24/02/2007 10:14

Yes it is like filling a bottomless pit.

However dp informed when he was a lad, he came home on Saturday night, and ate the pre
cooked sunday roast!

Also have friend who told me, that she was having a dinner party, and made a very posh pasta dish the night before and put it in fridge.

Next morning discovred lots of empty plates, and empty fridge. She was not impressed!

mumeeee · 24/02/2007 13:18

No my childrens friends do not eat me out of house and home. My children will usually ask me if it is ok to have something and willask what is available to eat. They don't just raid the fridge.

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