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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be mad at DH for giving DCs constant treats?

17 replies

nomoreheroes · 12/12/2016 19:37

I love my DH dearly, he really is a wonderful husband and father to our two DCS...but there is one thing that bugs the crap out of me and I had a bit of a go at him about it this evening. Whenever he is looking after the kids, e.g. today when I had to work and he was off so he collected them from school, he feeds them tons of sweets and buns and general junk food. I'm talking donuts with squirty cream on top, chewy candy bars (like Wham or Refreshers), cheap fizzy drinks etc. They really get far too many treats (almost daily, even if it's just a biscuit) but he will even use sweets as a bribe to get them to hurry up in the morning (so they've brushed their teeth and then he gives them a maoam stripe or some such crap Hmm).

Now don't get me wrong, I give them treats too but I try to make sure they eat food too - he, on the other hand, wouldn't know what to make them for dinner if I didn't leave very specific instructions. In his defence though, DCs are fusspots and I enjoy cooking and so generally do most of it, so that's not as big an issue for me as it might be for some. He had a different upbringing to me and as a child he wouldn't have had many treats so I think he's maybe compensating for that in some way. But he has dreadful trouble with his teeth and I am trying to lose weight having been overweight all my life. But even this doesn't make him stop and think about the consequences of a diet laden with sugar. He's an educated, intelligent man and I really don't know how I can communicate any more clearly what a bad idea this is. I have asked him nicely and explained many times and asked for his support in reducing the junk food and sweet treats but to no avail. So tonight I got a bit cross, especially as he had been to the shop for said junk but we've run out of basics like bread and milk!

So, WIBU to get cross with him for feeding the kids piles of junk? or am I a total hypocrite seeing as I give them sugary treats too?

OP posts:
whyohwhy000 · 12/12/2016 19:39

How about a compromise - one treat a day, except on special occasions (birthdays, Christmas, Easter, days out etc).

nomoreheroes · 12/12/2016 19:39

I've made him sound useless and he's really not by the way! Just not good with the nutritional side of parenting!

OP posts:
TheSparrowhawk · 12/12/2016 19:40

YANBU. I lost my cool at DH once because I felt I was the parent and he was the cool friend. It was totally unfair that I worried and made an effort to watch their health and he fucked it up. He got it and he changed. What does your DH say when you talk to him? Tbh the fact that he can't manage to give them dinner is pretty awful

puglife15 · 12/12/2016 19:45

Yanbu. It sounds very unhealthy. Bribing them with sweet things regularly is setting them up with an unhealthy attitude where they may "reward" themselves with sweets etc as adults.

How old are DC? Are they learning about healthy eating at school?

puglife15 · 12/12/2016 19:47

Also at least a piece of decent cake might fill them up a bit, maoam chewy sweets and fizzy drinks are so bad for your teeth and are just nutritionally empty.

nomoreheroes · 12/12/2016 19:57

He looked sheepish! I know he knows it isn't right but he is genuinely a very kind person and this (to his mind) is kind. I've explained that the DCs are just as happy with, say, a punnet of fresh strawberries or a homemade smoothie (sugary I know but at least nutritious!). I think he gets it.

Oh and on the dinners, I just mean that beyond bunging some chips and chicken nuggets in the oven, he's not great. He used to be but I took over!

OP posts:
NoHatNoCattle · 12/12/2016 19:57

YANBU - my DH does this too, and it's really frustrating. Whenever he takes DC swimming or to football or anything similar, he stops and gets them huge packs of sweeties on the way home. I have asked so many times that he not do that, but he just ignores me. Ugh.

Sparlklesilverglitter · 12/12/2016 20:00

Could you comprise on 1 treat day a week say a Friday/Saturday and that day they have pizza, ice cream and a few sweets etc, and of course sweets are allowed at Christmas/birthdays/Easter but the rest of the time they don't eat stuff like that?

Even when I was growing up I was only alllowed sweets/cakes on a Sunday when we visited my grandparents and special occasions.

EatTheCake · 12/12/2016 20:03

Me and dh have never been overly strict with the DC over sweets/cake etc, I'm very much a little bit of everything doesn't hurt but they have never been given a cake or sweet each day ( I am always shocked by how much children at DD school take a cake in lunch everyday)

Here the rules are Saturday & Sunday and Christmas/birthdays my DC can eat whatever but the rest of the time it's plenty of good stuff

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 12/12/2016 20:06

Yanbu, he should care about their health enough to want to moderate his desire to give them sweet treats.

nomoreheroes · 12/12/2016 20:10

Sorry, DCs are in primary school and their school is extremely strict about healthy lunch and snacks. Not even allowed sugary yogurts. Water or milk only. Like most schools now I guess. even though the school dinner includes a sugary dessert every day

OP posts:
nomoreheroes · 12/12/2016 20:24

Decaff, I hinted at something similar to what you're saying and he was very hurt st the suggestion. The DCs and me are his life. I think he is starting to understand my point of view but he does tend to forget when faced with DD and her pester power! I am immune to it. Smile

OP posts:
puglife15 · 12/12/2016 22:37

Maybe encourage the kids to help you meal plan, cook and help to make sure meals have the right food groups in eg protein, carbs, veg, dairy or whatever - I know there are some puzzles where you can ppiece together example meals and you can also get plates with the proportions on.

Maybe if they're very engaged in healthy living they might start to choose fruit over maoam for example and can maybe inspire or embarrass their DF into making healthy choices and cooking more

NiceFalafels · 12/12/2016 22:45

Don't have it in the house. When he buys crap, keep one for each child and chick the rest

NiceFalafels · 12/12/2016 22:47

The nuggets and chips would be a rare treat in my house

Allthewaves · 12/12/2016 22:48

Could you get him to gie them say 5p instead for their money box or something similar

neonrainbow · 12/12/2016 22:55

Children aren't dogs. They don't need food treats.

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