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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to eat all our sweets *immediately*

42 replies

Oovavu · 31/05/2016 09:46

We're off on a day trip on the train. DH bought two big bags of sweets for the journey - fair enough. We don't have sweets in the house much at all and it's a bit of a novelty.

But the minute we pulled out of the station - at TEN PAST NINE - he opens the sweets and he and the kids start eating them like they've been on rations for 10 years.
I said I thought it was a bit early but he said 'they were for the journey and this is now the journey' like he's a year 7 on a trip to the zoo with no parents watching.

Partly I'm laughing as it's so ridiculous and partly I'm annoyed as he can't see my point. And partly I feel Victorian and disapproving with a mouth like a cat's bottom.

Is there a 'too early' to eat sweets (apart from Christmas Day when anything goes I guess?)
I promise I won't stress about this all day btw - was just interested in other people's Rules of Sweets. Our kids are 10 & 14. DH is old enough to know better.

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 31/05/2016 09:47

My dh would be exactly the same and I would be the same as you!

Arfarfanarf · 31/05/2016 09:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VioletBam · 31/05/2016 09:51

I'm like your husband and see no point in waiting till' later. Part of what makes train journey's bearable is eating a bit of junk.

Original poster
Oovavu · 31/05/2016 09:51

That seems inherently sensible arfarfanarf. Just hope DH doesn't think he's getting s sack load more for the return journey. Hmm

OP posts:
WonkoTheSane42 · 31/05/2016 09:52

This is reminding me slightly of the time my older sister took me to the cinema, bought popcorn, then let me have about two pieces before setting it on the floor by her side. She then brought it home, didn't let anyone eat it, and threw it out after a week when it got stale.

chelle792 · 31/05/2016 09:56

I have to guard my share of sweeties and biscuits, crisps, chocolate, etc from dh as he will eat them in two minutes flat. If I don't tell him to save me half then they'll be gone. But then I do tend to eat a pack of sweets over a few days rather than in one sitting

CakeNinja · 31/05/2016 09:56

start eating them like they've been on rations for 10 years.

Which is partly true as you dont have sweets in the house much at all.

See?! They're rationed, in short supply, a bit of a novelty. Now they've got access, they're demolishing them!!

On long journeys, morning time, I take fruit/crackers/boring things, sugared up children in the back on the car at 7am for 4 hours is about the least fun anyone can imagine. We would have sweets on a later journey though. I would ration them a little as dd1 gets very car sick and I would rather she didn't go filling herself up too much on any food, not just crap.

Liiinooo · 31/05/2016 09:57

DH is also a parent in this scenario and if he wants to buy more sweets for the journey home that seems OK to me. A train snack is always a bonus.

Your children are 10 and 14 not toddlers and you sound like a very responsible mum so they don't do this every week or month. As an occasional treat too many sweets won't do any lasting damage and will add to the general specialness of the day.

BathshebaDarkstone · 31/05/2016 10:01

We only have sweets for pudding here, except Christmas and Easter when we start on waking.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 31/05/2016 10:02

blimey, it's going to be a LOVELY day with you monitoring every morsel they put in their mouths!

with any luck someone will throw up all over their shoes and you'll be able to say "i told you so" and be smug for the rest of the day!

I think you need to work really hard to not suck all the fun out of the day...put that Victorian Catsbum mouth away and laugh a little.

MajesticSeaFlapFlap · 31/05/2016 10:02

Let them go for it, it's a few bags of sweets not crack cocaine.

Janefromdowntheroad · 31/05/2016 10:06

Your husband is a grown man. Presumably he could buy 10 bags of sweets and eat them if he wants.

Euripidesralph · 31/05/2016 10:12

I've got to say op my Dm used to behave like this (err you sorry not your dh) and still does it made me really resentful as an adult...it's so flipping arbitrary....I'm really sure on my death bed I'm not going to be horrified that I ate sweets too early in the day but I'm sure I'd regret being a miserable sod and being up my preverbial

If it's not every day and it's a bit of fun....relax and try to be a bit light hearted ...

insan1tyscartching · 31/05/2016 10:12

At 14 and 10 chances are that any money they get a large part is spent on sweets anyway especially when they are rationed heavily at home or at least that's been my experience with my dc's friends.

ChicRock · 31/05/2016 10:17

One of my parents is like you - and they really did suck the joy out of every day out, holiday, road trip, etc. Once I got past about aged 14 I swerved any family days out as much as I could.

I'm sure your disapproval is coming across loud and clear. Be careful.

Pinkheart5915 · 31/05/2016 10:17

Let them enjoy the sweets, if they eat them all immediately what's the problem. It's a treat day out.

Surely if you DH wants more for the journey home as an adult he can buy and eat them and a few for the children on the way home won't hurt, it's not every day.

DoreenLethal · 31/05/2016 10:17

I'd take my share and pop them in my pocket for later.

PurpleRibbons · 31/05/2016 10:18

I have the need to stuff my face with sugary treats as soon as I embark on a long journey, I don't know why but it doesn't hurt once in a while.

BreconBeBuggered · 31/05/2016 10:24

This would annoy me, but only because I'd want my share and the likelihood is they'd all be gone by the time I fancied them.

In your DH's position, I wouldn't take kindly to a spouse telling me I wasn't allowed to buy any more on the way home.

GettingScaredNow · 31/05/2016 10:34

Yep. STBXH would be exactly like that. And I would be like you.

I would also, siphon off my 'share' (probably less then my share actually' and then eat them slowly refusing to share which would usually start a fight that was apparently all my fault for being selfish

I do tend to go by 'when they are gone they are gone'
Dd is almost 4 and has reached an age of wanting to save them for later, then eating it 10 seconds later (tbf this is later) and then being sad it's all gone. Am trying to teach her some concept of time currently!

Aeroflotgirl · 31/05/2016 10:37

Chill is all I have to say. I would get in there, if I were you, before they are all gone.

GettingScaredNow · 31/05/2016 10:37

Wanted to add, it's not actually about the time as it makes little difference if it's 2pm or 8am. Sweets are sweets. But with my DC it is the principle. Give them sweets at 9am today and tomorrow after breakfast it will be 'but you did it before' and repeat this new routine for the next 4 months. Which is just exhausting and ruins the 'treat' element.

LobsterQuadrille · 31/05/2016 10:38

I think the operative words are "day trip on the train" and "novelty". If it happened every day - fair enough - but it doesn't and they're having a lovely day out with both parents and, if it's anything like here in Kent, the weather is none too great. My DM used to make a real fuss if any of us opened Easter eggs/Cadbury's stockings before breakfast and I always say to DD that there's a law that on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, chocolate before breakfast is compulsory.

dowhatnow · 31/05/2016 10:39

I'm on team dh.

Ginkypig · 31/05/2016 10:43

Unless your on a long journey every week what's the problem?

An occasional break from food behaviour is ok now and again and the kids are old enough to know the difference between everyday behaviour the odd treat on a train etc