eating with your child

[minniebeth]

When they were in elementary school they would BEG us to come eat with them (and we did often), in middle school they would DIE if we came and ate with them, now that they are in high school we don't want to go eat with them .

This is EXACTLY the way it is! And I have one at each level!

I used to in Elementary school. Nothing more precious than seeing your kids face when they see you (okay it wasn't really me, it was the bag of McDonald's they were eyeing) walk through the door.

In my kids' old school, we could do this, and when my kids were little, they LOVED this! It was only a rare occasion, like a birthday that I brought them something special. The rest of the time I would bring something hot from home, like a hot dog, or pizza.
In my kids' school now, the policy states that we can't bring "outside food" anymore. The reasoning is because it's not fair to the other kids whose parents can't/won't do it. Not saying I agree or disagree, just stating the policy.

I really used to love when my kids' school had homemade calzones, they are so delicious! But I think too many parents caught on, and now they won't allow parents to buy on calzone day!

My DD in 2nd grade still loves when I come for lunch. I am the Brownie leader for their grade so I have all the girls love it too. I'll be sad the day they don't want me there anymore!

 

[Tinkermommy]

Yes, and my DD loves when I do.

But I haven't in a while so thanks for reminder.

I may go tomorrow!

 

[amez]

The school my kids go to have not even said it was an option to come in for lunch - we homeschooled up until this year so maybe it's okay and I just don't know about it.

Their school is a country school that is made up of mostly rural families-but they take security serious. The doors are all locked (except to go into the office) if your kids are car riders you have to go in through the office and be checked out with your children - it is actually a quick process, but just different then when I was in school (obviously different times) I just don't know if they would welcome visitors during the day? Sounds kind of nice meeting the kids for lunch though. Glad some of you can do it.

 

[iwrbnd]

When they were in elementary school they would BEG us to come eat with them (and we did often), in middle school they would DIE if we came and ate with them, now that they are in high school we don't want to go eat with them .

 

[suejai]

Is this really the norm? Never heard of going to eat with you child at lunch. And the only time I took them out for lunch would be if they have an appointment then. And that is very rare. All appointments are made after school.

My mom never did when we were little either. This was time to socialize with the kids at school. Only time I ate lunch with them is if I was on a field trip with them.

Our kids only get about 20 mins. too and eat inside the class. Then they go outside.

My grade 7 son is allowed home for lunch, at first he thought that was cool , now he stays to be with friends.

This is how it is here as well. The only time I have ever interacted with my child at school was when I volunteered through Kindergarten or if I went on a field trip.

 

[Cornhusk]

No. I bug them enough when they are at home.

 

[disykat]

This is how it is here as well. The only time I have ever interacted with my child at school was when I volunteered through Kindergarten or if I went on a field trip.

I'm guessing there are parents that do it, you just don't hear about it. There will always be parents that think it's cool to surprise their child at school just as there will always be parents who it wouldn't occur to or who are against it.

 

[minniebeth]

I'm guessing there are parents that do it, you just don't hear about it. There will always be parents that think it's cool to surprise their child at school just as there will always be parents who it wouldn't occur to or who are against it.

I think it has a lot to do with the culture of the school. In schools where it is widely practiced, accepted and encouraged, many kids will be asking their parents to come. If it is a school where it is not the norm, then not so much.

 

[Disneyrsh]

.

 

[NAB]

We do not have picnic tables, the kids are not allowed to eat anything outside at all. They have there snack then go out. This keeps the yard really clean of trash. Heck we don't even have trash barrels out there come to think of it.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

We're not allowed to do that anymore.....wish we were, the kids love it

that's kind of sad. did they say why they weren't allowed to do it??

when i was younger,my dad worked midnights, so i rarely saw him during the day while he was asleep, so he worked in the lunchroom(i went to a private school from kindergarden until 7th grade, so it was a smaller school with less kids than usual) so i got to see him everyday at lunch, i actually liked it!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm guessing there are parents that do it, you just don't hear about it. There will always be parents that think it's cool to surprise their child at school just as there will always be parents who it wouldn't occur to or who are against it.

It would never happen at our schools - no parents allowed, even as volunteers. They're allowed to come home for lunch in elementary school, and go out in HS.

 

[AtlantaSue]

I eat w/ my 1st grader -probably every other week or so. He enjoys it very much, and it is fairly common at his Primary School. If I haven't been in awhile, he'll ask me "can you come to lunch today?" I also ate w/ my girls when they were his age, but not anymore (5th and 7th grade). Our cafeteria also has a rule of "no fast food or soft drinks".

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

They don't let you bring in junk food to the school. Subway's ok, but no soda or fast food, or candy.

My kids are older now and when they were little there were no restrictions on what you brought. I must say though that bringing in Subway and even a healthy choice from McDonalds was better than what the school served. It was a small private school, but the lunches were extremely unhealthy. My kids did not buy at the school and my Mc'Ds was their treat. I actually feel sorry for little ones and parents now. It was a very nice treat being with them and giving them a little special something.

 

[mykidsand_i]

My husband and I eat with our girls about once every other week - He'll go with one and I'll go with the other one, then the next time we switch. Our girls really appreciate the days we eat with them. I figure, we should do it while we can, because soon they won't want us to!

 

[mykidsand_i]

Our cafeteria also has a rule of "no fast food or soft drinks".

Our school cafeteria is also putting this rule into place, because apparently there are some parents that are very rude when eating in school with their kids!

One day when I was eating with my Kinder. daughter, there was a lady eating with her daughter a few tables over. SHE BROUGHT McDonalds (no biggie...)she got a big mac and fries...BUT she ALSO BROUGHT A LARGE SHAKE!!!! I was ready to go ask her how mean she was trying to be!?!?!? All the other kids around her were just staring at the shake. I felt bad. All these kids have to eat school food and she brings a shake bigger than their heads!

There's this this one family from India that comes to eat with their son at school. When they come, they bring a whole tables worth of food all in these special containers. It always smells good- but people question if that should be allowed- because this mom sets up an entire table with dishes, cups and bowls- then dishes everyone of her kids up (she brings 3 more that aren't school age yet) and then her son that's in school comes to sit with them.

I don't think it's wrong of a parent to bring 'outside' food in for lunch- I've done it myself (still respecting the fact that I'll be around kids and I don't want anyone to feel bad)...but when they come and set up the entire table- I (and many others) think that's not a good thing. Especially when the lunch room is so cramped for space as it is already! The principal asked her if it's a 'special traditional thing' to do- she said 'no' so I believe this will not be happening past this year!

 

[Nancyg56]

Oh yes! My Dh is home during the winter so he usually has lunch with DGD but I will next week. My DGD love it. i used to volunteer in the classroom so i always stayed for lunch. My DGD told us that her friends love to have Pa come in. I am welcome but not as much fun

 

[Katieinwonderland]

My dad is a lawyer and he travelled a lot when I was a kid - but sometimes he would come home without me knowing and surprise me at school to eat lunch with me I remember being SO excited to see him!

One of my best friends used to have her grandfather come in and eat with her every friday - and he always bought a piece of chocolate for all her friends! It was really cute!

 

[golfgal]

When we ate with the kids we ate the school lunch. No one brought in outside food--I am not even sure we could. The school lunch food was actually pretty good-it was all homemade on site.

 

[kirstenb1]

I used to do this when our older dd was in elementary. Hopefully they'll still allow it when our younger one starts kindergarten.