[email protected]

In a message dated 6/5/2003 9:32:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:


> My only advice it to either hide it (which always feels wrong and stingy
> when
> I do it) or set ground rules early (which is hard when you don't have them
> for your own and your kids might not understand) or limit the number of
> children
> at your house to a couple at a time (which seems to punish your own children
>
> too).
>
> I look forward to "hearing" creative ways others deal with this. Sometimes
> it
> still is a bit of an issue here, especially with DH, I just mostly raise my
> eyebrows at them and it stops anymore trips to the cupboard or fridge or
> freezer.

This has been a problem here in the past. We have the "neighborhood
pool"---so we are the summer hang-out (besides, we're the "cool" parents). After one
HORRIBLE summer---five boys & two girls here from 9:00 am to dark two
snacks/day---and often lunch and supper---and VERY often overnight as well---we sent a
nice letter to all the parents. We explained how much we had spent the last
summer on snacks and drinks. We were one girl short (moved), so there were 6
guests. They each were in charge of the snack and meals that day. They could have
the children show up there at their homes for scheduled lunches and suppers or
they could send it here in the mornings with the child.

Worked out great.

~Kelly


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