Erin was nervous about taking her two kids to the pool by herself.
Teresa threw caution to the wind and took her three to the movies.
Yesterday, it was my turn. I took the kids out to a restaurant to eat by myself. And when I say restaurant, I don't mean fast food. I mean a place where you have to be seated and order your food and wait for them to bring it to you.
I usually work on Wednesdays, but this week I was off. Good thing too, because after listening to a jackhammer for eight hours, I had a migraine and was heading towards lockjaw from so much tense clenching. Although it would have been really cool to go see Tracy and her girls today, the crews spend most of the day replacing the perfectly good concrete that they tore up, and it was quiet.
We hit the pool in the morning, and Maureen actually got in right before I was getting ready to pack them up and go home. So I didn't put on more sunscreen, my back is burned again, and my H is going to get mad at me again for not taking care of my skin. However, at this rate I'm going to have an awesome tan by the end of summer. What's a little skin cancer risk, when it comes to looking good in a sundress, right?
Anyway, after her nap we went back to the playground, where it rained just enough drops to make the air horribly humid and unbreathable. Then the black flies showed up and started feasting on my ankles, so I decided I didn't feel like cooking and asked Johnny what he wanted for dinner.
I was totally expecting him to say something along the lines of McDonalds or milkshakes or something, so when he said, "Ummm...how about Outback Steak?" I quickly agreed.
Maybe too quickly.
Take two kids under four to a sit down meal by myself? Was I crazy?
Probably, but I was also hungry. And hot. And too lazy to cook.
We went home, grabbed my purse, hopped in the van and went.
Some tips to make it work for you:
Choose a time when the place won't be busy. As close to opening time as possible is best.
Remember to wash out your toddler's sippy cup before you leave the house, so you're not stuck trying to do it in the ladies room with your toddler on your hip and your preschooler yelling, "OKAY MOM, I WENT PEE, CAN WE GO BACK TO OUR TABLE NOW?"
If possible, know what you want ahead of time. And don't believe the preschooler when he insists that he wants a hamburger, because he won't eat it. What he really means is, "I want to suck the butter off a roll and eat ketchup, but no real food, please." Save yourself the money.
Practice the art of hissing, "Sit down. Right. Now. Or we are leaving." Because while I don't care when other people's kids peek at me over the tops of booths, this is apparently the number one annoying thing that OPK do.
Ask for extra straws and extra napkins as soon as you sit down. And have the wipes handy, so when the preschooler stuffs too many french fries in his mouth and then gags, you can have him spit into a wipe subtly, then stuff the whole wad into your purse.
Remember to throw the wipe and half chewed food away when you get home, so you don't discover them four hours later and have a purse that smells like fries.
Scarf down your food as quickly as possible. If the kids are behaving, try to actually taste it. Don't attempt to eat your entire meal. Restaurant portions are always too big anyway, and if you have leftovers, your H can't whine at you, "You mean you went out to eat without me?"
The next time your waiter walks by, ask for a doggie bag and the check. When he appears with them, stuff your credit card into the bill thingy and immediately give it back to him. If he is a good waiter, he will be expecting this. Dump leftovers into doggie bag, attempt to leave table in some semblance of order, sign check and run for the door.
Congrats! You did it and lived to tell about it!
Actually, it went quite well, I just had a hard time relaxing because I didn't want the kids to make a peep and then read someone's blog that said, "OMG, I totally tried to eat at Outback and some woman with her two kids was there and making too much noise and why don't people with kids just stay home or better yet not have kids, yanno?"
What's your personal stumbling block when it comes to your kids? And how did you conquer it?
Teresa threw caution to the wind and took her three to the movies.
Yesterday, it was my turn. I took the kids out to a restaurant to eat by myself. And when I say restaurant, I don't mean fast food. I mean a place where you have to be seated and order your food and wait for them to bring it to you.
I usually work on Wednesdays, but this week I was off. Good thing too, because after listening to a jackhammer for eight hours, I had a migraine and was heading towards lockjaw from so much tense clenching. Although it would have been really cool to go see Tracy and her girls today, the crews spend most of the day replacing the perfectly good concrete that they tore up, and it was quiet.
We hit the pool in the morning, and Maureen actually got in right before I was getting ready to pack them up and go home. So I didn't put on more sunscreen, my back is burned again, and my H is going to get mad at me again for not taking care of my skin. However, at this rate I'm going to have an awesome tan by the end of summer. What's a little skin cancer risk, when it comes to looking good in a sundress, right?
Anyway, after her nap we went back to the playground, where it rained just enough drops to make the air horribly humid and unbreathable. Then the black flies showed up and started feasting on my ankles, so I decided I didn't feel like cooking and asked Johnny what he wanted for dinner.
I was totally expecting him to say something along the lines of McDonalds or milkshakes or something, so when he said, "Ummm...how about Outback Steak?" I quickly agreed.
Maybe too quickly.
Take two kids under four to a sit down meal by myself? Was I crazy?
Probably, but I was also hungry. And hot. And too lazy to cook.
We went home, grabbed my purse, hopped in the van and went.
Some tips to make it work for you:
Choose a time when the place won't be busy. As close to opening time as possible is best.
