Tuesday, August 19, 2008
How to go out to dinner as a family of four.....
1. do not always plan on actually getting to the restaurant, that would be first and foremost, just so you don't "set yourself up" for let's say.....dinner as a family of four.2. pack a change of clothes for each child, a different sized diaper for each, snacks for the toddler (you know, for the 15 minutes it takes to get to the restaurant), juice box for the same ride, bottle of breast milk for baby, formula and scoop for extra (just on case she is hungrier than usual), rattle, space in your bag for the shoes that the baby will kick off, and finally remember your purse so that you have your real items like phone, wallet, etc.
3.plan on what you are having before you get there so that the order can be expedited (please don't think that you can actually peruse the menu leisurely). A part of you wants to phone your order in but another part of you wants to feel as though they are truly dining out so they stop you from doing this.
4.when parking the car ask the question "which kid do you want"? and follow suit. How parents of more than two children or a single parent do this....beyond me (please enlighten).
5. if you can sit outside do it, if not, pick a table that has 1. easy access to bathroom, or 2. next to another family of small kiddos (you won't seem so freakish).
6. when the server gets to the table, apologize ahead of time, and learn his or her name and smile frequently (laying a twenty on the table in plain view wouldn't hurt either).
7. all a blur (you think you ate, you think you drank)
8. you rock the car seat, stick in the pacifier, tell toddler to use her fork, blow on her hot food, keep wine glass away from toddler, keep salt and pepper shakers away too, in fact you have given the server the sugar caddy when you first sat down.
9. ask for the check (now it has been confirmed because you are paying for the alleged food/drink).
10. leave restaurant and talk about how it wasn't so bad and look lovingly into your partner's eyes and say "remember the good old days" and the have you partner say "yes...but these good new days aren't so bad".
11. love your partner more than you did when you got there and realize that the kids will be going down to sleep the second they get home and know that you can then actually have a conversation with your partner.
12. blog about it the next day with a big smile and wonder when we'll be going out to dinner as a family of four again :)
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10 comments:
Hey friend! Remember me? I'll be back in full swing by Monday! I've missed you guys!
I'm just sitting here nodding my head...yes, yes, yes, uh-huh, yep. LOL
But we wouldn't trade it for the world!!
Yeah it's way funner when you are outnumbered! WAY funner! Glass of wine? Where are you going with these gals? Chili's is a fancy as we go ;)
As a "young" family of 5, we don't go out to eat as a family of 5. Sometimes it is 4 or 3. Call me chicken. I don't care. I cannot handle the chaos.
#8 had me ROFL. My uncles used to give Caitlin their lemons from their tea. She would proceed to pour 20 packets of sugar on them & suck away. We "do" practice handing off the sugar packets, now.
Yes, I definitely remember those days when my kids were smaller. I can't tell you how many times my husband or I muttered "omg this is SO not worth it", but we would keep doing it of course! :)
I wish I had this guide when my kids were smaller. It does get easier now that they are a little older. But we do get those special times when they revert back to their needier days.
My girls are olders now and well behaved in restaurants, but I do remember how it was, and you've captured it perfectly with this post! We were at a restaurant the other night and sat next to a table that was full of kids and we think 2 maybe 3 families. It was total chaos. The parents kept trying to get the boys to quit playing/fighting with the straws while standing next to our table!! lol. We thought it was hilarious and didn't care! Once the kid get into grade school you can go on a date with your spouse at lunch time. It's awesome!
Well those days are kinda over. Samantha is fine but Chris is another story. Although I wouldn't mind going back to those days. ;)
Well those days are kinda over. Samantha is fine but Chris is another story. Although I wouldn't mind going back to those days. ;)
I only had one child and I can still relate to this! VERY well written! I look back and remember those days. It will get better....really it will!
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