To let my dc get themselves cereal

[cadburyegg]

My dc are 8 and 5 and I told a friend our morning routine - they get dressed for school before going downstairs, I help the 5 year old a bit with his jumper and brush his teeth, then they help themselves to cereal whilst I get dressed. - 10 mins max. They don't use the toaster, or anything like that.

But my friend said that I was being irresponsible, and that they still need supervision, and me being upstairs isn't good enough. He said that my 8 year old isn't mature enough yet.

What do you think? AIBU? How old were your kids?

My 6 year get’s breakfast for themselves and helps their younger 3 year sibling. I’m upstairs normally getting ready / sorting their clothes etc dread to think what your friend would think about us OP

As long as they remember to shut the fridge door properly and aren't touching electrical, I could not get worked up about this. Just make them clean up any mess they make!

My just turned 4 year old can get himself some cereal and milk and a drink. My 9 year old can do toast, sandwiches and with a tiny bit of supervision follow a recipe to make most meals. Your friend is crazy and will end up with kids like my friend who as a teenager couldn't make beans on toast or turn on the hoover!

Oh for goodness sake

Are they grinding the wheat and baking the cereal, or however you make cereal!

It's fine
Good on them for not being helpless

Or choke.

There was a thread with 8 and 5 (I think, both still at primary anyway) year olds who got their own breakfasts yesterday because the OP has a health condition which means she is in too much pain to move in the morning. She was basically told by a majority of posters to suck it up and she was neglecting her children (who according to her were coping fine). So I'm surprised at the response on this thread that it's fine. Saying that, I also think it's fine!

But I’m not saying the kids shouldn’t be allowed to do.

OP I’m impressed that they can put their uniform on and then have breakfast and not spill in down their jumper.

I vividly remember getting up on my own aged 4 or 5, making my own cereal and putting the tv on (buttons in those days) to watch Saturday morning tv. I thought it was amazing! Go for it.

Mine do this. Bit older but they like to get up at the crack of down and have plenty of down time before school. I get up after them both (6.30am) by which time the have gotten dressed, had there cereal and are well into watching shite on TV.

I would really really like them to get up later as they are both so tied in the evening. But 5:45 it is 🙄. I am not getting up at 5:45.

I think it's perfectly reasonable for kids to help themselves to cereal from age about 6 years.

When my kids got to that age, I put the cereal and bowls in accessible cupboards, and put a jug of milk in the fridge for them each evening, ready for the morning. They knew not to go downstairs before 6am, and I'd hear them go downstairs and so be awake and aware of what was going on. They'd get themselves cereal and put the TV on while I got myself up and ready.

Good grief of course they can do that! You’re not asking them to juggle chainsaws ffs 🤦‍♀️

I also don’t believe too many 5 and 8 year olds have choked to death on their coco pops while Mum was getting dressed. I’m fairly sure that would be headline news 🙄.

Children of lone parents fend off bears and tigers alone while their feckless mothers indulge in selfish pursuits such as showering, using the toilet, putting out the bins, endless other necessary tasks. They’re hardy creatures and won’t be defeated by cereal.

Your friend is anal. She has no right to comment on your parenting like that

Nope, dentists say before breakfast

Your friend is being way over the top. My 8 year old makes himself an omelette before school!

My 8 year is incapable of picking up his dirty pants 🙄
What's your secret?

Good grief was going into town on own on bus at 8! YES totally normal for your children OP!

Love this!

My ds been doing eggs for himself since age 10 😂 at 8 he'd have eaten a tub of icing or something if left to his own devices. Good for you teaching your kids some independence.

As long as you're not unwell and resting in bed while they do this, MN has no problem.

If you're incapacitated in someway then it's neglectful and unfair on your children, your other half, the school and random Ms Jones down the road.

My 7yo makes porridge (in a saucepan not the microwave), and toast using an the electric grill.

Cereal is fine.

For goodness sake. You can choke at any age.

He's pretty obsessed with becoming a chef, so we watch cooking programmes and do classes together - he's always coming up with new things to cook, it's ace!

Poster yesterday got slated when very unwell for allowing her children similar ages to get cereal I think that's what a PP is referring to

But no you are correct your children are old enough to get their own breakfast. Children can do a lot more than what some parents think they can do and limit their children without realising

Is your friend male? I suspect he is negging you over your parenting.

The worse they can do is spill the milk or break a bowl. Your mate needs to get real 😂