Dealing with parents

[playfelt]

If you absolutely can't terminate then you will need to develop a plan that allows you to be flexible. If I remember some of the issues make meals in individual portions you can warm. Feed your son at the appointed hour. When other child arrives unfed - put him in his chair and zap some food for him and sit with your own son at the table and make a puzzle, read a book, etc. as in feed one and play with the other. Child can be eating while you put the others down for naps. Then come back and put him straight from chair to bed - assume he will need a diaper change cause dad likely didn't do it.

Just like a baby on an odd schedule you had to fit into your day just assume you will need to do the same for this child. Stop punishing the other children for it though. I think that is what is making you angry in a way is that your own child is suffering. So stop making them others adjust their schedule. Just find a way to make both work. Yes it will mean ignoring the parttime child a lot while you go about dealing with the others but that is not your problem it is the parents'. You are just making the best of a bad situation.

As the child gets older they will start to resent the treatment and then you can use the child to speak with the parents - well if you don't like eating alone then tell your dad to bring you in time to eat with your friends - hoping the child will go home and say that. At the door it is ok to bring it up and say XXX was upset again, because they had to eat alone while the rest of us did whatever. It is too bad he comes after lunchtime not having eaten. I just feel eating lunch is more important to his well being than painting a picture or reading a story so unfortunately that is the part of the day he misses out on and he is upset. Maybe if you could either bring him earlier or feed him if he is arriving later he would be happier.