To have walked out of the restaurant

You reached the end of your tether and took some space. You left your children, with their their parent and their grandparents. No you didn’t do anything wrong.

But it does sound like you’re struggling. Maybe you’ve had a difficult day, or maybe you’re finding motherhood overall quite hard, and that’s ok. But have you got any support or anyone to speak to?

I adore my children, but I found eating out with them exceptionally draining until they were all over 5, and even now, with them being between 13 and 7, sometimes I want to walk out and leave them with their dad because, yes, they still squabble. We can adore our children but also find them difficult. Parenthood isn’t easy.

I did this many many years ago in a supermarket my sons were 5 & 6 and they did not stop bickering pushing each other tripping each other up .. I had come to the end of my tether left the trolley and walked out they ran after me and new they had gone to far.
If you needed to step out for a few minutes and another adult was there that's all good its better than losing your temper in front of them .. youre so not unreasonable but all the perfect mummy's on here will say its absolutely terrible because they're perfect parents ..stop being hard on yourself you're only human x

Next time just remove the food, pick one of the kids up, physically, and plonk it next to one of the other adults, tell dad to pull his finger out and sort his children. Take a deep breath and scream 😱..joking.

I don’t see a problem, I would’ve done the same, and probably have done over the years. My two, now 21 and 17, used to bicker and play up constantly when we ate out (and pretty much all the time). Sometimes as a parent you have to remove yourself from the situation for a few moments so you can regain your composure and deal with them. You left them with other adults. Don’t worry about it.

As my kids are only young, maybe I'll change my mind on this, but if my kids have kids and in a few decades we're out at a meal, I probably wouldn't discipline them/step in if my son/daughter and their partner were there. Not short of an emergency.
OP, I would have taken one out, and got dad to take the other out, and say I want to see x/y/z from you, or we're not eating out. And get GPs to order. If their behaviour didn't improve, GP could get yours put in take-out boxes. This way, you don't have to feel frazzled/worried about others.

Presumably he did once she walked away.
She did say all the adults were trying to stop the children fighting.

They are 5 and 3, you are their parent, try parenting them

i.dont get why husband couldn't help

I had 4 under 10 and all of them have adhd and ASD and frankly were bloody nightmares when they tried it on and you have to learn that you are the parent/ in charge etc and they need parenting!

go learn some meditation and join a class for it if need be or go see a psychologist who does it! It allows you to mentally step back from a situation without losing your shit and had kept me sane for years while dealing with the 4 little cherubs 😂 now they are all lovely adults who are very respectful and well behaved and a well rounded human thanks to my learning decent parenting - they all laugh and talk about when they were little buggers and I had to deal with them

Yes you are the Arsehole! You need to PARENT your children!! Don’t let them get away with this shit! You should have separated both the kids BEFORE they got to the table and if they tried to start arguing then you tell them firmly that they behave themselves and give them “the look!” Which you clearly need to learn 😁 and any more shit out of them you will be leaving! And follow through with that!! If they knock the drinks over or the lose out of drinks/lunch etc whatever then that happens! Get the kids OUT of the restaurant and then shout at them that their behavior is the reason you have left and they will NOT be getting a treat being taken out got lunch unless they behave themselves and you won’t be tolerating any more shit out of them!!

Take a breathe, go back in, dessert only of they behave, we leave if you continue fighting. Stick to it.

There were three adults at the table too.

I think the fact their dad was there was quite crucial information!

On that basis I think it’s fine as long as you came back once calmed down

Everyone has taken this thread really seriously. Some judgey people about.

Most of us with kids close together have done something like this. It gets (a bit) easier!

4 adults to 2 children and none of you were capable of getting them to behave properly?
Crikey ☹️.

You commented on my post. Inaccurately. I have no need to read your comments.

It was you who invited an interrogative gathering here, in fairness.

Rude!

Sounds fine. I'd have kept walking.

How odd

Aha

Maybe worth including that in your main post

I still don't get why no other adult intervened. Why didn't the dad say to the kids stop bickering and let your mum sit down?

Not sure if you actually did all 3 things (play, eat and cinema) but if you had, this could contribute to the behaviour - they are quite young and to do all of these things is a lot in the same day.

If you cannot control them at 5 and 3, the older they get,you will be in trouble,and they will be the feral kids that run around today.

Charles does look really good with his grand-kids and to keep Louis quiet, so that might work well!