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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do your parents feed your children?

24 replies

Mummobummo · 05/12/2018 19:04

My PILs have started to look after our DD once a week as we have a newborn and to give me a bit of help. Very grateful and generally have a good relationship with them. The only thing is she has thE same dinner every time she’s there. Sometimes it might be a Friday then the following Monday, it’s always fish fingers and peas. I have nothing against FFs and I know they’re doing us a massive favour and my husband has said to them that she can just have whatever they’re having so I don’t know why they always give her the same thing. My daughter isn’t old enough to ask for them and she generally eats really well and isn’t picky. The other thing is that I’m starting to run out of my freezer stash of dinners I made for her before the baby came and FFs are my go to for a quick and easy dinner for the days my toddler is at home with me and baby! When my mum comes to visit she normally brings sandwiches or rice or something we can have for dinner which is helpful. What sorts of things do your parents give when they’re looking after DCs? Would it be unreasonable to ask for them to offer something else? There’s the 2 of them at home with her so it doesn’t seem like too much of an ask?

OP posts:
ZoeWashburne · 05/12/2018 19:06

this is a really temporary problem that will settle itself once your baby gets a bit older.

I think it is way too much to ask them to change what they feed her in addition to free childcare. Just have chicken goujons as your go to meal instead of fish fingers.

masterandmargarita · 05/12/2018 19:07

I wouldn't say anything. Just be grateful for the help. And fish fingers are great!

Bernina · 05/12/2018 19:07

Seriously?? So what if she eats the same dinner once a week? Really can't see the problem unless you also give her fish fingers and peas the 6 days she eats dinner with you?

BlitheringIdiots · 05/12/2018 19:08

We eat the same meals here week after week. It's no different

EdisonLightBulb · 05/12/2018 19:10

I wouldn't worry. I am older so my DC were born in the 90s and my mum fed them what they ate. So everything from stew and dumplings, to cod in cheese sauce to meat and potato pie to roast gammon and cauliflower cheese.

Neither are fussy.

Fish fingers are fine, a bit boring every week, but fine. Do your parents eat boring too?

confusedandemployed · 05/12/2018 19:10

Agree with PP but on the batch cooking point, I still freeze portions of the following for DD 5yr for lazy days:
Bolognese
Sausage pasta
Homemade soup
Broccoloni cheese (go figure!)
Mild chilli
Curry

Mondaytired · 05/12/2018 19:10

I would say it’s unreasonable, realistically it’s probably easy for them to sort out with a whirlwind of a toddler around. I’d be grateful they are looking after her and not just stuffing chocolate and sweets into her!

Rainatnight · 05/12/2018 19:11

Without wanting to be an arse, this is a problem I'd love to have. All GPs here are too ill or too dead to do any childcare. I'd gladly accept a few fish fingers.

ButtMuncher · 05/12/2018 19:13

I wouldn't be sweating the small stuff over it, fish fingers are fine and it's not easy always to prepare meals with a toddler!

My mum used to have my DS when I was working full time twice a week and would give him a home cooked meal like spag bol, pasta or mild curry one day and fish fingers the next. I was just grateful she was willing to look after him as it saved us two days of childcare costs.

UbiquitousDust · 05/12/2018 19:19

Once a week doesn't matter.

PIL pick up son from school once a week. They come to our house so have to cook here. They are here to look after son and enjoy each other's company, not mess about with food so every week he gets frozen pizza and a tin of spaghetti. He LOVES it! It's once a week so not a big deal.

PIL do us a huge favour, I'm not going to moan at them about food.

Original poster
Mummobummo · 05/12/2018 19:30

Cool, as I said FFs are no problem and we’re obviously really grateful- I really don’t mind if it’s hot dogs or pizza or nuggets or whatever’s easiest, just thought the same thing each week was a bit boring and they normally do a quiche or something for themselves.

OP posts:
theSnuffster · 05/12/2018 19:32

My MIL would feed sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks, cake, biscuits.... Not just as a one off either. I see where you're coming from but as it's short term I'd let it go. It could be much worse than fish fingers!

Original poster
Mummobummo · 05/12/2018 19:33

confusedandemployed- good ideas thank you- will hopefully be able to make more up if this baby ever naps!

OP posts:
TeeBee · 05/12/2018 19:38

Just cook what you want her to have, box it up and give it to them to heat up. Problem solved.

MassDebate · 05/12/2018 19:46

My DD has fish fingers, chips and peas every time she goes to the PIL - she demands it and is most put out at any suggestion they feed her something different!

doodleygirl · 05/12/2018 19:51

My DD is now 24. She went to my mum’s once a week for dinner until she left for Uni. She had the same sausages, mash and peas every single time. DM tried very hard to change this but DD wouldn’t let her. She still wants that dinner whenever she visits now Grin
It will do your DD no harm and will create an even bigger bond.

BrioLover · 05/12/2018 19:53

My DS1 (5) goes to my DF once a week after school. He has sausages, diced potatoes, carrots and green beans followed by chocolate custard every week. He is old enough to ask for something else but loves the predictability of it.

Birdsgottafly · 05/12/2018 20:01

My Granddaughter would eat at mine, toast/beans/soup, hotdogs, cheese sandwich and fruit. That was at eighteen months.

At three she eats anything.

It isn't that important, unless all they offer is a big bag of Haribo.

Huggybear16 · 05/12/2018 20:04

I'm with @rainatnight on this one. I also don't think that having the same meal once a week is an issue whatsoever. I thought it was fairly common actually.

puppymouse · 05/12/2018 22:50

Pretty much anything she asks for 🤔

Including crisps and chocolate before supper 🙈

junebirthdaygirl · 05/12/2018 23:00

I have a gd. While she is pretty good to eat anything l am inclined to give her the same dinner as its the one she gets most excited about. When l see her tucking in to it l find myself doing it again and again..roast chicken, mash, carrots and most especially gravy.
My dc had a favourite at their gms house..stew and were disappointed if it wasn't on the menu when they visited. As adults they still long for grandmas stew.

Original poster
Mummobummo · 06/12/2018 01:11

Thank you, and really helpful to from GPs!

OP posts:
Cloglover · 06/12/2018 01:48

They most probably feel like they have a winning formula. And are reluctant to try anything else in case it doesn't go down as well. Is there a back story or is it genuinely that you are a bit 🤔 about just this? As they are doing you a huge favour by having her, may be you could be the one to have the other go to food in the freezer/pantry. Really wouldn't raise this at all as an issue as it could be the beginning of an unravelling of a good relationship between you.

Jengnr · 06/12/2018 06:51

Get her into pasta and pesto. Then you have a new go-to meal and you don’t have to stress about fish fingers :)

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