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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is a fine dinner for 5 year old?!?

88 replies

Abneyandteal19 · 15/04/2024 17:44

Older DS had swimming until 6pm one day of the week.
Usual dinner time is 5pm.
Younger DS swims 4:30-5 but then has to wait until 6pm for older one then by the time he gets dressed and home it's 6:30 which is when younger DS has story and wind down for bed at 7pm.

So rather than 'waste' the time he has to sit around and then have a late tea/bed I have started to take his dinner to swimming so he can eat whilst older DS swims.

Today it was spag Bol (in one of those keep warm flasks) a large size fromais frais, pot of strawberries and a biscuit.
So a bit more sugar than usual but he has just swum and it's only one day per week.
He seems happy with this!

Older DS eats when we get home as he doesn't go to bed until later.

Family members are telling me this is awful- he can't eat dinner in the swimming pool cafe (!?) and it's really weird behaviour! there's no option of buying a fresh dinner at pool as it's only a Starbucks type cafe.

He gets so tired if he stays up late and also doesn't eat well when tired.

What do you think? AIBU??

OP posts:
Shiningout · 15/04/2024 19:11

PeaceOnThePorch · 15/04/2024 18:13

Why are you listening to these family members? It’s one meal a week and they’re your kids, do what you like. You don’t need mumsnet approval. Or do you want everyone to bitch about these family members?
Why are you doubting the smallest of decisions for your own children thsg seems to suit them? This wouldn’t register with most people.

Yeah exactly, I mean we aren't exactly going to come on and have a go at the op for giving a child spag bol once a week so I don't understand the issue here - don't tell relatives what you feed your kids or if you do don't listen to shitty comments! Surely you know you're not doing something awful here

Blinkingbonkers · 15/04/2024 18:14

This is totally normal - it’s what I did with all my 3! Bolognaise is a great post swim meal👍

5128gap · 15/04/2024 18:14

So, we have a mother taking her children to an essential activity and providing a decent dinner to her child at a time he is hungry? Yet still they come at you. I'll tell you truthfully, had I managed to be organised enough to do that and get my DC to eat that balanced a meal I'd have been very pleased with myself indeed.

PeaceOnThePorch · 15/04/2024 18:13

Why are you listening to these family members? It’s one meal a week and they’re your kids, do what you like. You don’t need mumsnet approval. Or do you want everyone to bitch about these family members?
Why are you doubting the smallest of decisions for your own children thsg seems to suit them? This wouldn’t register with most people.

Meadowfinch · 15/04/2024 18:12

Sounds great to me. I don't understand what your relatives are grumbling about.

Simonjt · 15/04/2024 18:12

Surely its compulsory to have a big bowl of chips after swimming.

CyanBird · 15/04/2024 18:12

When mine have swimming lessons we get a McDonald’s drive thru on the way home !

SkyeLou · 15/04/2024 18:10

We have lots of evening meals in flasks as we drive to/from gymnastics at awkward times.
That sounds like a perfect meal.
My two have just have chicken pesto pasta from their flasks then a slice of leftover birthday cake as a pudding for one and some apple slices for the other - their choices.

Damnyourheadshoulderskneesandtoes · 15/04/2024 18:09

Yeah it's fine. Although I am finding it weirdly funny thinking about someone eating a full dinner of spaghetti bolognese and afters in a Starbucks Grin

DrJoanAllenby · 15/04/2024 18:09

Seems ideal to me. Perhaps the idiots sniffing their noses at you can pop down with their dishes of culinary delights to offer your son?

Just laugh at them.

Namechangedforthis25 · 15/04/2024 18:09

It’s pretty health tbh!

I don’t understand their issue at all

Ticktapticktap · 15/04/2024 18:08

Wow, one of my favourite memories is eating dinner in the swimming cafe while waiting for my brother to finish his lessons! Ignore them, it's a fine dinner - it's a good variety of food, and it breaks up the monotony of 7 home tea times a week.

Noyesnoyes · 15/04/2024 18:08

StarlightLime · 15/04/2024 17:46

Are you allowed to bring your own food to the cafe?

Grin
TakeOnFlea · 15/04/2024 18:07

Of course it's fine. Mine used to eat a packed lunch in the car, not nice warm spag bol either.

Sunquest · 15/04/2024 18:06

It's fine if the cafe doesn't have a problem with you taking your own food.

Reugny · 15/04/2024 18:06

MintTwirl · 15/04/2024 18:05

Haha I don’t know where the video came from 😂

It is the stare the OP should be giving her criticising family members.

Reugny · 15/04/2024 18:05

Family members are telling me this is awful- he can't eat dinner in the swimming pool cafe (!?) and it's really weird behaviour!

Why is it any of their fing business?

It is a proper meal.

Stop sharing information like this with them.

MintTwirl · 15/04/2024 18:05

Haha I don’t know where the video came from 😂

MintTwirl · 15/04/2024 18:04

It’s fine. I used to do the same thing as dc had swimming and then cubs so wouldn’t have had dinner until 9pm if I hadn’t taken food.

Looking Excuse Me GIF
MaggieFS · 15/04/2024 18:00

Don see what the issue is with doing it at the swimming pool, it makes complete sense. As for getting changed... there are kids who leave my DC's lessons at 4.30pm changed into their pjs.

The only thing is, I probably wouldn't do three sweet things so late in the day if I could help it. Does he need the fruit, yoghurt and biscuit?

Overtheatlantic · 15/04/2024 17:58

Your child gets swimming lessons, tea, and time with mum and sibling. That’s a well taken care of child!

SmallIslander · 15/04/2024 17:58

It's a great solution! Ignore the detractors. It's important for a 5 year old to get fed and to bed early enough to get through school the next day.

PrattleTime · 15/04/2024 17:55

My dd (17) has had pasta in a flask pretty much every day for school lunch. Pastas vary.

I agree with @Shiningout that it's crazy to be telling people this stuff! Your family sound completely ridiculous.

Floralnomad · 15/04/2024 17:54

Why do so many people on MN share the minutiae of their lives with other people . Of course what you are doing is ok .

AliceMcK · 15/04/2024 17:53

Pretty normal. When we had a local pool, there were many families who did this when they had multiple children doing lessons. Picnic Mondays we called them as we went on a Monday night. All the kids would have packed meals and sit around on the floor chatting while eating.