Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Original poster

No food

218 replies

cherrychapstickk · 01/12/2023 18:07

hello,

As the title says really.

My 2 and 3 year old have been taken out for the afternoon by their aunt and uncle.

They ended up having them for around 4 and a half hours, I expected around 2 but they said they got carried away.

Once they'd left 3 year old burst into tears saying she was hungry (they normally have dinner at around 5) and it turns out (i checked with auntie) they've not eaten with them at all.

Had I known they were going to be 4 hours I'd of packed some food but as I didn't know and they got carried away, am I unreasonable for thinking its quite harsh not to offer your young nieces any food?

I cannot imagine having any of their children, especially at such a young age, for that duration of time and covering dinner time and not offering anything to eat whatsoever.

OP posts:

Ihaterhymingrabbit · 01/12/2023 18:11

What time did they take them and what time did they get back? Where did they go?

Original poster

cherrychapstickk · 01/12/2023 18:13

around 1.15ish to 5.45, nowhere major, just a wander around to look at some Christmas lights and then back to their house for a bit as they had some other family members popping in

OP posts:

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 01/12/2023 18:15

I think if you don’t have kids, then you’d possibly assume that they would ask if they were hungry? And adults usually wouldn’t consider 1.45 - 5.45 to be over any meal times.

rwalker · 01/12/2023 18:15

I’d presume the kids would ask or tell them there hungry
and they haven’t got kids themselves probably never thought

being honest I be forgotten to feed mine when been busy

and there also the issue of feeding other peoples kids
if they were peckish and they gave them a bag of crisps would you of been happy

I’d say nothing but if they take them out again just clarify and cover it off before they take them

fishfingersandchipsagain · 01/12/2023 18:16

I think they probably assumed that they had already had lunch, and that they were bringing them home for dinner. I don’t think that’s too unreasonable. I would have thought to ask the kids if they wanted a snack, but that’s because I have had kids. Presumably they done?

Ihaterhymingrabbit · 01/12/2023 18:16

That’s not too bad, if they ate just before 1.15pm and ate dinner when they got home.

Why was 3 year old hungry as soon as they picked her up, did they not have lunch?

We’ve been on days out before and had this gap between meal times.

Overthebow · 01/12/2023 18:16

I would have thought they would have asked for food if they wanted some? The aunt and uncle may not have realised it was good time. 4 hours isn’t an unreasonable amount of time to go without a snack.

InDubiousBattle · 01/12/2023 18:17

They probably assumed they were bringing them home in time for their tea. Most adults wouldn't eat between those times and I imagine they thought that the 3 year old would say something if they were hungry?

DoktorPeppa · 01/12/2023 18:18

As nothing had been previously agreed about eating then they would have assumed that the children had eaten lunch beforehand (which I'm guessing they had) and 5:45 is hardly too late for dinner. They've done nothing wrong

Fionaville · 01/12/2023 18:20

It's sounds like the kids had had lunch and they brought them home for dinner so not unreasonable. I'd probably still have got them a snack when we were out, as part of the day out though. Can you believe the 3 year old that they haven't had crisps or biscuits or something? Kids forget.

Paddleboarder · 01/12/2023 18:21

Didn't they have any lunch before they went? I don't think 5.45 is terrible, maybe they didn't realise they might need a snack? I also would have thought the 3 year old would have told them if she was hungry and she knows them well!

Thesearmsofmine · 01/12/2023 18:26

Do they have children? They might have thought if they’d had lunch they would fine to come home and then have dinner.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 01/12/2023 18:29

Ihaterhymingrabbit · 01/12/2023 18:16

That’s not too bad, if they ate just before 1.15pm and ate dinner when they got home.

Why was 3 year old hungry as soon as they picked her up, did they not have lunch?

We’ve been on days out before and had this gap between meal times.

Mine would be begging for a snack. My one year old especially would be moaning if he was left without food that long!

Tighginn · 01/12/2023 18:32

It's common bloody sense to feed and water children.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 01/12/2023 18:34

Did the children ask for food?

MatildaTheCat · 01/12/2023 18:34

Ok it’s not absolutely ideal but how long did it take for you to throw them a quick snack before making tea? And most parents would be delirious with joy having an entire afternoon off.

Wavyline · 01/12/2023 18:36

Did you feed them before they were picked up? I'm assuming yes given the time.
If that's the case I don't see the problem. However I come from a generation where snacks weren't considered an essential part of the day and not something expected between lunch and dinner. Having said that, when out with aunts and uncles a mid-afternoon stop for cake would have been part of the treat.

Moonshine5 · 01/12/2023 18:39

Personally I think that's outrageous but that's just me. I wouldn't dream of not giving children refreshments over a 4 hour period. Nothing to do with being a parent.

ActDottie · 01/12/2023 18:41

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 01/12/2023 18:15

I think if you don’t have kids, then you’d possibly assume that they would ask if they were hungry? And adults usually wouldn’t consider 1.45 - 5.45 to be over any meal times.

This I don’t think they did it deliberately and if the kids didn’t say they were hungry it probably didn’t occur to them. Maybe just drop a hint next time to them that the kids might get hungry.

Original poster

cherrychapstickk · 01/12/2023 18:41

Well, they had their lunch at around 12.30 as usual - kept usual time as I thought it was only a couple of hours.

My two are quite shy unfortunately, so wouldn't be forthcoming about food.

just seems quite a long time to me but maybe because its so ingrained in my head their routine and when they eat now as I do it everyday, their kids are primary age now.

OP posts:

Headaching · 01/12/2023 18:43

Did you let them know the kids haven't eaten lunch so they'll need to eat while they're out? Or if you did feed them lunch I wouldn't expect the Auntie and Uncle to feed them as others have said, lunch time had passed and they bought them back home for dinner. I don't see the issue

NoraLuka · 01/12/2023 18:44

That’s only 4 hours, if you don’t have young DC you might not think they need food in that time especially as it’s not over a meal time.

margotrose · 01/12/2023 18:44

I doubt they did it maliciously. I would have thought children would ask if they were hungry though!

Livelovebehappy · 01/12/2023 18:45

Tighginn · 01/12/2023 18:32

It's common bloody sense to feed and water children.

Op didn’t say they hadn’t had a drink or snacks? Just hadn’t had a meal…

heldinadream · 01/12/2023 18:46

A 2 and a 3 year old? Tiny tummies, I'd offer food regularly (and expect them to want it).
Meals, snacks, bits of fruit. Feed them feed them that's quite a large percentage of the job at that age.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9