If a bunch of teens show up to your house around dinner time, do you always feed them?

[Anonymous]

Of course. Summer time DH would grill a fea and I would make some sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. Summer time DH would grill a fea and I would make some sides.

Did you read? Empty fridge, just home from vacation.


OP- yes I would order pizza and wings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just pizza

Hotdogs and hamburgers on grill.
Chips and lemonade.

Kids we knew when they were in elementary school 10 plus years ago now growing up will still tell us how they always felt welcomed at our home.

And you get to meet who your child is really friends with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course. Summer time DH would grill a fea and I would make some sides.

Did you read? Empty fridge, just home from vacation.


OP- yes I would order pizza and wings

Giant food or Safeway really far from you?
No freezer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make PASTA

Is this different than pasta?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only have pre-teens but when does this change? I’d worry that their parents would be upset at me for feeding them. Or that their parents didn’t know where they were and were upset they were over at my place. Hungry tweens have shown up at dinner time and I just tell them to go home because it’s time for us to eat. I’m not a stingy person either and I do supply snacks galore.

This doesn’t happen with teens. Everyone is much more easy going and independent .

[Anonymous]

No. My rule is I’ll feed one extra but any more than that usually not. They can go out and get food and ask their parents for money. Or they can eat ramen (I usually have something like that handy).

They don’t usually expect to be fed, either.

[Anonymous]

I will also add as pp that this is bc we were the hangout house for the last year. In the beginning I used to order a pizza but I just can no longer do that, and only some parents reciprocate hosting/paying for food. If it was consistently mutual I would do it more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually yes. I just pivot and order pizza

This

Same. Pizza if I don’t have enough to offer dinner to the kids. Or the kids will walk out to a restaurant and DH & I will either eat on our own or ask the kids to pick something up for us, too. Parents of DS’s friends do the same (feed what’s on hand or order). But if a family has other plans, it’s nbd — it’s all very casual and the kids pivot easily.

DS hasn’t really had a regular group of good friends since the pre-Covid/lockdown/school interruption days. He is developing good friendships now, so I try to make sure our place is easy and comfortable to hang at — and having food is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We always do. On weeknights we tend to have something in the slow cooker in instant pot for dinners. For short notice situations like you had we break out the air fryer. Gotta keep the freezer stocked. Welcome to teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only have pre-teens but when does this change? I’d worry that their parents would be upset at me for feeding them. Or that their parents didn’t know where they were and were upset they were over at my place. Hungry tweens have shown up at dinner time and I just tell them to go home because it’s time for us to eat. I’m not a stingy person either and I do supply snacks galore.

This is me too.
One kid I might ask if they want to stay. A whole group? Nope.

[Anonymous]

Teens are hungry ALL the time. If just home from vacation and no food, I wouldn’t worry about it. There is always a next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teens are hungry ALL the time. If just home from vacation and no food, I wouldn’t worry about it. There is always a next time.

I was gone for several weeks, not just the weekend. We have some frozen food that would have been enough for 2-3 extra people but not 10 teenagers. This is just new territory for me. My kids often have 1-3 friends over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only have pre-teens but when does this change? I’d worry that their parents would be upset at me for feeding them. Or that their parents didn’t know where they were and were upset they were over at my place. Hungry tweens have shown up at dinner time and I just tell them to go home because it’s time for us to eat. I’m not a stingy person either and I do supply snacks galore.

You worry what other parents think?

Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. My rule is I’ll feed one extra but any more than that usually not. They can go out and get food and ask their parents for money. Or they can eat ramen (I usually have something like that handy).

They don’t usually expect to be fed, either.

Agreed.
We are also a hang out space in the neighborhood and I can't afford to feed 10+ teenagers on a regular basis. If I know that friends are coming for the day, I make sure I have food but if they show up unannounced, they are on their own.
There was a time when my friend was feeding my kids a lot because they were there at dinner time. I Venmo'd her a hundred dollars every couple of months to try to offset the cost of my moochers.