Quote:
Sure, it is their rules, but you also need boundaries. My mother in law lives with us. We pay for all the food. Now, she has her own money, but I prepare all the food. For things that we all know is "community", it's fair game - apples, milk, yogurt, cheese, orange juice, etc. No need to ask as everyone knows that is for everyone.
But we also know there are specialty things. I buy protein shakes and bars for myself. my husband and kids and MIL know these are MINE. Doesn't mean I won't share, but they need to ask first because for me, these are a staple and something I NEED to have around as a safe snack. if we all decide we all want them, they can be moved to the "family" thing, but for now, they have other alternatives they can eat. I don't. So, out of respect for me and my needs, they don't eat up my specialty foods.
My mother in law also buys snacks for just herself - coffee nibs, biscotti, etc. She doesn't ask me to buy them as only she would eat them. We know these are hers. If we ask, sure, she would share, but we know these are hers for her special treat.
Same with the kids - they have goldfish crackers and their favorite bread. We don't eat those because they are special for them and the kids would be upset if their "go to" is gone.
It's called common courtesy. We don't open other people's mail. We don't go into other people's bedrooms, etc without respecting their privacy. That includes my teenager son's room.
So, I think that Lauren is being mature here. She didn't ask her parents to buy a specialty snack JUST FOR HER. She knew that would be selfish to expect her parents to buy her something just for her. She would share if asked, but it would be a courtesy to ask. NOW... if she had asked her parents to buy it and they bought it and then Lauren got all snooty - totally different, but it's just showing respect - it goes both ways - adults to children and children to adults.
I think you are misunderstanding what i mean by 'rules'. I don't mean her father is going to be a dictator. I mean that if he buys all the food in the house and she has not yet asked him nicely to leave her diet food to her for her special reasons, and its his house, when he goes to his fridge and sees a popsickle why shouldn't he have a popsickle? If I had to work all day to pay for all the things everyone needs and then be told off for having a popsickle? I would rethink my arrangements with my child. If that child came to me and was like hey mom I'm on this diet and I really dig popsickles but since they are special popsickles I am buying them myself would you mind if only I had them? Ok cool but maybe invest in your own fridge so I don't get confused and can carefreefully take what I want from the fridge I payed for. I'd even arrange odd jobs that child could do to raise money for its own fridge. But I'd also expect that child to be paying some of the rent and utilities after they hit 20. Thats me. Thats my opinion and thats how I'd raise my children. I'd want them to learn fiscal responsibility and hard work early on and I'd want to give them that sense of independanceOriginally Posted by berryblondeboys
No, I don't agree with that at all. Sure, it is their rules, but you also need boundaries. My mother in law lives with us. We pay for all the food. Now, she has her own money, but I prepare all the food. For things that we all know is "community", it's fair game - apples, milk, yogurt, cheese, orange juice, etc. No need to ask as everyone knows that is for everyone.
But we also know there are specialty things. I buy protein shakes and bars for myself. my husband and kids and MIL know these are MINE. Doesn't mean I won't share, but they need to ask first because for me, these are a staple and something I NEED to have around as a safe snack. if we all decide we all want them, they can be moved to the "family" thing, but for now, they have other alternatives they can eat. I don't. So, out of respect for me and my needs, they don't eat up my specialty foods.
My mother in law also buys snacks for just herself - coffee nibs, biscotti, etc. She doesn't ask me to buy them as only she would eat them. We know these are hers. If we ask, sure, she would share, but we know these are hers for her special treat.
Same with the kids - they have goldfish crackers and their favorite bread. We don't eat those because they are special for them and the kids would be upset if their "go to" is gone.
It's called common courtesy. We don't open other people's mail. We don't go into other people's bedrooms, etc without respecting their privacy. That includes my teenager son's room.
So, I think that Lauren is being mature here. She didn't ask her parents to buy a specialty snack JUST FOR HER. She knew that would be selfish to expect her parents to buy her something just for her. She would share if asked, but it would be a courtesy to ask. NOW... if she had asked her parents to buy it and they bought it and then Lauren got all snooty - totally different, but it's just showing respect - it goes both ways - adults to children and children to adults.