Children in restaurants

GobbledyGook

Going by the comments I don't think it was about the food particularly. I think it's more that my daughter asked and I said yes. They seem to have taken that to mean I always say yes, rather than seeing that there was absolutely no point in saying no.

The children's menu was pretty good. Perhaps why that is why they don't see the reason for her to not eat from it. Younger daughter had chilli and my son had macaroni, there were some good options on it. She just particularly likes risotto.

raven83

Maybe they like child portions because they are children themselves!:D:rotfl:

System

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I think it's more that my daughter asked and I said yes. .

You mean you talk to your children, ask them their opinions and wishes, engage them in conversation about tastes, portion sizes, value for money, wastage?
You could round it off by asking them whether they agree that Mrs So-and-so is a prat and do they really want to go out to lunch with her?

azzabazza

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Going by the comments I don't think it was about the food particularly. I think it's more that my daughter asked and I said yes. They seem to have taken that to mean I always say yes, rather than seeing that there was absolutely no point in saying no.

The children's menu was pretty good. Perhaps why that is why they don't see the reason for her to not eat from it. Younger daughter had chilli and my son had macaroni, there were some good options on it. She just particularly likes risotto.

I still don't understand their mindset on this one. They have no right to judge you on when you say yes or when you say no to your daughter. Your judgement was that there was no reason to say no to her request for risotto. And I think you took the right decision. I am sure you have been in totally different situations where yes, you have to say no! That is parenthood.

I know whose parenting skills i would support and it isn't that group of 'we are better than you' folk. Pity help their children if they are always being told no! I for one brought my children up to have their own opinions and be independent people. That did not mean that I accepted naughty or bad behaviour.

MentalMinnie

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I haven't as no-one has said anything to my face. I went to add one of the girls to facebook (I'm hidden so they couldn't find me) and there is a few of them talking about it. She probably doesn't realise she has no privacy settings whatsoever by the looks of it.

Done me a favour, I'd rather know when people are snipping like that. They are clearly not my kind of people. I kinda wish the younger DD had spotted the mussels now - that would really have caused a stir :rotfl:

I'm intrigued! What were they saying?!

TheConways

Funny - I would have thought it was "pandering" if she wanted food from the kiddy menu, rather that something more wholesome from the "adult" menu.

Can't remember my parents ever giving me the option of a kids menu, as it was usually laden with junk.

OrkneyStar

GobbledyGook wrote: »

When you take your children out for dinner do you insist they eat from the children's menu?

I have inadvertently caused a stir amongst some new people from the toddler group. We all went for lunch last week and those of us with older children off school took them too.

It turns out allowing my daughter to have a starter from the main menu as her main meal is 'pandering' to her :rotfl:

I don't think I'm going to last long at this group, which is a shame as it is really local to my house.

Edited to add my daughter is 9.

Surely it is up to you and your daughter what she chooses. If anything it shows maturity that she is happy to eat something she likes even if it is not on the kids menu. TBH folk who judged me/my family based on menu choices wouldn't be folk I'd want to spend time with! A shame if it is a convenient group and all that too.

OrkneyStar

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I'm not going to :rotfl:


Where do you find toddler groups with normal people?? Is it just me, or my area, or do they not exist?

Often, even if there are mainly 'normal' people in the group there will be one or two insecure/b**tchy/annoying people who just don't know how to be around others/when to keep opinions to themselves etc.
Hope you find something that suits you but don't change to suit them!

GreenQueen

I remember the first time I went out to a restaurant in my 20s when one of my friends ordered a starter and dessert (the first time that had happened, not my first time in a restaurant LOL!). I'd always be brought up to "do what's expected" and was a stickler for rules. I said "you can't do that!" and she told me in no uncertain terms that it's what she fancied and that she was the customer. When her food arrived, I kept looking at it enviously and thinking "I wish I'd had the courage to do that" - now it's more common, but at the time it was very unusual to order like that.

For years, my upbringing left me unable to make decisions for fear that I would make the wrong choice and cause embarrassment, anger, the sky would fall in or something even worse.

Sounds like your "friends'" attitudes are jealousy because you have a confident child or fear that if they see your daughter making choices their children may start to have their own tastes and opinions (how terrible:A) - of course, all a parent really wants is a clone of themselves with the same views and who always toes the line :whistle:!

Congratulations to your daughter for knowing what she wants and being confident enough to ask for it - and congratulations to you for bringing her up to be able to do that.

GQ

Azmataz

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I went to add one of the girls to facebook (I'm hidden so they couldn't find me) and there is a few of them talking about it.

You should go ahead and add her. As soon as you have, post up a link to this thread on her Wall!