Saw this on the way out of swimming lessons earlier...

[SleepWarrior]

The front entrance to the leisure centre has a few tables with school-type chairs which are usually being used by children to do homework while their siblings swim.

Today as we were leaving there was a mum serving up steaming spaghetti and meatballs out of a giant glass dish onto proper dinner plates with proper cutlery laid out around the plates. Her two very embarrassed looking children (about 10/11yo) were talking in those cross hissy whispers through gritted teeth "that's enough mum", and she was all "no, no don't be silly, you need more meatballs. Here." while she dished up with proper pasta serving spoons.

Spaghetti and meatballs at the swimming pool! Made my day! I normally hate the faff and palaver of swimming day, but this is a new day and time for me so now I can look forward to seeing if she's there each Monday, and find out what's for dinner

[Fantasisa]

Befriend her and get her to make your DC some dinner too!

[NormHonal]

Ooh. I’ve seen spaghetti (home-made, not tinned) forked out of a flask before, but that is Next. Level. —Wonder if it’s the same mum.—

[SleepWarrior]

That's a good idea and perfect timing too as we're on the way out - no rushing home to cook a quick post-swim tea!

[Neverunderfed]

She sounds amazingly organised, I'm v jealous

[AllGoodDogs]

That is super impressive!! When I had toddler in tow for then 6 yo's lessons it'd be a bag of wotsits if he was lucky 😂 please do keep us updated!!

[SleepWarrior]

Also, everyone was staring, the kids could tell and were sinking down in their chairs and she DID NOT CARE. It was a thing to behold! I'd feel way too silly to pull it off.

I think I'll congratulate her next week on her marvellous idea if she's there. I do hope she is!

[Justmuddlingalong]

I admire her organisational skills and hutzpah, but I feel mortified on her children's behalf.

[Dothehappydance]

That is very impressive, it is the added touch of proper plates and cutlery that just makes it.

She is an absolute

[gamerchick]

She might have been teaching them a lesson of some sort, yanno like when parents march their kids to school in their pajamas because they refuse to get dressed type of thing.

Unless she's there next week doing the same thing then you should come back to your thread

[Esker]

I mean, I'm trying to reduce my use of disposable plastics too but I think she wins 😂

[KiteMarked]

I want to be her friend.

[pastabest]

Any idea how she had kept it hot?

[missxdivine]

Jeez I used to be made up to get a pot noodle from the machine in reception at our swimming baths

[sherrysfortea]

I love it!! I would have pulled up a chair!

Please let us know what next weeks meal is

[SleepWarrior]

pastabest there was a cooler bag next to them so guessing she heated it up, shoved it in there and jumped n the car. Plus there are quite a few swimming pools locally so I would imagine she lives within 10 mins to be using this one.

[gaggiagirl]

My mam used to do this. I was always absolutely mortificado.
She bought along her camping stove to do spag bol at the beach on sunny days.
She sat slicing cucumber for a salad at the cinema when we went to see jurassic park about 20 years ago.
Just embarrassing attention seeking behavior.
I love spaghetti and meatballs but I feel sorry for those kids.

[CarrieBlu]

I wish I could be like her. My DC get a sandwich and a packet of Pom bears to scoff in the car.

[ShatnersBassoon]

Had the kids been swimming? Are they living at the leisure centre?

[fruitbrewhaha]

I wonder what was for pudding?

Knickerbocker glory? Already served into tall glasses with the long teaspoon.

[BackforGood]

I admire her organisational skills and hutzpah, but I feel mortified on her children's behalf.


This ^
Mortifying.
Poor kids

[ErrolTheDragon]

Had she brought a tablecloth?

[ShatnersBassoon]

She sat slicing cucumber for a salad at the cinema

I sat behind a full picnic family in the cinema a few years ago. A tupperware of what smelled like cat food being passed up and down, a baguette being torn, and even an apple cutter-upperer in use. It was fascinating to watch, but I could have gone to see it in the park for free.

[SleepWarrior]

No tablecloth! But I do hope she cleared up as spaghetti is a pretty messy dinner.

No idea about pudding sadly but if I can befriend her and get in on the dinner action I'll let you know!

My kids are young enough to just be delighted with food and not care about embarrassment, but yes, her poor children. I can imagine a lifetime of looking back on swimming lessons and this being the first thing that springs to mind (assuming it's a weekly event) .

[Witchend]

Next week you have to try to go one better. Full roast dinner and don't forget tablecloth and napkins. Then report back.

[singingismypassion]

Befriend her and join in. Offer to bring a side
Dosh or pudding next week