Striker and I went to dinner at Lucilles tonight to spend some of his birthday money (thank you Helga and Art!). While we were waiting for our meal we were chatting about dining out with small children versus getting a baby sitter. As a childless couple we are firm believers in baby sitters. We also learned that neither of us were ever watched by anyone other than family when we were little, we know that we were lucky.
Shortly thereafter a family of 4 sat down across from us. Like my discrete photo? Thankfully I remembered to turn the flash off first!
We then experienced the following from the daughter who we estimated to be between 12-18 months old:
Shrieking repeatedly - just when we thought it was over it'd start again;
Sugar packets - rather than bring toys to entertain the girl, the mother allowed her to "play" with all of the sugar and artificial sweetener packets;
Baby chair/booster seat refusal - the whole reason they sat next to us is because they requested to be moved to a booth when the daughter refused to sit in a baby seat-really?;
Playing with steak knife - just when I'd accepted that I could live with the shrieking, I looked over and saw her playing with a steak knife and yes, her mother was watching her do so;
Climbing the wall - shortly after the steak knife incident, the girl was climbing the wall. The top of the wall was a mesh screen thing and not glass like it looks like.
Striker and I stand by our beliefs! Side note: I have dined with small children and their parents before and they have kept their children entertained and quiet or removed them from the restaurant. Therefore, I do not feel that I have unreasonable expectations.
9 comments:
Lol. I have to say that I enjoy dining out with Faith. I have never witnessed her "shrieking." as a former waitress, the sugar packet entertainment is almost as annoying as letti kids mash up crackers and dump on the floor. Steak knife??? Not good
I have a niece and nephew who are not perfect kids by any means. When we go to eat we make sure it is near their dinner time, provide many toys (stimuli), order their food asap... And then reward them with ice cream during our dinner.
We have had to take B out of the restaurant. I was a nanny for 4 kids and we went out to eat at least once a week.
Hehe, I had to comment on this one.
Babysitters are a luxury. Good luck with finding one. I hate to ask and burden my family. I like to save them for emergencies. (I do have friends that the Grandma insists on babysitting at least once or twice a month to ensure "Grandma time".)
For a night out, a babysitter is required. I believe a healthy marriage needs a date night quite frequently.
When you go out to eat on the weekdays, it is really because parents don't want to cook for everyone, not that it is a night out. Therefore, this is "the dinner table". Parents can teach their children proper dining out etiquette. (Every experience is a teaching moment.)
That being said, there becomes a time, around 10 months-2 years old, where you DO NOT go to the restaurants. You can not reason with a toddler. It is less stressful for all parties involved to just wait this period out.
P.S. The high chair and booster seat refusal exists with every child some day. It is there way of stating they are not "babies" anymore. Totally a sad and annoying day for the parents.
Benches really are the best for families because you can trapped your kids, but still give them space.
Besides the steak knife, that is pretty much par for the tee.
Ruth - so glad you commented. Your advice/input is always invaluable.
Ps: word verification is still on despite promises to the contrary...
Ruth is very right. Finding a good babysitter is near impossible. IF you can find one, teens today want $8-15 an hour depending on how many kids you have...not an easy price to pay on top of your evening out expenses.
The high chair/booster seat days are limited, especially for kids who have an older sibling who is not in one.
But I agree....parents should teach their kids to behave in restaurants or stick to the Carry-Out menu. Even as a parent, it still burns my hide to see parents that don't reign their kids in while in public.
I have experienced a similare annoyance in a Casino buffet of all places. We were once at Pechanga and this huge party of people were in the restaurant. This pary included children under the age of 6. Well the buffet was already crowded with too many adults as it was,and these kids were walking up to our table,running around, and of course the one adult watching them would just walk behind the toddler in a "isn't it cute our baby wants to explore manner." It was just ridiculous. And to top it off the manager was no where to be seen! I mean find a sitter/family member if you want to go out gambling! It had to be a family that was staying in the hotel because otherwise those parents were just a little touched in the head to think this kind of craziness was normal!
As a person without kids, I have to agree with you. I have even asked to be seated in sections of restaurants where there are no children (not that it helps because inevitably kids are seated near me).
I am okay with certain behavior of kids in restaurants, as it is to be expected, but I do get very annoyed at the parents who don't make their kids behave. I have been sitting in booths in restaurants and the kid in the adjacent booth is staring over the back at me as I eat and I've had one go so far as drop crap in my hair. Did the parent's do anything? Did the parent's make the kid sit down and stop bothering the other people in the restaurant?
I will never use sugar packets in a restaurant again, just the thought that some kid has been using them as a toy really bothers me.
When my niece and nephew were that age and we would go out to eat, we would always go late afternoon/early evening so that there wouldn't be a lot of other patrons to bother. Besides, later in the evening, I would think would be bed time for them.
Um.....Sydney was happily shrieking at Starbucks this morning.....I didn't know what to do but luckily it didn't go on too long.
Jane gives Sydney sugar packets when we have gone to restaurants.......
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