playdate ettiquete

[sarahandeddie]

Tomorrow we are meeting our former neighbor and her DD at the zoo. We meet up with them several times a year and we have the same issue each time.

I always pack snacks for my girls and she never does. Then when my girls ask for a snack her DD complains she's hungry. So now I pack enough for her DD but I don't feel like I should have to.

So what is the proper etiquette when you meet up for a playdate? Should I be providing snacks for the other little girl?

[pinkluna]

I don't know what is proper etiquette, but I always bring extras just in case. I wouldn't expect other moms to do the same for my kids but that is why I always pack something, especially for a long day at the zoo.

[traceyt07]

I agree with pinkluna, I always bring extra.

[babywinks]

I always bring lots of food - seriously it's ridiculous sometimes - because I know that kids this age always want to mooch so I bring enough to share. The other mom should do the same. But I would just ignore it and bring extra snacks as long as you all have fun together.

[britbratjf]

Um that's super annoying. I usually bring a little extra to share since at this age kids always want what other kids have but other moms do the same. I couldn't imagine just not packing snacks for my kid.

[trixi282]

Yeah, same as the other ladies.... She should be packing something for her kids unless she plans on buying them food (which obviously has not been the case previously). But I almost always pack more than I know J will eat because kids like what others have! Or sometimes I dip into the snacks too, haha.

Case in point, our MN GTG after I first moved back, I had a big bag of goldfish... As most did too. But Coco had purple goldfish, and J wanted those instead of her plain old original ones, haha. Coco was so kind to share, but it was funny because they tasted the same, she just wanted them because they were different. Good thing Xanthe had packed extra too!

[xanthepants]

Yeah I just pack a bit extra so we can share. I would eventually get a little annoyed in your case too, but I wouldn't want the kid to suffer because the mom is a flake if you know what I mean. Drinks I don't bring extra necessarily. Maybe you can slide a comment in about sharing or something?

[sngraves]

I'd probably mention it in passing the next time we set up a play date - "Want to go to the aquarium Saturday? Awesome... oh yeah, don't forget snacks, you know that food cart they have is pricey!"

I don't think that you should have to feel obligated to provide snacks for her child, but like everyone else I tend to bring a big assortment of finger foods when we go out and would share if I needed to.

[sarahandeddie]

I don't mind sharing but it'd be nice if she would bring stuff too. This has happened every time we get together. I'm going to try and find a way to politely say something.

At least for today the kid will have some snacks. I packed extra applesauce, fruit snacks and cookies. Hopefully that will suffice for the hour or two we're together.

[heatherbee]

Whenever I go with other kids I bring extras. I also usually plan with friends to spilt what we bring. Like I'll bring the goldfish, someone else brings grapes, someone else brings applesauce, etc. and we each bring enough for eveRy kid. Maybe suggesting something like that would help?

[justbeth]

Just a view from the other side, as I don't usually pack snacks if we are only going to be gone an hour or two. Emma isn't much of a snacker, so if it were just us she would most likely not ask for a snack and I would most likely not think to bring one. But, if someone we were with pulled out food Emma would instantly start whining for food whether she was actually hungry or not.

So if we routinely met someone who always had snacks I want to think I would remember to bring something since Emma would want to eat if the other kids were, but if it were just us going to the zoo I would just bring a bottle of water and call it a day.

[sarahandeddie]

I was shocked today because the other mom brought 3 packages of fruit snacks. DD#1 also offered to share her cookies with the other kid instead of them each having their own.

It turned out to be a great day. We got there right when it opened so we beat the crowd and all of the animals were out and very active.

[bantyrooster]

Awesome she brought some! I also always bring enough to share. It never fails even if I have tons of snacks G always wants what others have and vise versa. Our group always brings enough for everyone and we share.

[sarahandeddie]

May 9, 2015 21:33:01 GMT -5 bantyrooster said:

Awesome she brought some! I also always bring enough to share. It never fails even if I have tons of snacks G always wants what others have and vise versa. Our group always brings enough for everyone and we share.

Hopefully she continues bringing a snack too. I don't mind sharing but it stinks to be the provider all the time.