If I invited you to dinner and then served breakfast would you think that weird?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a couple families coming over for dinner tomorrow before trick or treating. One that I know well, and one I've never met. This was set up by my kids, and kinda sprung on me, but it's fine. We'll be casual and eat in the backyard, so relatively covid safe.

Our tradition for Halloween has always been breakfast for dinner, because it's fast and filling, and when ToT is on a weeknight we can get out the door quickly. My kids feel very strongly this is "tradition" and must be respected, but I feel weird serving breakfast to dinner guests.

Would you find this weird?

If you think it's OK, what would you serve? My kids are fine with anything "breakfasty", but I am feeling like toaster waffles and scrambled eggs aren't going to cut it. Also, if we're serving in the backyard, then things like pancakes that need to be cooked last minute might be hard. Would you do something like quiche? Little crustless ones, with homemade muffins, fruit salad, and bacon? Maybe some kinda veggies?

The group will be about 1/2 adults, 1/2 elementary and middle schoolers.

Ask them, not us. Frozen waffles and pancakes are fine with us but we wouldn't like quiche and don't eat meat. I'd just get pizza for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’re offering to make dinner for others but then want to serve them toaster waffles. But I guess they can eat candy later.

I specifically said I wouldn't serve what I might serve to my kids on a school night Halloween. If it was just us, and a Wednesday? Yes, my kids might get toaster waffles and scrambled eggs. But I'm not serving that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s totally fine. Just explain tradition. Make this easy on yourself. Mini frozen quiches that heat in oven. Breakfast sausage. If you want to be slightly fancy a spinach salad with strawberries and some cut up fruit.

THIS!
Please do this. You want to be careful how much you “do” because you don’t want to be stuck creating an elaborate spread every year.
I promise that years from now, the ONLY thing that will be important, is your tradition with your kiddos😍

[Anonymous]

I have eaten everything from pizza to crab cakes for breakfast so I would just serve what you want and call it breakfast for the kids

[Anonymous]

I think it's weird but I would like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any reason you can't serve breakfast foods on the side -- "for tradition, it's a kid thing in our house" -- along with a regular meal?

Well for one thing, I wasn't planning on guests tomorrow until like 2 hours ago, and have other things we need to do besides cooking two complete meals.

Okay, but your kids "are okay with anything "breakfasty," so toaster waffles or toaster strudel or cereal, right? That doesn't seem overwhelming to me to do on the side, or even a strata I prep and put in the fridge tonight and just pop in the oven tomorrow.

Honestly, if you didn't want to make a non-breakfast meal, it seems straightforward either not to offer or, at the time, to say, "Sure! But our pre-ToT meal is just breakfast. Is that okay?"

Did you just forget about the breakfast tradition when you offered, or something?

[Anonymous]

PS: ahhhh, I see it was set up by your kids! That makes a lot more sense, and I just didn't read carefully.

I'd let people know now, just casually, in case it changes any plans. And a quiche with salad sounds great. There's also a lot of store-bought stuff you can put on the side if you aren't up to doing much.

I think this is a good time to talk with the kids about being hospitable and still not promising away other people's time and resources without checking first. Hey -- any chance the kids could be involved in this, as a gentle natural consequence? They can help with prep or cooking?

[Anonymous]

Make pancakes or french toast shortly before, wrap in tinfoil and keep in a pan in the oven. Fruit tray. Bacon.

Quiche & Salad for those who want something more meal like.

[Anonymous]

Totally fine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS: ahhhh, I see it was set up by your kids! That makes a lot more sense, and I just didn't read carefully.

I'd let people know now, just casually, in case it changes any plans. And a quiche with salad sounds great. There's also a lot of store-bought stuff you can put on the side if you aren't up to doing much.

I think this is a good time to talk with the kids about being hospitable and still not promising away other people's time and resources without checking first. Hey -- any chance the kids could be involved in this, as a gentle natural consequence? They can help with prep or cooking?

My kid loves to cook so he'll definitely help, but I'm kinda proud that my kid found out that a classmate didn't have a plan for the holiday and invited him and his family over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it’s weird — unless you’ve mentioned this tradition to your guests. Maybe add a salad and enchiladas or lasagna or something like that to your menu, so that it won’t take a lot of effort while you’re preparing the breakfast foods but anyone expecting a more traditional dinner menu will be well taken care of.

You think enchiladas and lasagna aren't much work?

I think an entree that can be made ahead — or even purchased ahead with a bit of planning — is less work than many alternatives, yes.

[Anonymous]

If someone told me in advance that breakfast for dinner was their tradition, I would totally understand! If I didn't know in advance, I would be surprised but I love breakfast food so it would be fine with me. Agree you should have something savory and not just french toast casserole or something...quiche is a good idea or maybe bagels and spreads? You could have a jar of pizza sauce and shredded cheese in case someone wants a pizza bagel...easy to make in a toaster oven!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS: ahhhh, I see it was set up by your kids! That makes a lot more sense, and I just didn't read carefully.

I'd let people know now, just casually, in case it changes any plans. And a quiche with salad sounds great. There's also a lot of store-bought stuff you can put on the side if you aren't up to doing much.

I think this is a good time to talk with the kids about being hospitable and still not promising away other people's time and resources without checking first. Hey -- any chance the kids could be involved in this, as a gentle natural consequence? They can help with prep or cooking?

My kid loves to cook so he'll definitely help, but I'm kinda proud that my kid found out that a classmate didn't have a plan for the holiday and invited him and his family over.

I'd be proud, too! That's something to be proud of! And it's great that he can cook and wants to help. Two things to be proud of.

If he learns to check in with other people before promising their time, it would just be a third thing to be proud of. It's also an important lesson, and needing to learn that doesn't make him any less generous or kind.

[Anonymous]

It’s weird, it’s fine but you should also give them a heads up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS: ahhhh, I see it was set up by your kids! That makes a lot more sense, and I just didn't read carefully.

I'd let people know now, just casually, in case it changes any plans. And a quiche with salad sounds great. There's also a lot of store-bought stuff you can put on the side if you aren't up to doing much.

I think this is a good time to talk with the kids about being hospitable and still not promising away other people's time and resources without checking first. Hey -- any chance the kids could be involved in this, as a gentle natural consequence? They can help with prep or cooking?

My kid loves to cook so he'll definitely help, but I'm kinda proud that my kid found out that a classmate didn't have a plan for the holiday and invited him and his family over.

I'd be proud, too! That's something to be proud of! And it's great that he can cook and wants to help. Two things to be proud of.

If he learns to check in with other people before promising their time, it would just be a third thing to be proud of. It's also an important lesson, and needing to learn that doesn't make him any less generous or kind.

It’s a very important lesson, so he doesn’t grow up to be That Roommate or That Husband who doesn’t check with others before committing a shared household to plans, and doesn’t suddenly dump hosting duties on them.