Eating out for dinner is not an option anymore. We've decided to become a takeaway family for the next few years.
We thought we could tire N out by playing in the park for an hour and having her wander around safeway. But by the time we got to dinner at 6pm she was a) starving, b) cranky and c) up to no good.
She managed to hold it together whilst waiting for the food, but as soon as the food arrived, she went into full on out of her mind mode. I spent half the meal outside with N and then once Deepti finished her meal, tag teamed and swapped.
The result was as expected. N was calm enough outside, out of the high chair. By the time we got through our meal, the only thing keeping her calm was an empty can of coke. Yes, we're that bad parents.
The drive home was as calm as could be expected, but then N lost the plot and started eating the plastic from the loaf of bread and crying her lungs out when Deepti changed her nappy.
N's asleep now. It's been a traumatic afternoon for all involved.
7 comments:
Sounds hellish. We haven't taken H out to dinner anywhere for months now, but that's more to do with the fact that her bedtime kicks in at that point so we haven't had the chance. I remember when she was just a couple of weeks old and would sleep wherever we put her bassinet, including in a noisy restaurant. It's also strange to think that because we've never taken H outside anywhere at nighttime, she's doesn't know what real stars look like.
We used to take N out for evening dinners - it was fun when N went everywhere in a pram or stroller. She'd only disappear into unhappy states occasionally, but most of the time we had a good time. Yesterday, from the moment we stepped into the restaurant until I declared defeat and gave her a coke can, she was cranky.
Dinner out happens at 5.15 or 5.30 in our family. We're home and H is in bed by 7 that way. It's not terribly civilised, but you can always get a seat in a restaurant.
Yeah, 5pm dinner's sound great - now just have to find a bloody restaurant in snobby SE Melbourne that opens that time!!
Restaurants? You've got to be kidding! We gave up on them a year ago. All except that one Korean restaurant downtown where the owner plays with Jinu while we eat. That's what you need, AD.
Actually, Jinu's been pretty good for my lifestyle. I eat more fruit. I eat out less. I watch less TV. Except for the lack of sleep, he's probably good for me.
Bob, now childcare restaurants, that's a business idea. Government subsidized meals, excellent.
We do not eat out for dinner with our children.
Ever.
Not even with relatives.
Not even at relative's houses.
Christmas dinner we will eat at home, just us. Boxing Day we will host the relies so we can feed the kids first and put them to bed.
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