I am tired of feeding the neighborhood!
By sunshine4
@sunshine4 (8703)
United States
June 24, 2007 3:40pm CST
Ok, school has been out for a total of 3 days and I am already going crazy! I love having my kids home and I love having their friends over. What I don't like is that fact that these kids think that they can get into our food cupboard and help themselves with snacks. I have 4 of my own children (3 teenagers) and a daycare to purchase groceries for. I don't have tons of extra money to purchasing snacks for the neighborhood friends.
I had a converstaion with my kids telling them that I am fine with making lemonade for the kids when they come over, but they are not to drink the pop or gatorade and they are not to get into our cupboard and help themselves to snacks. I just walked in the house and one of my sons friends was sitting at the counter eating a Little Debbie Snack. I am not happy about this. I would hope that my children would never get into anyones cupboards and help themselves! What would or do you do in cases like this?
3 people like this
4 responses
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
24 Jun 07
I had that problem with one of my kid’s friends several years ago. I talked to my kids about it, but it did not solve the problem. The next time I had to talk to my kids, I told them that I would not be buying any snacks for the week because their friends had eaten them all the previous week. When they realized that they were going to miss out on all of the extras that I usually bought I think it hit home a little more.
It was also comical to see the look on the friends face when he popped open the cupboard where the snacks were kept only to find it practically bare. After several weeks of doing this, the cupboard raiding slowed down drastically. I would still catch an occasional glance in the cupboard, but at least the friend was no longer eating us out of house and home.
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
25 Jun 07
This is a great solution. I have spoken to my kids and they do nothing. I will talk to them again and use your suggestion regarding not buying the snacks for them. It will save me a ton on groceries for at least the one week too. I know with one week without snacks, they will control their friends.
Another note, my husband heard one of these kids telling all the friends when he goes to someones house he tries to eat all the cereal they have. He said that so far he has done it at all the houses he has stayed over night at. Guess who isn't staying overnight here?!
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
26 Jun 07
Thanks for your response. I did tell my kids that if they continue to let the friends eat all the snacks I won't buy them again. All the friends were over yesterday and my son asked if they could have a snack. I then chose what to give them....much better already!
@Juanamomof5 (429)
• United States
25 Jun 07
When I buy my kids snacks I tell them these are the snacks for so amount of days, if they are eaten I will not buy anymore until the days are out. They usually are pretty good about keeping their friends at bay.
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
26 Jun 07
My kids do know that the food needs to last the week as I can only get to the store once a week. It really doesn't matter to them. I did tell them yesterday that I will not be buying all the snacks if they don't keep their friends out or at least ask me before letting the friends have something. Last night,I saw a difference.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Jun 07
When my boys were teenagers, I made sure there were no snacks or junk food in the house. If there was nothing in the cupboards except cans, flours, baking powder, sugar, and no packages of cookies or candies, that stopped them. If I wanted them to have something, I had already made up some cookies or cake, and put them on the table. If they wanted pop, they had to ask for it. We had a freezer down in the basement, and we could easily store all the junk food, the pizzas there. Out of sight and out of reach.
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
26 Jun 07
We have a freezer and extra frig in our garage,so it is too easy for them to get into without my knowledge. I usually store popsicles and ice cream sandwiches in there for them to have anytime~ that doesn't bother me.
They know they are not to drink any pop~ I don't even let my own kids have pop without asking. The thing I don't like is when they eat all the Little Debbie Snacks ~ a box in one sitting. Or I will buy nacho chips for when we have tacos and when I go to get them they are gone. Things like that really irritate me.
@aretha (2538)
• United States
25 Jun 07
i know what you mean. when i babysat we lived in a trailer park and my house was the hang out for all the kids. it was ok but there was a couple kids that would be there all day up until we went in for the night and when it was snack time or lunch they would ask for food. i know they had food at home but they wouldn't leave and their mom wouldn't make them. after awhile i had to tell them to go home and get something and then they could come back. i have not had them go in to my frig and things but if i did i would have to say something. i would just tell them its this or nothing and to stay out of my cupboards. i would of never dreamed of doing this at someone elses home and hope my kids know better to. kids now a days are different.
2 people like this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
26 Jun 07
I know what you are saying about kids being different these days. I do like that they feel at home here, but not that at home. I did talk to my kids about it again last night and hopefully they will control their friends.
