Sunday Lunch

You want to start having my parents for Sunday Lunch…. How many Sunday Lunches will you get out of them???? Sorry couldn’t resist… But on a serious note would they want to join you for Sunday lunch every week? As much as we enjoy going to DiL, Sons and 2 Grandsons (11 and 8) for dinner DiL always cooks a roast on a Sunday beef and pork (normally eat around 5:30). There’s always plenty to talk about, we wouldn’t want to be doing it every week.

Sounds like setting up a recipe for disaster! As a parent and grandparent it’s nice to get an unexpected phone call asking us to lunch or dinner for no particular reason. Just as I think our adult children appreciate a phone call from us inviting them to drop in for dinner and to come even if one or more of the grandkids can’t make it!

Granra2
Abbreviations are explained in the 'How to use Gransnet' section. Hope this helps.

^What do all those acronyms mean?
You might have noticed that our chat forums are peppered with references to DiLs, DHs and AIBUs, along with many more nifty - and slightly befuddling - acronyms. If you're thinking it’s all a bit OTT and wondering what they all mean, you can read our handy guide here FYI. You’ll be chatting like a true GNer in no time. (Oh, and BTW, a GSH helps too! Lots of LOLs are guaranteed).^

Sunday lunch every week? No thanks, I'd find it too much of a commitment both as the cook and as the guest. I wonder if you could do something more informal - say a Friday coffee catch up - to start with?

I must be very fortunate with my eldest ds and dil.
ds cooks a lovely roast and from , occasional Sunday lunches, now nearly every Sunday.
they do eat later than I am used to, so we fit in. and dark evenings, I don`t like driving in the dark, so now, till lighter evenings. they fetch me and bring me home, cos, lunch/dinner actually is around 6 p.m. grand children are there as and when it suits them.. 4 grandchildren , one no longer living at home, so he comes as and when, with his fiancee and her 3 young uns.. other 3 come to dinner as and when suits their timetable.

wonderful,, I feel treasured

eazybee I agree with you - every week is overly ambitious, and Mel1967 will soon be wanting or needing to cut back a bit.

A lot of factors too - parents age, how far away, do they prefer lunch or dinner, healthful eating/time of day, trying to include all family (and girlfriend)?

Do it once a month. You can rotate every other month for a lunch or dinner. You can flip every other month from a Sunday and then a midweek day to accommodate everyone. A few suggestions.

I know most seniors prefer to eat their main meal at lunchtime - better for digestion. You can be creative in planning - pick dates and get them on everyone’s calendars.

You do not say how far away your parents live, or if they are no longer willing to be out in the evening, although your post suggests that 7 p.m is too late for them.

Everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion that you want your parents coming for lunch every Sunday, but you did not say this.

How about inviting parents for lunch on a Sunday then discuss when or if it would suit them for the whole family to come for a meal together, then discuss your parents' answer with your son and his girlfriend.

grandtanteJE65

You do not say how far away your parents live, or if they are no longer willing to be out in the evening, although your post suggests that 7 p.m is too late for them.

Everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion that you want your parents coming for lunch every Sunday, but you did not say this.

How about inviting parents for lunch on a Sunday then discuss when or if it would suit them for the whole family to come for a meal together, then discuss your parents' answer with your son and his girlfriend.

Many thanks for your reply.

My parents live about a 20 minute drive away. My mum does still drive (dad has never driven) - but she wouldn’t be happy to drive to mine and would expect to be picked up & taken back.

You’re right my original post didn’t mention dinner every Sunday - I was thinking once a month.

Dinner on a Sunday would be about 6 if our son & his girlfriend were at home (they live with us).
If it was just my husband and I it would be 2ish.

I think it would be a good idea to all get together & discuss 😊

Change the day to one that suits everyone.

petra

Mel1967
You once asked for conversation ideas when you see your parents.
Now your thinking of entertaining them every week. 🤷‍♀️

Well, I was puzzled, too.

I suppose they could all talk about the meal, who's going to do the washing up.
Then put the tv on.

(dad has never driven)

That is most unusual. I do know women in their 80s who have never learnt to drive (can't understand it myself) but have never come across a man of that age who hasn't ever learnt to drive.
Can your DH fetch them if you're cooking?

I agree with everyone who’s saying weekly and every Sunday is a bit OTT. Why not start off fortnightly and one Sunday cook at lunchtime and save some for your DS and his GF, and the other Sunday cook at 7pm???

Callistemon21

^(dad has never driven)^

That is most unusual. I do know women in their 80s who have never learnt to drive (can't understand it myself) but have never come across a man of that age who hasn't ever learnt to drive.
Can your DH fetch them if you're cooking?

My DH is 69 this October, he doesn’t drive, never has, had lessons once and never took his rest! I do drive.

Cossy

Callistemon21

(dad has never driven)

That is most unusual. I do know women in their 80s who have never learnt to drive (can't understand it myself) but have never come across a man of that age who hasn't ever learnt to drive.
Can your DH fetch them if you're cooking?

My DH is 69 this October, he doesn’t drive, never has, had lessons once and never took his rest! I do drive.

Oh! I know of one now

Thank you for the clarification - I think most of us read I want to start having my parents for Sunday Lunch as if it was going to be a regular (and werkly) commitment!

Once a month sounds much more manageable!

Why don't you have Sunday lunch with parents and invite girlfriend, then the odd weekday lunch out with your son and parents? That way everyone gets to visit, but not necessarily at the same time, or too late in the day.

Callistemon21

^(dad has never driven)^

That is most unusual. I do know women in their 80s who have never learnt to drive (can't understand it myself) but have never come across a man of that age who hasn't ever learnt to drive.
Can your DH fetch them if you're cooking?

Possibly a medical reason. Dad couldn’t drive because he was blind. When eventually they could afford a car Mum learned to drive. She would have been mid 40s. She continued driving until hospitalised with her last illness.

Greciangirl

Change the day to one that suits everyone.

Unfortunately there isn’t another day that would suit everyone, mainly due to the hours that my son and his girlfriend work

Callistemon21

^(dad has never driven)^

That is most unusual. I do know women in their 80s who have never learnt to drive (can't understand it myself) but have never come across a man of that age who hasn't ever learnt to drive.
Can your DH fetch them if you're cooking?

He never wanted to drive - now 83 and mum didn’t pass her test until she was 50 - she’s 81
It would be collecting as my husband cooks Sunday lunch/dinner

petra

Mel1967
You once asked for conversation ideas when you see your parents.
Now your thinking of entertaining them every week. 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for your reply.
If read my original post it does not mention entertaining every week - it just says that I want to start having them for Sunday lunch.

I'm sorry Mel1967 that many of us read this as though you wanted it every week.
I honestly think it's the "start having" in your opening sentence which I read as meaning all the time. I suppose that's why you have so many not 100% helpful replies!

Apologies.

weekly get togethers for everyone might be a bit over th ise top - especially for your son and girlfriend - I know my AC would not want to be tied down - your parents might also find it a bit much. I would think monthly lunches would be easier for everyone. Do a Sunday lunch if that's what you and your parents like and let your son and girlfriend join you if they can. Otherwise you are being hard on yourself. It is kind of you but people don't always want to be tied down to times.

Could you go out to a country pub perhaps?

Surprised a couple of people have said grandparents are more interested in their own children than their grandchildren. Mulling.

As a newbie - Me too! 🙏🏻😂

Many thanks for all your comments.
What a shame that the majority of people didn’t actually read my post properly ☹️
Still lots to think about 😊