Took my daughter and her friend to the playpark recently. I fed the kids lunch before the park and afterwards gave them some popcorn and they had juice throughout the day. Offered other snacks but they did not want to eat...well, they didn't want to go home and it got later and later, and I finally got them in the car and dropped the friend around 6.30. After I get them in the car, she says she's hungry and wants fast food. I refused as I figured her mom would be expecting her for dinner (I told them I'd drop her at 5 but due to the parents' schedule, it was more like 6), we were pretty late AND I had already spent about $40 on park, treats, rides etc. Well, the kid falls asleep in the car (10 min drive!) so of course when I drop her home she hasn't eaten and she's asleep. I am not too concerned if my daughter doesn't eat at parties or playdates, they seem to be having so much fun they forget about eating. But I wonder if the parents might be annoyed that she fell asleep without eating? Should I say something to the mom by way of explanation? Should I have fed them a fast food dinner, which would further have delayed us?
Hi, thanks for the comments. The lateness wasn't entirely my fault. I had originally said I'd drop her home at 5. Because of her parents' schedule (THEY were late coming from work), I then told her mom it would be 6. So I was really only a half hour late.
I would have just told the mom when I dropped her off that she fell asleep before she could have dinner. If it were my daughter, I would have understood.
I would rather have my kid be dropped off at home asleep & unfed than to be given some fast food. I'd be quite happy to have a hungry kid brought to me at dinner time, as they'd be more likely to actually eat dinner :)
You weren't expected to feed her dinner so I don't know why you feel responsible for it. If my kiddo were being dropped off and ate, ok. If my kiddo was being dropped off and didn't eat, ok. I'd be good either way. Plus, my kid wouldn't stay asleep once she was dropped off.
hmmm, you are probably fine,
That being said, If i were expecting my kid at five so i could serve dinner at 5:30 and you came at 6 AND she hadn't eaten, i might have had a prob wiht that if there wasn't a lot of communication going on about why and when you were coming. but in the situation you presented no I don't think you should have picked up micky dees,
Sounds like the being late part wasn't entirely OP's fault, if I'm reading this right. It does sound like there was a bit of a lack of communication. I mean, why didn't you just call & ask about dinner?
And good lord, why did you spend 40 bucks for a play date?!!
You are fine. I would have been furious if you had taken my son out for fast food. When he falls asleep without dinner, he falls asleep without dinner. If he wakes up hungry, we feed him. Generally if it is after a super busy day, he sleeps until morning.
I'm with Sara B. Just say "sorry she fell asleep so we didn't stop for dinner"...totally understandable.
However, if I was told 5 and my kid didn't come home to 6:30...I'd be so pissed and you would know it! Unless you called and said..."they are having so much fun is it ok if we stay longer...maybe another hour or so?"
no, i'd have done what you did, got her home ASAP and just let the parents know that she hadn't eaten. if the lateness was due to you, that's something that should have been handled better. if it was the other parents (not quite sure from reading this) then no apology needed.
either way, i think NOT feeding 'em fast food was a good choice. i'd much rather have a hungry kid and feed her myself than one in a fast food coma.
:) khairete
S.
Well I don't know...I mean you were an hour and half later than you said you were going to be and they hadn't eaten since lunch, I might be a little annoyed. Now, my annoyance certainly wouldn't cause a major rift in our friendship or anything, but it does seem odd that you wouldn't check in with the mom.
As far as the fast food thing, well I don't think it would have been a big deal to eat fast food, especially if it's getting to be that late, but I would think it was a little strange if you hadn't called me first. Presumably you have the mom's number or maybe the girl knows it...either way, you probably should be more in touch with the other mom next time.
next time, just ask the other parent....it's that simple!
They weren't that hungry later in the afternoon and then they fell asleep. Stuff like that happens sometimes. She probably woke up later and had a small snack. My son gets so excited at parties and such that he sometimes skips a meal. One missed meal is no biggie. I would not have fed them a fast food meal.
I would be ticked off if you came an hour and a half later with my kiddo. I think the communication error is the issue here. I would have said : sally fell asleep on the way so we didnt stop for food. The kids had a great time!
No, I wouldn't have done fast food, but I would be in close phone communication with her Mom if the kids were pushing it past the agreed upon end time. I'd be checking to see what her Mom prefers.
It sounds like a "stuff happens" day. It wouldn't bother me, under the scenario and details you provided.
