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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Why Do People Need Food in Their Cars?
lovemykidstoo 10:04 AM 03-15-2016
I have written about this family before. Two boys (brothers), one almost 5 and one almost 2. The older dcb has huge eating issues. Barely eats anything here or at home. He likes to snack (on junk). Eats gummy everything before coming here and after leaving here. Hmmm wonder why he doesn't eat meals. he runs to the car before mom every day to rummage through it like a bear looking for food. yesterday he had 2 helpings of crackers about 45 minutes before she came. He ran out, mom followed with other child. I close door, grab a handful of crackers, sit and eat them, go back to kitchen to change the clock on the stove and look out and she was still in the driveway. I thought wtf. I asked dcb today what was happening and he said he was lookiing for a snack and brother was in the way back of the suv, so mom had to open the tailgate to get him. Holy crap. This is every day. She can sit out there all day for all I care, but our driveway angles towards the garage, so if she parks in the middle of the driveway, my husband cannot get in. Why the need to feed these kids crap on the 2 mile ride home? Then she wonders why they won't eat dinner.
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childcaremom 10:20 AM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by lovemykidstoo:
I have written about this family before. Two boys (brothers), one almost 5 and one almost 2. The older dcb has huge eating issues. Barely eats anything here or at home. He likes to snack (on junk). Eats gummy everything before coming here and after leaving here. Hmmm wonder why he doesn't eat meals. he runs to the car before mom every day to rummage through it like a bear looking for food. yesterday he had 2 helpings of crackers about 45 minutes before she came. He ran out, mom followed with other child. I close door, grab a handful of crackers, sit and eat them, go back to kitchen to change the clock on the stove and look out and she was still in the driveway. I thought wtf. I asked dcb today what was happening and he said he was lookiing for a snack and brother was in the way back of the suv, so mom had to open the tailgate to get him. Holy crap. This is every day. She can sit out there all day for all I care, but our driveway angles towards the garage, so if she parks in the middle of the driveway, my husband cannot get in. Why the need to feed these kids crap on the 2 mile ride home? Then she wonders why they won't eat dinner.
I would address this only. Tell her where she may and may not park and leave it at that. As for the rest of it, what happens on their time is on them.
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LovingLife 10:21 AM 03-15-2016
I have a similar case too! New 2yo has a bowl of cereal/pretzels/crackers when she comes at 6:30 am, then needs her bowl before she goes home...20 minutes after snack. It's a 10 minute drive. And dcm is 'shocked' when dck refuses meals and tells me mom will give her crackers. Ha!
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EntropyControlSpecialist 10:23 AM 03-15-2016
Perhaps, if she mentions that they won't eat dinner, you can suggest that FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE you've noticed that if you fed/feed your child a snack somewhat close to dinner time then they won't eat anything you serve so you've learned to serve the last snack at 2:00 that way they're hungry by 6:00.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 10:24 AM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by LovingLife:
I have a similar case too! New 2yo has a bowl of cereal/pretzels/crackers when she comes at 6:30 am, then needs her bowl before she goes home...20 minutes after snack. It's a 10 minute drive. And dcm is 'shocked' when dck refuses meals and tells me mom will give her crackers. Ha!
I had a 4yo like that here, except it was cookies. Mom told me she didn't know what I thought I knew but she certainly didn't have cookies at home.

I said, "How weird that DCG thinks she gets a cookie at home to fill her up if she eats no meals here. Maybe it's just a phase."
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lovemykidstoo 10:25 AM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by LovingLife:
I have a similar case too! New 2yo has a bowl of cereal/pretzels/crackers when she comes at 6:30 am, then needs her bowl before she goes home...20 minutes after snack. It's a 10 minute drive. And dcm is 'shocked' when dck refuses meals and tells me mom will give her crackers. Ha!
Oh crap there's more like her? ugh! lol What happens at their house I really don't care, but it's affecting my home now and that ticks me off.
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lovemykidstoo 10:28 AM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Perhaps, if she mentions that they won't eat dinner, you can suggest that FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE you've noticed that if you fed/feed your child a snack somewhat close to dinner time then they won't eat anything you serve so you've learned to serve the last snack at 2:00 that way they're hungry by 6:00.
We did have this conversation about 2 months ago when she asked my opinion. I told her my son wouldn't eat when he was about 3 and we asked the dr about it because we were worried. The dr asked if he was filling up on junk and snacks and we said no. he said don't worry about it then, that he would eat when he was hungry. I also told her that if our son didn't eat a meal, that we would wrap it up and THAT is what he had for snack later. In one ear out the other.

Hilarious about the cookies. Love it!
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lovemykidstoo 10:29 AM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by childcaremom:
I would address this only. Tell her where she may and may not park and leave it at that. As for the rest of it, what happens on their time is on them.

