Eleven Years Old and You’ve Never What?
I simply can’t get this out of my head. Let’s analyze together.
On the way to McCulloch Intermediate this morning one of my kids pointed out an eleven year old classmate. Here’s how the rest went down.
My kid: There’s [name], he’s so nice but did you know he’s never been out to eat in his whole life?
Merritt: Never? I think you heard that wrong.
Kid’s friend: No, Mrs. Patterson, it’s true. Everyone knows his parents don’t believe in it. They eat at home for every meal of their of life.
So I did a little checking on this. It appears to be true. Go figure.
I’m not wholly endorsing this move until I hear what this kid eats at home.
I mean, if his parents are world class chefs and he’s eating great organic produce and the like, that’s one thing.
If his parents are rocking Kid Cuisine and chicken nuggets with ranch every night, then this kid is missing out on an important social skill.
Wow…ever? What about on vacation? Does that include going out for ice cream or a cupcake treat? Are there dietary issues here? Is it an all organic thing? Economic? A friend of mine laughingly tells the story that when her doorbell rings, her toddler climbs into the high chair.
That is the saddest thing I have heard all day! I would actually go so far as to use the word tragic.
My son has a friend that has never – ever, not once – been allowed to sleep over at a friends house. He’s 17 – his family is otherwise normal seeming in every way. Last time my son mentioned it, a few months ago, he said that the mom told her son when he was begging to stay with some other kids at a sleepover, “that’s just gay! You are not spending the night at a boy’s house!” I’m still just……..gobsmacked.
I have a relative that her and her family eat out for breakfast EVERY morning, and have since their two kids were born (middle schoolers). Not as odd as NEVER GOING to a restaurant or a sleepover, but puzzling to me just the same.
And she will read this and think, “what the hell is she writing that for!” Sorry, you’re the best sister in law EVER and I bow at your feet for never learning to cook. It’s just an amazing thing.
can someone please explain to the child that “Bubba’s Home Cooking” is not the same thing as eating at home?
About sleepovers- as one of teen terapists put it :”nothing good happens in sleepovers after the child is about 14″. For some even earlier…
No wonder there are no sleepovers allowed in some families… I understand sleepovers in 1st-4th grade, but after that… If some parents are so naiive and think that the kids are just having fun, like watching movies, or playing games…think twice.
So what you’re saying is that this poor kid has never had a Snuffer’s burger? A double scoop of chocolate & pistachio at Wild About Harry’s? Queso and chips at Rafa’s? Frankly, this leaves me speechless. Well, at least the family’s saving lots of money by eating in; they’ll need it for their extremely bitter child’s therapy bill.
What’s missing in this conversation is the answer to the question “what does he do for lunch at MIS?”. Does he take a sack lunch? If he eats cafeteria food then wouldn’t that not be considered eating out? Merritt, time to prepare your kids for their first foray into investigative journalism. Inquiring minds want to know!
Wow, and my first grader goes to Fearing and Wolfgang Pucks.
My kids never eat at home.
Since this has gone off topic into sleepover territory I would like to share a story from a friend. Supposedly MIS is guiding people not to have sleepovers anymore because of bullying and social media. Some girls had a sleepover, a couple of them encouraged everyone to trash talk another girl from school, they video taped it and post it on FB for half the school to see. Just sorry behavior all around.
Can’t imagine denying my kids the pleasures of eating out sometimes. They are HUGE Ziziki fans.
Oh man, I was one of those “home-cooked” kids, too… but my situation was more about living in a third-world country and less about an anti-restaurant agenda. I do believe my upbringing sparked my interest in cooking, since as kids we were encouraged to help with the food prep and whatnot. But now that I have my freedom, there’s nothing better than sliding into a cozy booth and pouring over a menu!
Personally I prefer eating at home. The quality of the food is a lot better than at most restaurants which serve oversize servings. I am healthier as a result and don’t have to be concerned about sanitation issues which exist in most restaurants. I worked in the food service industry and was often appalled when visiting other establishments.
Restaurants have the words “profit margin” as their main goal ahead of the quality of the ingredients used in their delicious (grossly high sodium, fat and sugar content) meals that fattens our society. I prefer to purchase quality ingredients and prepare them at home.