re: Are more parents going to schools during lunch to spend time w/ their kids?

Yeah once or twice a year ill go eat lunch with my kids at school and they think it is the greatest thing in the world. Ofcourse they are 5 and 7 and think dad is the greatest man on this planet. I don't see a problem with making your kids feel special and bringing joy to their faces. Maybe OP should try it.

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I went to eat lunch with my 8 yr old daughter on Monday of this week. The reason I did this is she asked me to.

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I'm going tomorrow.

I have twin boys in Kindergarten. It'll be the 2nd time I go this year.

I don't see why it's a big deal, they're 5 year olds.

Did it a couple of times in preschool.

Once my kids hit regular school, I stopped.

Sounds like you were asked a likely innocent question and responded by insulting people who take the time to visit their kids at school. Even if it wasn't innocent, it's easy to brush off. You saying it was a "tired, knee-jerk" response indicates you knew you were not being diplomatic. If you had just said your days are full, and why, you would have the high ground and they may rethink the appropriateness of the question. Instead, you were defensive and took a shot. Maybe it was a shitty thing to ask but, justified or not, you came off as the bad guy.


And to the people saying those parents are "pussified snowfakes" and implying they don't have jobs, you have no idea. You literally have no idea. You know absolutely nothing about any of these people or their situations. It could be that they have worked so hard and are so successful, they have the flexibility and freedom to take time off when they want to. And maybe that's the norm at the school and kids who don't have lunch a few times with their parents are the oddballs. Who knows? I don't. The Rant certainly doesn't. Without having anything more to go on, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt

People say dumb things, often without ill will. Shrug it off and save your energy for things that matter. Good luck with the kids and kudos to dad. Sounds like a lot of work.

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You saying it was a "tired, knee-jerk" response indicates you knew you were not being diplomatic

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Bingo! That comment alone made it clear he knew it was wrong.

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And to the people saying those parents are "pussified snowfakes" and implying they don't have jobs, you have no idea. You literally have no idea. You know absolutely nothing about any of these people or their situations. It could be that they have worked so hard and are so successful, they have the flexibility and freedom to take time off when they want to. And maybe that's the norm at the school and kids who don't have lunch a few times with their parents are the oddballs. Who knows? I don't. The Rant certainly doesn't. Without having anything more to go on, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt

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It actually made me wonder if his wife did the bulk of the work, and he's just mostly clueless about the school stuff since he never did it before that this is so surprising to him that it happens. I mean, he has a 6th grader, so that's 7 years to know that this happens, especially at the younger age. My kids talk to me and routinely they'll tell me which kids' parents they saw at school.

My kids are in early elementary school. I go every so often with them. Their mom is a POS and I try to find things to make them enjoy their day...and if they want me to come eat lunch with them, then what's your problem?

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What is the deal with parents going to their kids' school for lunch to just spent time/have a "lunch date" with them? I don't mean during school sponsored events like Mom Mondays or Doughnuts with Dad. But like a random Wednesday, &/or multiple times a week.

I was asked why I don't do lunch dates with my kids yesterday at the PTA meeting. I'm a recent widowed father of 4 & my tired knee jerk reaction was "because I don't want to give other kids a reason to beat my kids up.....?"

I was asked to leave the meeting.

Then received a call from the school board office where they issued an apology to me & asked me to try to be more sensitive at future meetings & school functions that I plan to attend.

After some reflection, I'm looking to the OT to help me understand.

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i do this about once a month with my daughter and it makes her day.

also, you're an arse and i feel sorry for your kids

Look, I'm all for parents spending time with their kids, but there is such a thing as parents spending too much time with their kids.

After inconspicuously bringing this up with my kids & their friends over the last week I've further discovered that the kids who "love it" are kids with few or no friends. And yes, they get made fun of. Had to step in to make sure my kids aren't doing any harsh bullying. They did admit that they have not given harsh words to snyone, but they also haven't stood up to stop others from doing it. I mean, I get it. Most of you should too. You never give the bully kids anything to draw attention towards you in school.

My oldest daughter also admitted that my wife attempted to do a lunch date once & was promptly shut down to avoid her getting any flack for it.

Maybe/likely this varies from school to school depending on the school culture. But bottom line, I'm not going to do it to my kids, outside of the school sponsored events where all parents are expressly invited.

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It's fun to hang out with the kids when they still think you are cool and don't embarrass them

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Especially when you bring the food and all their friend see them eating something good.