Eating out with toddlers is literally one of my least favourite experiences. But with two children of my own, one of whom is a tricky toddler, sometimes I need or want to take the little people out.
After a long week in the house with bedtimes and bath times (always a joy come Friday night) it’s nice to mix it up. I usually also feel optimistic my husband and I can muster just enough energy to take the kids out for dinner.
But let me set the scene for you. When I say ‘go out’, I mean exit the house for approximately one hour, to order from a place I know will serve us both alcohol and vaguely decent bistro food in a fast and orderly fashion. We are home by 6.30pm, exhausted from chasing our youngest son Leo up and down stairs and with slight indigestion. But dinner is done, and there is no washing up – great result!
One of our favourite places to have a relaxed family meal feast at the trough, is our local club. A cavernous space reserved mostly for older people who eat at 5pm and families with anti-socially aged children. The club does genuinely great ramen and bao, as well as proper burgers and for our eldest son on special occasions, there is a chocolate fountain (the only place left in Australia perhaps?). Kids meals come with crayons and the bar is reasonably priced. It’s a winner all round.
On this particular Friday we had arranged to meet another family with two children to enjoy our pariah status as parents of youngsters together. We grabbed a large table just after 5pm and armed with enough toys and books to entertain an entire preschool we felt like we were nailing the whole family Friday night out thing.
Top Comments
If your child is making enough noise to disturb other paying guests than plain and simply... You are rude and selfish... Eating out is a privilege not a right. People are PAYING to have a break. They are not paying to have to listen to a child making noise. I have two young kids and when I actually get to go to a nice dinner I want to eat without hearing kids making noise. I get so annoyed at how entitled other parents are.
This was a non-event. The woman made a totally reasonable request. If I took my two-year-old out and he screamed in the restaurant, I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone was bothered. I'd apologize, take him outside for a little while, let him blow off some steam, and try again. This is all par for the course when you have a little kid. The most surprising thing about it is that YOU were surprised.