I have several eateries near our home. I usually will order Pizzas. By the time the pizza is delivered I am able to bake a batch of almond cookies.

I just order them food. Sometimes trays from chick fila, sometimes pizza. My teen is at friends’ houses at meal time as often as his friends are at my house, and I think it all balances out in the end. Plus I like my teen’s friends and I like it when they want to hang out at my house.

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.

It changed for us when the boys were about 6th grade and the appetites started. They could eat a pizza as a snack before or after dinner. I never had the mass appetites with my daughter and her friends and would have ordered pizzas but they were more likely to get out all of the baking supplies and make cookies or something.

By the time they have cells, parents know where they are. They either can track them or send a text and ask. So again, for many this is around 6th grade.

If this was my DD and her swim friends showed up I would just order pizza and feed them all. We’ve all taken turns hosting, taking kids to the movies, covering dinners, having sleepovers, etc. that I would just think of this as my turn. I’ve found that now that my kids are older this taking turns covering things happens way more frequently, and since no one in their group has taken advantage I just roll with it. They are all good kids too so I like encouraging these friendships.

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.

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

This

This is where I order a few of the $6.99 dominos pizzas, maybe throw on a couple of their other sides. They don’t care about quality and need the quantity. You can’t beat 5 for $35 to feed hungry teens.

In that situation, no. If I had the money and hadn't started dinner, I'd probably order pizza but not on a regular basis.

It really depends on if I'm trying to actively encourage that or not.

My older kid and his swim team friends show up. He's been friends with them forever, and I don't think that's going to change. Usually I'd feed them, but if I didn't have food I wouldn't hesitate to say "sorry not today" or "who has money for pizza?".

My other kid, who really struggles to make friends? I'd be thrilled if he brought a group over and would order them pizza or burritos or whatever.

This sounds unfair to my older kid, but not really since over the course of a year I spend way more on feeding his friends.

I make PASTA

Pizza and ask that they bring paper plates.

Yes, I would just order pizza (although my daughter doesn't like it, would make her something else).

Just pizza

Usually yes. I just pivot and order pizza

A whole gang of teens showed up at our house right before dinner time. We just returned from travel and our fridge is empty. I barely had enough food to feed our own family. Think they got hungry and left. I would have ordered them pizza but they left before I could.

This is new territory for me as usually plans are made in advance. Kid usually asks if people can come over and we set a time. This was different as there were some kids I didn’t even know. They just came as a group.