20 January 2023 , 09:15
1066
0
When you're in charge of the school run, it's not unusual for you to sort out making something for your children to have for breakfast while they get themselves dressed. As they get older, however, many kids will be expected to make their own breakfast, especially if it's something as simple as sticking some bread in the toaster.
But one woman has been slammed by her husband's ex-wife for "not feeding" her 14-year-old stepson in the mornings, who has been complaining about being hungry at school.
The woman explained her stepson lives with her for half the week and is often left to his own devices in the morning because his dad leaves for work early and the woman has a young baby to take care of.
She argued he should be able to make toast and cereal (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)This means the teenager has to make his own breakfast but has been choosing to go to school hungry and then moaning to his mum that he isn't being fed breakfast at his dad's house, Nottinghamshire Live reports.
His mum then fumed at her ex-husband, but the boy's stepmum refused to take on another morning job because he's "not a baby" and should be able to make a bowl of cereal or some toast by himself.
Mum's touching gesture to young son who died leaves Morrisons shopper in tears
In a Mumsnet post, which has since been deleted, she said: "My husband's son turned 14 in December. He lives with us half the week. In the mornings he's in school, he now walks there by himself and my husband goes to work before he leaves. We also have a baby together.
"Basically, it appears [my stepson] has been going to school without eating anything and has then complained to his mum about it, who's gone mad saying we need to be checking/telling him to eat in the mornings.
"Am I being unreasonable to say no? He's 14, not a baby. He knows where the cereal is kept, where the bread is for toast or fruit and yoghurt or whatever else."
The woman stressed that she's usually dealing with her baby in the morning, or will sometimes still be asleep if she's been up all night with the little one, so doesn't have time to make breakfast for the teen.
And she knows her stepson is capable of sorting out his own breakfast, as she's seen him make cereal in the past.
She added: "In the mornings, I am either dealing with a baby or even sometimes still asleep if they've had a particularly bad night and have gone back to sleep early morning. I'm not also messing about making breakfast for a teenager who should be capable of doing it themselves.
"Am I being unreasonable to say to [my husband] (I don't speak to his ex directly) that they need to speak to [my stepson], not me, about the importance of grabbing something for breakfast in the mornings if he is hungry and not waiting for someone else to do it for him?
"I don't get it because I know he can do it, I've seen him make a bowl of cereal rarely in the past. It's like he just waits to be told what to do or for someone to do it (which I suspect is what [my husband] and his mum do)."
Other mums were quick to defend the woman over her breakfast ordeal, with many saying that at 14, her stepson should be able to "crack on with it" himself.
One person said: "At 14 he is perfectly capable of getting his own breakfast. And if he isn't, well that's down to their parenting and they should perhaps look at teaching him some independence."
'I don't want children staying up late at weekends - I really need adult time'
While another added: "14? He is capable of, and should be, making his own breakfast without needing an adult standing over him. Just make sure he knows where the cereal, bowls, and milk are and let him crack on with it."
But someone else pointed out he may not feel "comfortable" helping himself to bread and cereal, especially as he doesn't live in the house full-time.
They explained: "Can your husband make sure that he knows what he's allowed to get and how he should leave the kitchen afterwards? (Bowl in dishwasher milk back in the fridge, etc). Possibly he's not comfortable helping himself. Just a guess. But yeah obviously you are not being unreasonable."