RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Thought we could use a thread for this as I could not find another one specifically about this topic.
I'm a mom and have been taking my daughter to restaurants with me since she was a baby and here are some of my thoughts on what worked for me and what didn't. Disclaimer: I was blessed with a super laid back, amiable child so your mileage may vary. I know all kids are different, I'm not telling you what to do.
I'm really happy I took my daughter (B) out as much as I did. By the time she was a toddler, she was able to eat just about anywhere. She was a regular at Bexley's Monk (tavern side - my brother bartended there) and has been going to the Thurman her whole life, back before the remodel and the Travel Channel. It still makes her happy as a teenager to be friendly with the staff, who remember her when from when she was really little (we only went with her during the day, not later at night when it turned more bar than restaurant).
Things that worked for me:
I never assumed that places that don't cater to kids will have things like coloring books or sippy cups - I brought my own so that I was prepared. I always had a booster seat with me too, just in case. Granted, it's been a long time and maybe more restaurants have them now.
I never scheduled a meal during nap time. That was asking for trouble.
I was always prepared to leave at a moment's notice. I only had to do it a couple of times, but I always knew the meal might end up being take out.
I always cleaned up after my kid and always tipped very well. I found that once the servers figured out B was a pro, they were always more than accommodating and almost always friendly. I can't count the number of special little desserts she got. I figured they had been burned by a lot of parents who let their kids make an awful mess and just left it.
Often, places were fine making small adjustments to regular menu items to accommodate B. I always tried to know what the place offered versus what she would eat.
I wish I would have exposed her to a wider variety of cuisines and not been nervous that she wouldn't like it. Personally, I'm glad I took her out as much as I did. She is comfortable with adults and I never have to worry that some stupid boy will be able to knock her socks off with a cheesy surf and turf dinner :)
I think what most people object to are *poorly* behaved kids and parents who are not willing to be flexible and compromise. I'm thinking most of the posters on this board do not fall into that category and the people who don't like dining with kids have been burned by bad experiences.
EDIT: By compromise I mean allowing kids to scream, throw things or run around without disciplining them or leaving.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.