Meals with your mindees?

[Alliwantisaroomsomewhere]

Do you sit down with your mindees and have your meal with them? I don't always, particularly tea time, and I find that they don't always eat that well.

I would rather have lunch when the babies are sleeping, the older one having quiet TV time or similar. As for tea, I prefer my meal much later!

Also, there is always some tidying or cleaning to do, so while the children are eating I prefer to do that.

What do you do at mealtimes?

I used to eat with them nearly every lunchtime. Now (apart from picnics), I tend to wait until they have finished, sort out who needs nappies, toilets, sleeps, etc and then might get around to eating something myself. I find I don't enjoy my lunch as much when I am helping them, answering questions, feeding babies, etc. I do always sit at the table with them when they eat.

HSMM, I think that's the thing! I do not sit with them but tend to hover or get drinks or pick up stuff or check emails or escape to the loo!! :)

I do not really have meals with my mindess. Some bring from home, some I provide snacks for.

At lunch time I may grab something to eat whilst they are eating. I do not cook for the younger ones.

I do snack things in the afternoon like sandwiches, fruit/yog and drink, soup and toast, jkt pot and beans etc. I do not cook full meals.

My schedule is quite busy and I deal with quite a lot of kids. Our taste buds are very different.

I had a conversation with a cm friends who deals with food which is being wasted as the little is not eating it. She is or going to ask the parent to provide.

I tend to have my evening meal when the mindees have gone. May let my kids have earlier in another room if they need to go out before or nearing the time I finish cm'ing

I find that I am shopping more since I started providing snacks.

I'm no longer a CM, but this has mad me a bit sad. I would always sit down with children in my care during a meal (even if I hardly ate). Tidying up can be done when they are having a nap/watching TV.

I always thought the whole point of a CM over nursery was the family environment. I did once, for a short time let parents send DC with their own packed lunch. I didn't work. One child with a healthy meal would want the other child's Quavers. I went back to providing a healthy lunch for all children each day.

Yes, there is always some tidying or cleaning to do, but this shouldn't be done while the DC are eating, IMO.

You have raised some interesting points, Mum2bless. Thank you. I know that there are some parents who would reconsider using me if I did not provide meals.

As for taste buds differing, you are 100% correct! I have found that the peer influence can work both ways - sometimes it encourages some children to try different things and other times it makes kids more fussy. My son is a right pain in the butt when it comes to eating (he is 7) and I find that one of the older girls in particular tends to copy him.

Shopping for snacks is an ongoing thing - providing fresh things means lots of trips to the shop.

Good point, Lynette...

I have often considered asking parents to provide meals, but I was sure that some children would want what the others had and vice versa.

I do find it really difficult when I have a baby, as I have now, who relishes in the suicide hour while I am trying to prepare tea - even if it is just heating up something I had prepared earlier. Ah, well, part of the job, I suppose!

Yes I do. I like the idea of a family meal time and I'm also a greedy pig - if others are eating I have to join in! I provide meals for all my children, I include it in the fees as I'd rather they all sat down and ate the same thing. Everyone bringing their own would be my idea of a nightmare, my own DC would want what they had and possibly vice versa.

My minded school children and my own children are often ravenous and eat their meal at 4pm. Way too early for me to eat! They all sit together at the big table and don't seem to worry about me not sitting there. They have a good social experience together. When they're eating I'm often running around after 2 toddlers and preparing the desserts. Not easy to sit and eat when you work on your own, especially at that time of day! Lunchtime- It varies due to the nap routine but often eat together if we're out and about. Every setting offers something different.

I have no time to sit at the dinner table. Today I had 10 children to feed. By the time I served the last one the first one finished. I usually go without until they all go home. Otherwise I eat fast and either end up biting my own cheek or tongue or get bad indigestion and not enjoying the process of eating itself as it is rushed. When I had only a couple of mindees and my children present we would all sit down for a meal. Now it's just impractical if not impossible.

I sit down to lunch with the little ones, though often don't manage to eat my own as I have to help the babies. At tea time I don't but my own children do. As others have said, it's too early for me and too hectic with serving everyone else - but I have been known to sneak a bit of something if it looks particularly good!

I have lunch with my DCs and mindee - I think if you can manage 'family' mealtimes then it's good for the children though I can see that if you've got several then it's quite a job to manage feeding time at the zoo! DH and I have supper by ourselves after mindee has gone and DCs are in bed - so about 6.30.