In specifically situation 2, I do not understand at ALL why LW is:
a. continuing to allow that kid to come with them for lunch or b. not saying directly "No, sweetie, your mother gave you that to cover your lunch. Pay for your lunch first, and THEN we will consider going to the toy store." Or, better yet, taking the money off of her right as her mom gives it to her and saying they'll "hold onto it" until Mom gets back. Then LW can give change and receipt to the other parent later.
As for situation 3, LW needs to find a few cheap and filling-but-boring meals and start making those week after week. Pasta with tomato sauce will fill a crowd on the cheap - especially if you either make the sauce yourself or buy the canned sauce instead of the jars - and while the kids will eat it, they won't come over just to have it. Alternatively, I actually have quite a wide repetoire of dishes that are basically cabbage + potatoes with optional ground beef/sausage and/or egg noodles and/or carrots. You cannot get cheaper than that, honestly, and none of these recipes taste bad, but nobody is going to ask for the recipe for their mom. They're just food to eat. Give 'em all apples for dessert and call it a day. (Edit: I forgot. You can get cheaper than that, and it's called "beans and rice". One week Mexican, another week Indian, just swap back and forth.)
Alternatively, they need to start sending these kids home half an hour before dinner time except when they've already decided in advance to feed them. You don't even need to talk to the parents. Just say "Welp, time to cook dinner, EVERYBODY OUT!" at a set time.
no subject
a. continuing to allow that kid to come with them for lunch or
b. not saying directly "No, sweetie, your mother gave you that to cover your lunch. Pay for your lunch first, and THEN we will consider going to the toy store." Or, better yet, taking the money off of her right as her mom gives it to her and saying they'll "hold onto it" until Mom gets back. Then LW can give change and receipt to the other parent later.
As for situation 3, LW needs to find a few cheap and filling-but-boring meals and start making those week after week. Pasta with tomato sauce will fill a crowd on the cheap - especially if you either make the sauce yourself or buy the canned sauce instead of the jars - and while the kids will eat it, they won't come over just to have it. Alternatively, I actually have quite a wide repetoire of dishes that are basically cabbage + potatoes with optional ground beef/sausage and/or egg noodles and/or carrots. You cannot get cheaper than that, honestly, and none of these recipes taste bad, but nobody is going to ask for the recipe for their mom. They're just food to eat. Give 'em all apples for dessert and call it a day. (Edit: I forgot. You can get cheaper than that, and it's called "beans and rice". One week Mexican, another week Indian, just swap back and forth.)
Alternatively, they need to start sending these kids home half an hour before dinner time except when they've already decided in advance to feed them. You don't even need to talk to the parents. Just say "Welp, time to cook dinner, EVERYBODY OUT!" at a set time.