GrandChildren Visits/Nothing Left To Eat

Children are hyper active. They love to run and eat. They love so much activity and fun. They never get tired eating and playing. My parents have 3 grand children and we love them.

I don't have any grandchildren, yet, but I do have two grown sons. While they were younger, pre-teens and teens, they ate everything in sight! I believe it's because they are growing fast and usually have a growth spurt somewhere around 12 or 13. I'm sure that's why your grandsons eat you out of house and home. As for the computer, I would insist that they have a time limit on the computer. I made a chart with each hour listed beneath each day of the week. Yours would be Saturday and Sunday, I imagine. I told them they could each have 3 hours a day on the computer (during the summer when they had no school) and they could pick the hours they wanted, with no exceptions! I always made sure that I had picked some time of my own first, though, because I worked on the computer and had to commit to specific hours each day to do it. Maybe you could do the same? Or at LEAST let your grandchildren know that you want to use the computer at a certain time each day they spend with you. They really shouldn't be allowed on the computer so much. Obesity and other health issues in kids is increasing rapidly and I believe it's because of the internet, TV and video games. Children just aren't getting the physical exercise they need to be healthy. Also, they 'snack' while on the computer and don't usually eat healthy snacks while doing it. As a grandparent, we've earned the right to spoil our grandchildren, but not to the point where it's not healthy for them! Are they allowed to hog the computer when they're at home? If not, that may be one very good reason that they love spending the weekends so much! It sounds like they're visiting grandmother's computer rather than visiting grandmother! Maybe you should put your foot down about the computer and give them a time limit. Then, suggest other things where the three of you could do something together. Good luck!

My grandchildren are the same way. Food tastes better at someone elses house. They are just so active that they do burn it off. I think its also because we may keep things that their parents dont. My granddaughter loves mandrin oranges. I always have them for her even though its not something her parents buy often. They like me to cook special things sometimes. They are usualy snacking the entire time, they are here. I buy grapes and lots of healthy things so they dont just load up on sugar!

It's a dirty job but someone has to do it. They're normal kids my dear and as much as we hate to admit it, it's all good and one day they won't be comming to grandmas' house nearly as often and we'll miss them dearly. That's why we stock up on their favorite snacks so it's all here for them and we can complain about it with love and we wouldn't change it if we could. If only we knew grandchildren would be this much fun we could have had them first. hehehehe

i dont know i used to be the same way when i was a kid. even tho im a girl. grandma used to say i was growing when mom fussed at me my grandkids do that same thing and granddaughter stays on myspace when shes over here

Wow, sounds like some ground rules are in order. I know you posted this four months ago, but I'm new. I hope things are going better by now though. I'd set up ground rules with their mom/dad. Explain that they can't be eating you out of house and home and if they require a high calorie intake that they perhaps help you stock up. And I'd stick to rules that they eat certain things at dinner only. In our house fries are not a snack. Try keeping lots of fruit like apples which are high in fiber around. These types of snacks will keep them full longer. If they are spending the night try making them oatmeal in the morning as this will stay with them longer. I know it's easy to give in because you're grandma, but it is your house. Just like you did with your children, set limits on things like TV and now the PC. Again, I hope things are going better by now. Namaste-Anora

children are sometime slike that. i am single and the young children that visist our home are my niece and nephew. My nephew is too small to eat anything hard. he is only on milk. My niece does like to take chicken, fish etc too much. children love to take what they want.

I think children eat so much during their teen years because they are going through the biggest growth spurts at that time. My children have their own computer so they have to share it with the grandchildren when they come to visit. The grandchildren are not allowed to touch grandma's laptop. No, no, no.

I do not let the children hog the computer - they are there to visit you - not the internet. as far as the food. boys this age are ravenous and I don't think their appetite wanes for more than a few years.

My grandkids are to young, but their parents act like this sometimes.