True, altough I wish 10 minutes of "her" time wasn't sitting in my driveway at the end of the day. It was a good 10 minutes too. Funny thing is, as close as she lives she would have been home within that time.
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childcaremom 10:40 AM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by lovemykidstoo:
True, altough I wish 10 minutes of "her" time wasn't sitting in my driveway at the end of the day. It was a good 10 minutes too. Funny thing is, as close as she lives she would have been home within that time.
I would tell her that she cannot stay parked in the driveway like that as it is potentially blocking your dh or other clients. That driveway parking is for quick drop offs and pick ups. If she needs longer than x mins to get her children buckled in, she is welcome to use the road.
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LovingLife 10:41 AM 03-15-2016
Sorry, I'm new to posting, so I can't multi-quote, but my favorite story is while dcg is digging for her bowl dcm tells me how she's furious with grandma who gave dcg juice. She actually said that she refuses to have her daughter raised that way and that V-8 splash is full of chemicals and on and on. And...dcg had a bowl full of cheese balls and fruit loops for the ride home. It was all I could do to assure Mom that I have not/would not give dcg juice and maintain a straight face while biting my tongue as to what I wanted to say!
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midaycare 12:11 PM 03-15-2016
The majority of my kids here all get snacks in the car on the way to and the way home from daycare. I don't know why, unless it's to keep them quiet.
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Blackcat31 12:28 PM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by midaycare:
The majority of my kids here all get snacks in the car on the way to and the way home from daycare. I don't know why, unless it's to keep them quiet.
gets my vote...

I think its the same for the DVD players too.

I had a family several years ago that arrived about 20 minutes early. Sat in the driveway, not getting out.

When they did come in, I asked mom what the hold up was... she said the DCK was finishing up an episode of Spongebob.

It wouldn't be so funny except the family lives like 2 blocks away from daycare.
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MunchkinWrangler 12:35 PM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
gets my vote...

I think its the same for the DVD players too.

I had a family several years ago that arrived about 20 minutes early. Sat in the driveway, not getting out.

When they did come in, I asked mom what the hold up was... she said the DCK was finishing up an episode of Spongebob.

It wouldn't be so funny except the family lives like 2 blocks away from daycare.
Same here, tantrum about no more Ipad after the car ride. I don't get it, I understand on road trips but how did we ever survive when we were kids and we took road trips everywhere. Most kids can't suffer a 20 minute car ride these days without distraction. My son loves to go for a car ride and he has never had electronics to keep him busy and I'll never start either. I can count on one hand the amount of car tantrums I've had.
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SnowGirl 02:56 PM 03-15-2016
As a newish mom (DD is two), I just want to brag that our car never had those types of distractions. She can go on a two hour trip just looking at books, singing songs, drinking water, and maybe catching a catnap.

My family went on an annual 13 hour road trip (not including stops) and we only ever played car games (as in license plate games, alphabet billboard, etc), read books, sang songs, and slept. It was fun with us four kids and mom and dad! I hope to have similar memories for my kids

Sorry to give myself a pat on the back like that, but I'm in need of the boost today anyway
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lovemykidstoo 06:19 PM 03-15-2016
Originally Posted by SnowGirl:
As a newish mom (DD is two), I just want to brag that our car never had those types of distractions. She can go on a two hour trip just looking at books, singing songs, drinking water, and maybe catching a catnap.

My family went on an annual 13 hour road trip (not including stops) and we only ever played car games (as in license plate games, alphabet billboard, etc), read books, sang songs, and slept. It was fun with us four kids and mom and dad! I hope to have similar memories for my kids

Sorry to give myself a pat on the back like that, but I'm in need of the boost today anyway
You should give yourself a pat on the back. My husband comments all the time how my daycare kids when they are coming and going are just something else. Our son was in daycare until he was almost 3 and he never behaved that way. He would walk in and walk out, get in and out of the car with no problems. This mom that I wrote about here didn't have any problem getting her kids into the car today because she brought them cookies. ugh I give up lol
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Rockgirl 05:48 AM 03-16-2016
I've noticed the trend, too. Kids can't take a car ride across town without a snack and a movie. I was a mean mom, I guess. Our kids weren't even allowed to eat in the car.
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Mad_Pistachio 06:28 AM 03-16-2016
probably, one of the biggest mistakes I have made was allowing my daughter to have her iPad in the car on the way home from daycare (mind you, it's on the other side of the town, and traffic can be a pain in my neck). the cartoons on iPad went on for about 2-3 months, until I realized that she was now expecting it (well, yeah, I made her expect it). one day, I just left it home. that's it. yes, we still take it for long car rides (4+ hours or so), but in town? um, no. look out the window.

as for the food... I bring string cheese, prunes, and some juice. because this is the only time she will eat string cheese and prunes. cookies, candy, and chips don't reside in my car, I've deported those long ago.
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284878 07:12 AM 03-16-2016
This reminds me of when I was fostering. On some occasions workers would help transport the kids. One time the worker stopped at mc d on the way home because the kids were hungery right after school. we had dinner on the table when they walked in. I questioned the worker, asking why did she feel they could not wait 30 minutes to eat. Then I emptied the bag placing the untouched burgers on the table. Then pulled out their after school (3rd meal) meal and placed the empty candy wrappers on the table and uneaten fruit. That let her know they had food and she was played.
Guess who did not want to eat dinner? Plus I ended up tossing the burgers.
Some of the workers carried food in there car, only junk, kids knew this, (I did not at first) the kids were always excited to ride with these workers. Sometimes they would take extra and pocket it, again not eating dinner.

Yes, I have kept raisins or peanuts in my car for snack while we ran errands or for times we were visiting family or at a doctors appt during meal time. (not to be eaten in the car but to have available when needed)
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lovemykidstoo 07:32 AM 03-16-2016
Well mom came yesterday and I asked her if she had a problem the day before. She says, oh why? I said because you were in the driveway a long time. Oh, the kids were all the way in the back of the car (suv). She had to open the hatch to get them out. She fixed the problem though, she brought cookies today for them. LOL. That got them right in their seats haha. DUH!
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