No food

[cherrychapstickk]

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.

Honestly, in future just pack them a backpack with drinks and snacks just in case.

Wouldn't have occurred for me to feed them if they had lunch at home before we left

@paintingvenice your patronising post is incorrect 😄 the OP did not tell the people not to feed the kids, she was correcting a PP who thought (incorrectly) that OP had said ‘meals’, not ‘food’.

Did you ring them and say ‘it’s getting on a bit, they will be getting hungry, wasn’t sure what the plan are, but could you either feed them or bring them back’

if they don’t have children then how would they know.

I agree, don't see why they wouldn't give them stuff to eat, at least a snack.

I eat at 5, of course a 3 year old is going to eat earlier than that I'd imagine.

They shouldn't be crying from hunger.

Were you fuming?

just like I can barely remember how to care for a newborn. E.g reminding them grapes need to be quartered etc

I still do this for my PFB and he's 22.

I think you mean "fumming".

Honestly, MN spelling has gone down the drain.

At that age, I was lucky enough to be indulged by a very large and loving family - dozens and dozens who lived in the same area. It's an example that I've followed with little ones since - who knows if they will reciprocate in my dotage, but it won't be for the want of trying.

I wouldn't think they needed feeding tbh. I would expect to be given instructions if they needed a meal. They tend to have a piece of fruit at 3.30 with some juice and tea at 5, if you get them back for 5 I can do that. Thanks so much for taking them out, it's lovely of you, so rare I get an afternoon to myself, here's a fiver if you need to get a snack whilst you are out. You're the best Auntie and Uncle ever.

Generational thing, maybe?

We give our kids snacks these days but I know I never got them as a kid.

If they're of the 3 meals and nothing in-between generation then I'd say 1.45-5.45 would probably mean they thought they had the kids home just in time for dinner.

Did your DD say if she asked for food while out? If she told them she was hungry and they ignored it then that's not nice.

I think people with kids would be on them all the time, people without, I don’t know, seems so long for little kids to go without food, my relatives are the opposite- they’d have been stuffing them!!!

That’s why if I leave my DC with anyone I will a) talk through their meal times to ensure the expectation is clear b) will always leave snacks or meal depending on the situation

I would be angry with the relatives given that your children are so young and cant fix themselves a snack!

My kids definately remind me when they are hungry... 4 hours with no snacks even is odd though.

Did they not even give them a packet of skips or an apple etc...?

I would have fed them, no question. Even if it was just a snack but I would have sat down somewhere and fed them.

I hope you packed drinks for them? I'd be more concerned about them getting dehydrated than lack of food.

Agree. It’s totally unintentional. Mine didn’t eat till about 6 pm at that age.

People on this thread who don’t see an issue are idiots.
young kids have lunch at 12/12-30 and then tea or big snack at 15/15-30. And then dinner at 5-6 pm.

They can’t go without food between 12-30 and 6 pm

Did your DD say if she asked for food while out? If she told them she was hungry and they ignored it then that's not nice

My very long experience of children suggests that "hungry" can also be a synonym for "tired", "bored", "thirsty" and/or "just wanting to be with Mummy, even though I like the people I'm with". Young children feel discomfort but can't necessarily articulate in exactly what way. In itself, a 4 hour gap without eating anything is perfectly reasonable; the children were just behaving like children (as the OP has subsequently acknowledged).

They can’t go without food between 12-30 and 6 pm

Of course they can. Don't be ridiculous.

Not the end of the world but even before we had our own DC and we took our niece out we would be spoiling her and asking if she wanted a treat to eat. Most adults surely realise children love food, snacks etc? Big part of their trip out ive found. Maybe some don't as they don't feel the need, a bit unusual I would say. X

@cherrychapstickk I am shocked at pp claiming that they would not have fed their 2 and 3 year old children any snacks in between meals. That is neglect. Children that age absolutely do need to eat at least breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. And they absolutely should not be expected to go for 4.5 to 5 hours without food. They should be offered food at least 3 hourly.

If they are genuine parents and they genuinely didn’t feed their young children any food at all between meal times then they are neglectful parents and I would not listen to anything that they have to say about your situation.

Their auntie and uncle were completely irresponsible and neglectful. Next time they ask to take the kids say no. Then make it very clear why you saying no. Your children are not inconsequential and deserve to be treated better than that.

Any other normal decent person would have bought them something to eat. Especially as it was their decision to have your kids for that length of time.

Actually ours did. Lunch 1:30 and dinner 6pm. They were good eaters at mealtimes though.

Agree, although I'd have probably bought a snack somewhere.

This exactly, I would always send their bag no matter how long they were going for & this would contain a drink & a snack.