The father works late hours or is bedridden sick and the kids are old enough to watch themselves for a few hours, but not old enough to cook a decent meal, and although they technically could survive on cold cereal, the mother prefers a healthier meal and hopes that someone can help out once in a while.

And even in that scenario its a stretch. This just sounds like either the mother doesn't think that the father can take care of the kids, or the father doesnt want to try. Either way its a bad take.