Sunday Lunch

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

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.

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???

(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?

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.

Change the day to one that suits everyone.

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 😊

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.

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.

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

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?

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!

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.

Could someone please all the abbreviations used on this forum? I’m lost among all these initials. 🙈

Does everyone want this commitment, I would ask them all first if they want to commit to a meal together every week.

Does the girlfriend have to be in attendance? They are your family - either you and DH see them on Sunday or see them when your son is also available and you and DH can spend time with son and gf on a different day

Have lunch when it's fine for the grandparents (they might not want / be able to eat late) ad then the son & girlfriend can join you for coffee, or not. Remember that they have to get back home. Also - why are you committing yourself to a weekly thing?

I think you are over thinking this.

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

Have you asked for the family’s suggestion on your proposed plan rather than GN members as they are the ones who will be affected.

Sunday lunch is very much a moveable feast for DD, SiL and GS. GS plays football every Sunday, so it can be as early as two o’clock or as late as five. I don’t mind; I’m just very happy to have them here. When my son comes to lunch, you can set the clock by him. Always arrives by eleven thirty; lunch is always on the table by one thirty. If I had to arrange to feed them all at the same time, it would be a nightmare so separate invitations are the best solution.

Dinner at 7pm on a regular basis would be far too late for us but that's a personal choice.
Why not invite your parents for Sunday lunch once a month and perhaps organise a separate event, a light evening buffet, occasionally, for when your DS and his girlfriend are available?
Personally, I would find a weekly invitation a bit overwhelming and restrictive.
You parents might also have other plans in their social diary.

Just have your parents and catch up with son and girlfriend another time. Not worth stressing over really.

Maybe start earlier and invite girlfriend over "for pudding" - how old is your son and his girlfriend? Surely they will understand.

Personally I wouldn't want to do this every week - not as the grandparents or as the parents and certainly not as the grandson or girlfriend!!

Surely your parents are more interested in you?
They may find 7 far too late - my mother-in-law now likes to eat at 6 -having always eaten at about 7 or 7.30 when younger.
Don't forget if food is on the table again 7 you won't get up from it till 8... how long does it take for them to get home? What time do they start getting ready for bed?