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Home > Blogs > Adventures in Motherhood > Archives > 2009 > May > 07 > Entry
What’s so relaxing about going out to eat?
Mother’s Day is just another day.
Another day of “sleeping in” until 7:30. Another day of finding something decent to wear that doesn’t make me look fat by sorting through the pile of dirty, wrinkled laundry on the floor.
Another day of tripping over toys blanketing my living-room floor at least 10 times, setting off rounds of the world’s most irritating, migraine-inducing noises.
Another day of playing Chutes and Ladders five times in a row, followed by Candy Land, then “Memory” and lastly by Hi Ho Cherry-O. Oh wait, and Candy Land “just one more time, I promise.”
Yep, just another day.
The one thing that’s different about today is — drum roll please — we’ll celebrate by going out to eat.
Well, I have one question for whomever started this whole eating out on Mother’s Day tradition: What’s so relaxing about going out to eat?
After all, isn’t that the point of Mother’s Day?
I’ll go out on a limb and say going out to eat is way more stressful than cooking dinner and eating at home.
At least that’s the case with my kids.
Let me give you a few highlights of the dining-out experience with my daughter, 4, and son, 20 months.
“But Mommy, I don’t wanna go there. I wanna go to … Old McDonald’s, 3W3s, Flickers or the Chinese Store (hey, the names are close enough).” Basically, my daughter wants to go anywhere but the place I’ve picked.
“Mommy, I’m weally, weally starving.” Yes, just two minutes into that 45-minute wait, my daughter — who by the way wasn’t at all hungry when we left the house — is suddenly starving and just can’t wait any longer for food. Oh, yes, and we’ll hear this sentence at least 15 more times in the waiting area, each time a little whinier and by minute 40 including crossed arms and a pouty lip.
“Oops.” Yes, this simple little word can have many meanings. Sometimes it’s the I-just-spilled-my-drink-all-over-the-table-and-all-over-my-pants “oops.” Sometimes it’s the I-just-dropped-the-sugar-packet-holder-on-the-floor-and-now-it’s-broke “oops.”
“Mommy, I weally have to go to the bathroom.” I hear this one at least three times every time we eat out. Nothing like spending half your mealtime in a tiny bathroom stall, and listening to people chuckle as your child very loudly says, “Mommy, the poop won’t come out.”
“Mommy, I smell something stinky.” Yes, and so do I. Little brother just filled his diaper. In fact, it’s now overflowing, and we’re in a crowded restaurant, the bathroom is all the way across the room and I left the extra clothes in the car. Aughhh! My children have impeccable timing.
This is just a sampling of the Fong restaurant experience. I forgot to mention that three-quarters of every restaurant meal ends up on the floor. If it’s any consolation, we tip very well.
As you can see, I’m clearly that mom who gets all the dirty looks in the restaurant — and I can’t say I blame all those diners. I just wish they’d give me a sympathetic glance from time to time instead of a scathing one, but that’s life, I guess.
Maybe we should just stay home this Mother’s Day.
After all, Mother’s Day is just another day — and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Funny stories
Comments
By Shannon
May 8, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
take-out—the answer to all your prayers! :) Happy mother’s day!
By j
May 8, 2009 3:11 PM | Link to this
You forgot to mention the fact that as moms, we never get to enjoy our meal hot as we are generally cutting everyone else meals for them, diving under the table for lost (read: dropped or thrown) toys, begging the waitress for “just a few more napkins”, or, as the obviously childless waiter places something most definitely breakable in front of the children, grabbing it just as one of the said children decides that it would be fun to reach out and touch the screaming hot bowl the kids meals always end up in!! As you sit back to “enjoy” your luke warm meal, the kids, now finished eating the three bites of their $6.99 meals, begin getting rowdy and you must wolf down your steak in three bites or else the shreeking will begin. Ahhhh, yes - the joys of motherhood.
By Another Mom
May 8, 2009 6:39 AM | Link to this
I hear ya Sister! We don’t go out to eat - ever. It is way too stressful to try to keep the kids settled and enjoy myself at the same time :)