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Food at stepgrandmother's house

21 years ago

She lives on stale junk food, and when my nieces kids are there, they have to eat the same. My niece has tried giving the kids food to eat while they are over there, but she tells the kids it's terrible and they end up eating stale Christmas cookie and crackers from the Dollar Store.

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Comments (5)

RosieL
21 years ago
Many elderly people on a tight budget shop price not quality. Perhaps when you drop t he kids off, you can also leave some edible goodies and say - Got these on sale on Mom. They are the kids' favorites and I thought you might enjoy them too. My Grandma (I'm just into my 50's) passed away this year. She also treated us with the most disgusting food you can imagine. If she gave you Xmas cookies, you would wonder from which year. Even her tea had a moldy moth ball taste. I would do anything to sit at her table one more time to share a cup of moldy tea and eat some green coffee cake with her. Point is - I'm alive and those memories are some of the sweetest of my life.
tlescak
21 years ago
SEND GROCERIES WITH THE KIDS WHEN THEY GO VISIT HER. People who don't have kids, don't have cupboards stocked with children in mind.

I just went through the same thing a couple of weeks ago. My SD went to spend the night at my Mom's house. When she woke up my Mom had nothing for breakfast except a couple of chocolate cookies. And lunch consisted of a turkey sandwich served at 4:00 PM. I know it was just because my Mom wasn't thinking enough to go by the grocery store before my SD came over.

My wife was furious. She said "That's not how a grandmother is supposed to act, they're supposed to be baking things in the kitchen and trying to feed you all day long."

Oh well, I guess Betty Crocker has left the building.
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brandym
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When I was small my great great aunt was the same way. She was my dad's great aunt. I can remember going to her house and her forcing yucky chocolate cake and Sunny D on us. Not only did we eat it there, but she insisted on sending some home with us. I also remember cheeseburgers every time too. She was no cook. SHe ate her cheeseburgers with a spoon too. I'll never understand that one. The thing was we were not hurt. She thought it was what we liked. What grandmother is not going to give her grandkids cookies and stuff. The budget thing is probably a factor in it too. A lot of older people are used to buying after holidays thinking that a little stale food is not bad. RosieL is right. The chocolate cake and Sunny D made memories that will stay with me and one day I will share with my kids the stories of their weird Aunt Berthie and how she was so loving.
susan_in_nc
21 years ago
I second the idea of sending food with the kids. If you don't think it will be accepted easily, have the kids make it themselves to share "what they have made". My MIL is not a step, but was on a limited budget. I often "stopped" by the farmer's market and "picked up a great deal" and shared it. The kids also "packed" treats to share, brought recipes and the ingredients to "cook with her". I was just thinking of ways to get the kids food they liked while visiting (sometimes overnight). I heard later how much my MIL LIKED to have the kids "sharing" with her.

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mom_2_4
21 years ago
I agree -- send something with the kids. Many of the elderly have fixed incomes, but yet are too proud to take or ask for help. With my own Dad, I do the same thing Susan in NC does -- I frequently bring stuff over under the guise of "it was on sale and I know you like this" or "buy one-get-one-free" -- something like that, because he would balk if I just brought over a bag of groceries (although I once spent $300 on groceries and household stuff for him -- boy was he mad!).

Susan, your idea of having the kids make something is great. What a win-win idea!

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