Remember to wash out your toddler's sippy cup before you leave the house, so you're not stuck trying to do it in the ladies room with your toddler on your hip and your preschooler yelling, "OKAY MOM, I WENT PEE, CAN WE GO BACK TO OUR TABLE NOW?"
If possible, know what you want ahead of time. And don't believe the preschooler when he insists that he wants a hamburger, because he won't eat it. What he really means is, "I want to suck the butter off a roll and eat ketchup, but no real food, please." Save yourself the money.
Practice the art of hissing, "Sit down. Right. Now. Or we are leaving." Because while I don't care when other people's kids peek at me over the tops of booths, this is apparently the number one annoying thing that OPK do.
Ask for extra straws and extra napkins as soon as you sit down. And have the wipes handy, so when the preschooler stuffs too many french fries in his mouth and then gags, you can have him spit into a wipe subtly, then stuff the whole wad into your purse.
Remember to throw the wipe and half chewed food away when you get home, so you don't discover them four hours later and have a purse that smells like fries.
Scarf down your food as quickly as possible. If the kids are behaving, try to actually taste it. Don't attempt to eat your entire meal. Restaurant portions are always too big anyway, and if you have leftovers, your H can't whine at you, "You mean you went out to eat without me?"
The next time your waiter walks by, ask for a doggie bag and the check. When he appears with them, stuff your credit card into the bill thingy and immediately give it back to him. If he is a good waiter, he will be expecting this. Dump leftovers into doggie bag, attempt to leave table in some semblance of order, sign check and run for the door.
Congrats! You did it and lived to tell about it!
Actually, it went quite well, I just had a hard time relaxing because I didn't want the kids to make a peep and then read someone's blog that said, "OMG, I totally tried to eat at Outback and some woman with her two kids was there and making too much noise and why don't people with kids just stay home or better yet not have kids, yanno?"
What's your personal stumbling block when it comes to your kids? And how did you conquer it?
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10 comments:
I loved this post! Been there...done that...have the chewed up fries in my purse STILL to prove it! LOL!!
Good for you for living on the wild side! I do this crazy stuff all the time...maybe that's why I have so many crazy stories to tell...hmmm...
I'm glad you survived.
I gotta give my husband props on that one. He took the kids to Red Robin by himself and said they did great. His idea of great and mine are probably vastly different but my kids are usually pretty well behaved since, I'm sorry to say, they get plenty of practice because there are lots of night where I don't feel like cooking. Congrats on doing it all by yourself!
I honestly can't think of anything that would terrify me to do with my kids. I can think of some that are barely feasible, like taking two big bins of clothes to consignment, which I still haven't done, because I can't handle the bins, the stroller, and keeping tabs on Gabe all at the same time. But, I didn't have much choice over the last year but to take the kids myself, beg for help, or don't go, so I guess I got used to doing it myself, and knowing when I needed to beg for help. Like all the times I had to take Kylie to the hospital! I love my mom for being so willing to drop what she's doing at any given time and come to my house or the hospital so she can deal with Gabe while I take care of Kylie. Love you, MoM!!!
Wow, I am completely impressed that you did a sit down restaurant all by yourself...my biggest fear when I have my sister's kids is what if I have a bathroom emergency (funny tummy)? That is my biggest fear.
Wow, you rock! I have done the dinner out before by myself, and you know what? You just never know what you're gonna get. I've had great experiences and I've had terrible ones. I've found that it helps if I lay down my expectations before we go in. (ok, SOMETIMES that helps..LOL!)
My big stumbling block is having to take the kiddos to the grocery. UGH! I never do as well...I buy things I don't need, forget things I do, and miss obvious sales and savings. I'm still working on my fool-proof plan for that one!
i am terrified of taking them to DC and not using the stroller on the metro!!! this next time i will be by myself and i am just terrified of them trying to run away from me. but i think this one borders on paranoia. being the wife of a military man, i have taken my kids on my own almost any place you can think of. i drove from texas to CA and back with them. I flew from texas to CA and back with them. grocery stores, restaurants, regular shopping, museums....even church. i don't like doing it, but don't really have much of a choice. i drove my grandparents all over germany with my two kids and survived. my grandparents weren't that much help.....
i even had to take my infant (at the time)daughter with me when i went to poland to buy pottery. luckily i was with 3 friends who were willing to help out now and then.
Hey girl...just wanted you to know that I appreciate all the info. on healthy eating etc. I have not commented b/c I want to take my time and read those posts and write things down etc. I just havne't had the time...I'll be coming back to them this weekend.
Just wanted you to know that. ;0)
Good job! We do restaurants a lot because of our travel. DH is in meetings, and we still have to eat. There certainly is a knack to get the hang of, lol.
Congrats! I've taken Trent out to eat by myself a lot and it's not too bad if you're prepared... I've never done both though. We did do a lot of shopping though while I was home on maternity leave... which I was amazed went as well as it did!
We went out to eat a lot when I was growing up and the four of us were told that if someone came over to our table and complimented us on how well behaved we were we could then order dessert - what can I say - we were very food oriented kids and it worked for us!
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