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Remember what it was like before you and your spouse had young children? Wasn’t it nice to just pick up and leave whenever you wanted to? Then, if you wanted to go to out to eat you just grabbed the keys, hopped in the car and went.
There was no worrying about diapers, wipes, pacifiers or extra sets of clothing. Life was simple…and dining out was a relaxing departure.
For most parents, though, going to a restaurant with young children is very rarely described as relaxing. How many times have you said: “Stop throwing your fork,” “Please stop yelling,” or “Don’t get out of your seat again”?
While dining out with children may never be as relaxing as it was before you had kids, there are steps you can take to make the dining experience a bit more pleasant.
First of all, look for places that cater to families. You’ll sacrifice a bit of the ambience you and your spouse enjoy in your no-kids dining, but there’s something to be said for an establishment that has booster seats and high-chairs, and doesn’t mind if your son or daughter throws french fries on the ground.
It’s also a good idea to go before the dinner rush. Because most people go out to eat after 6 p.m., make sure you’re there well before the others arrive…sometime around 5 p.m. is best. This option has several advantages: You’ll get seated quicker, get your food quicker, and be able to dine in relative obscurity (which is a very good thing when the kids are not behaving).
While many restaurants offer crayons and paper placemats for kids to color on, it’s not a bad idea to bring some of your child’s favorite small toys. If he or she is happy and content when they’re playing with that toy at home, there’s a good chance they’ll be happy and content in the restaurant. And that’s a very good thing!
And by all means, do not let your kids fill up before heading out to the restaurant. Keep them hungry. The more time they actually spend eating while at the restaurant, the better.
That goes for you, too.
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