We've all been there. The evil sideways glances from other patrons, the snooty service with rolling eyes, the floor covered in food and spilled juice, your patience gone, you vow to never do this again. Eating out will have to wait until they go to college.
I vowed when my son, Dane, was born, that he would be one of "those" kids: sitting politely, using adult utensils, trying new foods, and joining in on conversation at the restaurant table. Three years later, we're still working on it.
We have our good days and bad days, but when eating out with Dane or his young cousins, we use the following advice:
1. Never, never go out to eat approaching nap or bedtime. This goes without explanation.
2. Start eating out when they're born, even sitting in their car seat. They will start learning manners right away from you, and it will become part of life.
3. Get to the restaurant early and get out early before the evening or lunch crowd comes. Everyone will appreciate it.
4. When traditional crayons and coloring books no longer work, we whip out our iPhones. There are some really great toddler and kid-oriented applications these days (
http://dvice.com/archives/2009/05/10-best-iphone-1.php), that will keep them occupied for hours; just turn off the sound.
5. Order the kid's food as soon as you sit down - hunger creates grumpy monsters.
6. As hard as it sounds, don't order from the kid's menu. Take the opportunity and introduce them to real food. They may not like everything, but if they don't have it on their plate, there is zero chance they will even try.
7. Tip generously. Take it from a former waitress. Serving and cleaning up after a messy kid's table for little money leaves wait staff not very happy to welcome you back for round two.
Don't give up! What are some of the things that you do to make it through the meal?
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2 yearss ago