I have a little 8 yo grand daughter and she is a really picker eater but she eats alot for me. Constantly wanting something to eat. i feed her only healthy stuff. We took her out to eat the other day and she ate about half her hamburger and not a single fry - then we get home and within an hour she is asking for food. A little chat between us and she says she likes to eat my cooking better when sheis at my house, but hates to eat at home at daddys house cause they dont' cook very well! I have a 2 yo grand daughter and sheis the same way - eats practically anything as long as she can dip it in mustard or ketchup! I make these baby cheese burgers - use pilsbury biscuits for the bun, small burger patty and a square of cheese. I make them 20 at a time, and freeze them, then wrap them in a napkin (frozen) and nuke them for 45 seconds and they are perfect every time! I do the same thing with sausage for a breakfast sandwich. I keep soup on hand - Campbells chicken noodle is the only they will eat so I watch sales and stock up! But that is a snack, not a lunch item. I got a couple other things that I keep on hand - Hamburger Helper is great - not the junkie it sounds. Just exactly what you'd buy only in "serving for four" size. Add fresh burger just like you would on your own. They have so many varities and the girls love several - the salsbury steak and the lasgna ones. Taco salad is quick and easy - use tortilla chips instead of a taco shell. Place chips, add seasoned burger meat, lettuce and cheese and hot salse. OR buy ready made pizze crust, your own toppings or ones the boys will like, let them make the pizza themselves, gives them someting to do and off the PC nad visiting iwth you for awhile!!! GOod luck and enjoy your kids. I miss mine so much when they aren't here!!

Time to set some rules in your house Grandma!!! Don't let them eat all they want. Set limits in your house. And set limits of the time they can spend on your computer! I think at that age boys eat a lot.... growing and going through puberty. My son is 12 and going to be 13 on Nov 4th (really close in birthdays huh!! :-) and he would eat everything in my house if I let him, but he is also very active so I know he works it all off. I have two brothers who were that way from age 10 - 30, so go figure! Good Luck!!!

Ya know when i first got a computer my son, 32yr, told me not to let anyone use my computer coz they can mess it up. The few times i have allowed this they have so no i do not let anyone use my computer. My daughter comes over with her kids sometimes. The 3 range in age from 9yrs to 3yrs. The 9 yr old eats alot now. Growing spirt i guess. His mom tells him he is eating too much. I tell her to leave him alone and let him eat all he wants. I feel its worse if you give them food and they dont eat it. Boys ages 12 and 13 are big eaters. They probably will be till they are like 16 or 18. Those are growing ages. They need that.

Hi Chevee, I don't know, its just what children do but I draw the line on my computer, its a private thing with me, even my husband has his own computer, actually I have the LapTop and he has the big computer. i don't have any children but when my friend children was you, they usd to come round my house and eat the house and home up. Hugs. Tamara

I think that is just kids, I had 7 kids and they could do some real damage to the groceries! Now with 5 kids in the house we still go thru alot and man milk at least a gallon a day if not more! We just took one of our 2 year old grandbabies home and she could eat too! Add her twin brothers that are a year and yep I better have plenty of foods. LOL! I have yet to have all the grandbabes at once but I have had 6 kids all 3 and under with the 3 teens here during the summer. That was interesting too. All I can say is enjoy it while we can, as they grow all to fast. Oh and as for the computer, I have my own as I work online to make a little extra money but we do have another for all other household members but right now all grandbabies are to young to use.

[i]Hi Chevee, Kids love to eat a lot, it's like their recreation too but there are also kids whom you will force to eat because they always don't have appetite... I remember whenever my family and the rest of my parents's siblings will visit their parents, we are always eating..LOL! Everyone brings food and share to cook! [/i]

hi chevee the kids at thirteen have a much higher metabolism ' than women who are grandparent age, thats why they eat andeat again and being thats its at grandmas. they will eat even more. lol Teens are like walking food digesters, they scarf down more that I could ever eat, and I am no slouch.I only wish I had grandkids to hogg my computer, but if I did thats one thing they would luck out on. My computer, my use, nobody comes between me and my computer, not even my adult son. lol lol lol lol.

Boys that age are bottomless pits, there is no getting around that. As for the computer, remember it's best to pick the confrontations with teens. They are just there for a short time and I guess i would just enjoy them. I don't think you can change anything at this point. They will grow up. Lots of love

LOL, my Grandson's not old enough for that yet - he's only 4 months. But I remember my Mom always had special treats for the grand kids when they visited. I think it's almost expected of the Grandparents. They didn't have a computer so that didn't happen. Not sure what my Grandson will do. There may be some kind of new gadgets by then

Yes, teenage 'or nearly teenage' boys can eat and eat. They never stop as they are growing. Mine too take over the computer, much to my annoyance as they usually mess it all up. What are us Grandmothers for but. We would not of let our own Children away with it but. We mellow as we get older.