Restaurants and Children: know when to pick your battles
Going to a restaurant with children does not have to be for only special occasions anymore. It seems many parents are either overthinking the location and what their kids are going to order, some wonder if it’s healthy enough. Of course there are some parents that don’t worry about what they eat or how they act. I can say when it comes to me and my children, I am at a happy medium on their food and their behavior. They are not the healthiest and are somewhat picky. A lot of times they can be hyper and pick a fight, then at times, they can be well behaved. I take the good with the ugly.
When heading to a restaurant you must consider many distinct factors; how many food options, what the environment is, what the cost will be, and is it kid-friendly?
If you have picky eaters, like me, you must consider the food options. I do not mind going to a Mexican restaurant, having my kids order chicken nuggets and French fries because sometimes, that is exactly what they want. I see it as a win-win situation, because even though they will eat tacos and quesadillas, it is not what they are in the mood for. I am grateful for these options.
If you can get your kids to eat all the things on a menu when going to a restaurant, then I applaud you. But there are days when you just want to say, I am not fighting you, and let them get those nuggets.
Sometimes children are just hyper and need to blow off the stress of their day.
Children do have stress days, just like us. We have to be prepared on days such as these and avoid the restaurants that are not kid friendly.
If you are like me and don’t carry a purse, let your child carry a small backpack with a coloring book and crayons. Kids love to color, and it’s a great distraction while waiting on your food. You don’t want them yelling, screaming, jumping around or punching each other, do you? Oh, wait, is that just my kids?
You have older kids? Allow them to bring their phone or tablet. Download a few books or learning games. If their face is not in the device 24/7, then it’s okay every once in a while. Not everyone will agree with that statement, but either way, it’s okay to disagree. If you don’t mind your children running around and burning off some energy, there are plenty of restaurants that have play and outdoor areas.
Other advice to help when going out, especially when your children are younger, is to make sure you order their food first. As adults we like to sit around talking, relaxing, and enjoying the company around us, and occasionally a nice adult beverage; the food is not usually the first thought for us. But, for kids, if they do not eat as soon as they are hungry, they get hangry. No parent enjoys that and neither do the tables around you. Ordering their food first and letting them eat, makes life easier on everyone, especially you.
Kids are kids, and we have to let them be just that. It's our job to guide them and do the best we can. Will they be crazy and act up sometimes? Of course, they will. I have learned, and am still learning, to be more patient with my boys every day. My boys all have different personalities, and different behaviors when it comes to eating. They do not want or like the same things. We have made a pact to at least try everything once, and then if you do not like it, you do not have to eat it. But you must try it. Do I let them play on phones and tablets when we go to dinner? I sure do, but not every time. Sometimes they have crayons or pencils to pull out their creative side. Dinner is meant to be a time of good food, fun, family and mommies not having to cook.
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