It isn't often that we go out to dinner. First, it is expensive, second it is hard work to get that many kids looking acceptable for public viewing and third, it's expensive. When I am trying to keep the food budget below national standards taking kids to a family friendly restaurant does not make the list of to do's. But, last night I decided to take the four youngest out for dinner at a restaurant that shall not be mentioned and it was a nightmare. The girls were actually well behaved considering we had to wait over an hour for our food. After we were seated and ordered drinks, we looked over the menu and made our choices. We placed our order and started the waiting game. We played "I spy", "can you guess who", and colored the kid menus. This is usually enough to get us to the part where they bring out the food and all is well. That didn't happen, instead I got the "I'm so sorry but we have lost the ticket and we have to put the order in again" visit. So we waited longer, good thing I carry colored pencils and paper in my bag. We all proceeded to color and wait longer. In the mean time there was another family out enjoying an evening together. However you wouldn't be able to tell from all of the yelling that was occurring at that table. Sit down, sit still, keep your hands to yourself. Don't get me wrong, I have had and still have all of these "discussions" with my children. But really after the third "That's it you're not getting any dessert and I mean it!" I was ready to turn around and say, really do you really mean it? Both of those kids had dessert. Of course I was then serenaded with a chorus of "if you don't keep your hands to yourself you will not watch TV for a week!" To which my question is Really, are they really not going to watch for a week? It would probably be a good idea to limit their screen time but they did get that ice cream, remember. Honestly parents, if you can't mean it don't say it. Why would he stop, he is going to get whatever he wants. Finally our food came, we ate, we left a tip and finally we went home. Yes, I said nothing of paying for the meal, they were apologetic enough to give us our meal for free. I would have happily paid for it mistakes happen, however the unpleasant parenting that was happening behind us left me wondering how some people ever make it to adulthood and are useful people. I will be the first to say I am not a perfect parent nor are my kids perfectly behaved all of the time in every situation. They however know I mean what I say and there will be follow through.
