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Kid has no etiquette!


Posted: Aug 20, 2013

My son's best friend is at our house quite a bit, along with other kids, we have kind of an open door policy with the kids friends.  The BFF of my son, this kid has zero etiquette and I'm not sure if I should say something to him or if that would make him feel bad or embarass him.  He is an only child, being raised by his grandparents and they do tend to spoil him.  At my house, like this weekend, I had a pack of 10 hotdogs that I cooked for 5 kids that were over.  Well this kid came in the kitchen and ate FIVE of the hotdogs before the other 4 kids even knew it and didn't think anything about it.  My kids would have seen there were 10 and known that it would be two hotdogs each.  He continuously goes through my fridge and cabinets and just eats whatever he would like.  I never really govern what my kids get out and eat, but they don't eat as much as him!  One day I had leftovers from the night before and I had planned to heat them for dinner that night and this kid came over, I was in the office working, came out and he had helped himself to the leftovers, making me have to plan an entire new meal for dinner!  He goes to church with us as well and last week at church they gave out snacks for the kids and he kept asking if he could have more and more.  The lady was trying to be nice about it and telling him she had to save enough to make sure everyone had some, but he just kept asking!  I know I need to do something, because it really is driving me crazy, but I don't want to hurt his feelings.  My kids would never behave this way at someone's house, they take food if offered to them and they don't sit at someone's house and just eat all day like he does at mine.  Even when I tell ALL of the kids not to sit around eating all day out of boredom or whatever, he acts like he is separate from them and I'm not talking about him.  Like last weekend when 5 kids were over, the BFF asked me why we didn't have cereal and I told him because milk was too expensive and I didn't want them going through a gallon of milk in one day.  This kid then went to his house and brought a box of cereal over and I saw him eating it.  I said "I told you I didn't want everyone drinking all of the milk and he said "I know, I told them they couldn't  have any".  That just really infuriated me!  So, you are going to tell MY kids, who I shop for (2 of them are mine) that they can't have cereal because I don't want the milk gone, but you feel that YOU can have the milk?  Help me here please, I love kids and my son is very close to this boy, I just feel I'm going to snap on him!  He is 14 years old by the way.  Thanks

;

Sometimes in life - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
We get our feelings hurt. It's not the end of the world and a lot of times we learn valuable lessons from it. The choice is yours, either lay down some rules or quit complaining about it.

Another possibility - Another Mom

[ In Reply To ..]
Is it possible the child is hungry, as in not getting enough food at his home? There are usually deeper issues when stuff likes this happens.



No, that's not it - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
His grandparents take him out to dinner just about every meal, because he prefers that. They are very loving, but VERY spoiling of him and he's not hungry. Almost every time he comes over he has a restaurant cup in hand where he just went to eat and sometimes brings his leftovers or something with him. He is a typical "eat all of the time" teenager I suppose, but it's overbearing and I cannot afford it.

Your house, your rules--sm - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
My guess is that at 14 and consuming that amount of food, he is probably going through a growth spurt, but, it still does not excuse the amount of food he is eating. I think it would be time to establish some ground rules for people at the house. If you have snacks or food for people, tell everybody beforehand what has been allotted. If you cook hot dogs, tell everybody together that it is 2 a piece.

It may be good to have allowed snacks set out so there is no question of what can be consumed and say that everything else is off limits. This makes a clear boundary. You can let him know that he needs to abide by the rules of your house or he will not be welcome. You can let the rules be known to everyone at once and then talk to him separately if necessary. It may help to talk to his guardians to let them know what is going on.

In our house, the kids are allowed 2 pieces of fruit a day, unlimited access to carrots and celery and can have other veggies as they are available. Anything like chips, soda, ice cream, crackers, whatever is rationed. Budget is of course a huge part of the reason why but also for health reasons. We are trying to give them good habits for the future. In the teen years, many kids can get away with eating unlimited quantities of junk but it does not help prepare them for middle age when things are a wee bit different.

Why don't you talk to his grandparents? - nm.

[ In Reply To ..]
.

I think the fault lies with you I'm afraid. - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I wouldn't make a big deal out of this, but I would say he's been allowed to do this because you have let him thus far. Just be straight forward and let him know what you expect and how things are done regarding food/meals in your house, and if he can't abide by them, then there will be consequences, such as limiting him over at your house until he can obey them. Kids want and need bounderies and it is up to us parents to set that example and implement them. So instead of getting angry with him and how things are going, change them. Be the adult and set the rules. I don't think it's neccesary to involve the grandparents. It's just a kid that feels at home and eats you out of house and home. If you have to lock up food or hide it, let it be. I have to do that with 3 grown boys in my house, and they are my own! I don't buy more food than I need because it will get eaten. Just take a stand nicely and don't make a big deal of it. It will work out, just set the boundary. Good luck!

wise words - nm

[ In Reply To ..]

Question - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Are you sure you're the adult in this situation?

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