To think this is a fine dinner for 5 year old?!?

[Abneyandteal19]

Older DS had swimming until 6pm one day of the week.
Usual dinner time is 5pm.
Younger DS swims 4:30-5 but then has to wait until 6pm for older one then by the time he gets dressed and home it's 6:30 which is when younger DS has story and wind down for bed at 7pm.

So rather than 'waste' the time he has to sit around and then have a late tea/bed I have started to take his dinner to swimming so he can eat whilst older DS swims.

Today it was spag Bol (in one of those keep warm flasks) a large size fromais frais, pot of strawberries and a biscuit.
So a bit more sugar than usual but he has just swum and it's only one day per week.
He seems happy with this!

Older DS eats when we get home as he doesn't go to bed until later.

Family members are telling me this is awful- he can't eat dinner in the swimming pool cafe (!?) and it's really weird behaviour! there's no option of buying a fresh dinner at pool as it's only a Starbucks type cafe.

He gets so tired if he stays up late and also doesn't eat well when tired.

What do you think? AIBU??

Are you allowed to bring your own food to the cafe?

Oh my god please ignore. That sounds like a fab dinner, plus post-swimming the sugar is good for replacing energy.

I wouldn’t even judge if you got maccy d’s on the way home. Tell your family members (who I guess don’t eat perfect food all the time) to shove off

I can't see any problem with that at all!

I don’t see it’s a problem, it’s a home cooked meal not as if you’re taking him for burger every week. My children are grown now, and it’s things like this they remember as being an adventure.

The only family member I would even discuss this with was the child's father - what business is it of anyone else?! If their dad has a better idea then he can help make it happen. Mind you I bloody hate swimming lessons so I might be unreasonable...

It's better than a McDonalds on the way home isn't it?

Honestly, no one else's business. Unless perhaps they're offering to pop round to the pool, collect him, give him a home cooked meal and return him?

This sounds fine, and s lot better than a McDonalds on the way home (not awful once a week either!!😬) If they feel he needs a family sit-down dinner after swimming maybe they could pick him up at five and serve it up? Thought not!

Sounds great!

Ignore others.

Used to do the same while DD finished her gym session slightly early to her friends when we carpooled.

something in a flask (so hot for her) and then a dessert of some sort.

Healthy food when he’s hungry and not too tired to eat it, nooo, alert social services. I see loads of kids doing this sort of stuff at after school activities admire their parents’ organisational skills.

We always take a packed tea to swimming as they swim one after another at teatime. Sandwiches of their choosing (as they make them), crisps or popcorn, fruit and yoghurt. Don't have an issue with yours or my options for hungry children!

This sounds fun, and exciting for your son! I guess the only issue is if the cafe doesn't allow you to bring your own food in. But sounds good to me!

Your family members are the awful thing here - sounds like you go above and beyond to provide a good hot meal and preserve your youngsters routine. Ignore them.

Why are you telling people this shit I honestly wouldn't bother, who cares it's spag bol ffs not crack laced chips. How anyone could have a problem with spaghetti bolognese for a child once a week is beyond me. Even if it was fast food once a week it's really not an issue

Pretty normal. When we had a local pool, there were many families who did this when they had multiple children doing lessons. Picnic Mondays we called them as we went on a Monday night. All the kids would have packed meals and sit around on the floor chatting while eating.

Why do so many people on MN share the minutiae of their lives with other people . Of course what you are doing is ok .

My dd (17) has had pasta in a flask pretty much every day for school lunch. Pastas vary.

I agree with @Shiningout that it's crazy to be telling people this stuff! Your family sound completely ridiculous.

It's a great solution! Ignore the detractors. It's important for a 5 year old to get fed and to bed early enough to get through school the next day.

Your child gets swimming lessons, tea, and time with mum and sibling. That’s a well taken care of child!

Don see what the issue is with doing it at the swimming pool, it makes complete sense. As for getting changed... there are kids who leave my DC's lessons at 4.30pm changed into their pjs.

The only thing is, I probably wouldn't do three sweet things so late in the day if I could help it. Does he need the fruit, yoghurt and biscuit?

It’s fine. I used to do the same thing as dc had swimming and then cubs so wouldn’t have had dinner until 9pm if I hadn’t taken food.

Haha I don’t know where the video came from 😂

Family members are telling me this is awful- he can't eat dinner in the swimming pool cafe (!?) and it's really weird behaviour!

Why is it any of their fing business?

It is a proper meal.

Stop sharing information like this with them.

It is the stare the OP should be giving her criticising family members.

It's fine if the cafe doesn't have a problem with you taking your own food.

Of course it's fine. Mine used to eat a packed lunch in the car, not nice warm spag bol either.