I'm starting to feel like I'm not normal?

[playfelt]

It is a very British thing to have "teatime" as in a big snack right after work and then to have a later sit down dinner. Hubby comes home starving and has toast or a sandwich - doesn't take much to eat at work for lunch so yes he is hungry but not ready for a meal mentally just wants to sit and relax from the day a bit.

What I like is having the last child leave and then still having time to cook supper without them underfoot.

But like anyone with kids knows you fit food in where it can be. Hubby doesn't get home till 6 on Mondays and leaves for choir at 6 on Tuesday so those meals vary. A crockpot works so well in case he is later on Monday I can still eat.

[bright sparks]

It is a very British thing to have "teatime" as in a big snack right after work and then to have a later sit down dinner.

Teatime is not in addition to Dinner time in England. Tea time IS Dinner time. It's just different terminology. In fact for me and everyone I know in England, being English myself, There are three meals a day. Breakfast, Dinner and Tea so I think it's just different terminology like I said. The wording "Tea time" originally comes from "afternoon tea" where way way way back in the day, like my grandparents generation, and probably on special occasions for my parents growing up with their traditions, they would have a cup of tea and a scone. But dinner time was typically at 6 and afternoon tea was anywhere from 2-4pm. Its also like something called "elevensies" a mid morning snack to put you on to lunch. In this day and age obviously this is different for everybody, but generally afternoon tea doesnt strictly exsist for english folk in recent generations. It's only for tourists or for those who watch WAY to much british tv and are miss informed lol. Its like English Muffins...I didn't see them for sale in the grocery store till I moved to north america and I would only see them in England at McDonalds with a sausage pattie and phoney egg on it.

Rather than eating dinner and putting kids to bed at certain times based on pressure from others opinions, it needs to be a decision each parent makes based on whats healthiest for their child and every child is different.