If you take your kids to the cafe, you shouldn't bring a packed lunch for them?

[AndiMac]

I'm at the garden centre and there's a soft play area attached to the cafe bit. A mum with two kids about 4 is here with her friend. They have ordered lunch, but the kids are having food the mum brought from home. Not just a couple of breadsticks, but sandwiches, sides and a drink. The cafe has food for kids, so that isn't an excuse.

I can understand that going out for lunch is expensive, but am I being unreasonable to think if you can't afford to buy lunch for your kids as well as yourself, maybe you should come after lunch and just have a coffee?

sorry - don't know what that random "and their" was about!

Surely the point is that the OP has no idea why they were eating their own food or if they had asked about it? I went somewhere like this with my 2 last summer, fully intending to eat the picnic in the outdoor picnic area until it started raining. I asked a member of staff if we could eat it in the cafe and just buy a coffee which they were fine with.
There re some really judgy comments here.

Oh so you don't ask. But why huff and puff about it then? In the way the OP has.

If I see someone eating their own food in a group I just assume there's a reason for it. As there used to be for us. :shrugs: Mind you I can't imagine finding the energy to care. As I said I always asked and no-one every objected or even looked remotely put out so it's a bit of a non-issue for me.

But you started that thread to alert everyone on the Allergies forum to this thread babybarrister.

Sparklingbrook, lots of allergy board regulars had already posted on this thread before babybarriser started the new one.

Well for any of you who are still interested in the views of those of us who have seriously allergic dc, have a look at the thread in allergies and see how many people are genuinely upset by some of the comments on here

what on earth is the point of posting this?

Well, I would hope my own posts haven't upset anyone in that group. But there are a few people on this thread (and apparently, starting other threads) who are determined to frame this thread as an attack on themselves, and that is ridiculous.
I have, and on occasion look after, a three-year old nephew with severe allergies (tree nuts, citrus) and with reflux that means his diet is carefully planned. I'm not unaware of the issues, or the children. I am confident that I haven't said anything which should cause legitimate upset to the parents of children with dietary needs. I haven't said anything I would not say to my sister, certainly, and I think she'll agree with me. The fact that some people don't agree is fine, of course, but I do resent this most recent attempt to - what? - shame us for posting on this thread? What, really, is your POINT, babybarrister???
All of my remarks are addressed to those who do not have such needs. I don't mind people disagreeing, but on this particular thread, there is so much mischaracterisation of what people have actually argued, it really is absurd.

But babybarrister you were inviting other parents who have children with allergies to come over to this thread and get upset too. Plus it was a thread about a thread.

Everyone's feelings are valid, of course they are. This thread did not start out about allergies but somehow became all about them.

I suggest you look at the Talk guidelines before complaining about lack of free speech.