Aibu to judge this mum in Pizza Hut?

[hippo123]

Ok, I admit my judgy pants were pulled very high and maybe I'm being unreasonable about this.
So myself and my kids were in Pizza Hut today at lunchtime. A lady was out with her 3 boys who at a guess were 6,9 and 11. Each of the boys had an iPad mini and played on them throughout, even whilst eating. They had headphones on which I guess is good in terms of noise disturbance but as a result there was no talking between any of them. When the waitress asked if everything was ok they didn't hear so the mum spoke for them.
The mum spent all of her time on her iPhone.
Aibu to think this is a bit sad? And no, I really don't think any of them had special needs, although I accept it is technically possible.

[Lambsie]

I wouldn't judge. I would be glad they aren't doing something that would send ds into meltdown like loud chatting, squealing toddlers or a crying baby.

[Zucker]

I can just imagine the silence and peace that woman got to eat her pizza. Sounds like bliss. OP you don't know if they hold marathon debates and discussions at home, it was just a snap shot of their lives. Not everyone can be "on" all the time.

[JennyOnTheBlocks]

yup, mine would play up merry hell if she was expected to sit in a busy, noisy and smelly food place without being able to zone out with some sort of distraction.

and?

[Hurr1cane]

Wombles. You're starting to get annoying now.

[womblesofwestminster]

I would far rather see 3 kids on their iPads sitting quietly and not disturbing anyone else than 3 kids running amok and ruining everyone's time in Pizza Hut and a stressed out mum trying desperately hard to get them to sit and eat and wishing she were elsewhere!!

Maybe that's me!

So, either your kids are plugged into their ipads OR they are poorly behaved?

[Sapat]

I don't see what the problem is, each to its own. At least they weren't causing trouble. On the very rare occasions we have taken the kids out to a meal we bring nintendos, iPad, DVD players... Everything we can think of so that they don't feel tempted to engage in favourite activity which is making a total pain in the bum of themselves.
Mine are ok-ish on their own, but whip each other up in a frenzy of excitement if together

[Bogeyface]

Ouryve the last time H and I went out for a meal we had 2 courses and were done in 40 minutes. 15 minutes eating, the rest was waiting for our food. We were both saying "erm...what do we do now?!" :o

[LRB978]

Ds and I both have aspergers, although looking at us, we appear 'normal'. Most of the time when we eat, in or out, it is technology free. Occasionally though, we eat out because the day has been too much and cooking is beyond me. These days, ds and I both tend to need to be around each other, and you may well see him stand up and come for a cuddle, but at the same time interaction is the last thing we can cope with. So we eat in close proximity but both entertaining ourselves on some type of technology, whether it is the phone or kindle for me, the phone or ds for him. I am sure we are judged on those days, but actually, it is beyond me to interpret facial expressions at those times, unless it is a person I know extremely well, and I tend to zone out and not hear verbally expressed opinions, so I wouldn't pick up on it if we were.

[LatteLoverLovesLattes]

I have read half of this thread. I can't bear to read anymore of it.

Get a grip. 'Sad' or 'depressed' over others doing something they were all happy with, that doesn't affect you one little bit?

You need to have a look at what's happening in the world - 4 people, minding their own business, doing their own thing... really, doesn't warrant 'sad' or 'depressed'.

[BoysiesBack]

What Frusso said, Wombles, every single word.

However, even taking my DS1 and his SN, his need for round the clock-24 hour supervision, his frequent aggressive outbursts & attacks on me, his self-harming, his need to have his nappy changed/be bathed/fed/etc despite almost being a teen, even taking all of that out of the equation I can still get that it's hard being a parent sometimes.

The constant putting others first, the noise levels when they're a bit worked up, the round-the-clock responsibility, the breaking up petty squabbles when siblings are together 24/7 for 6 weeks. Quite frankly, anyone who doesn't need & want half an hours break from that with a coffee/wine/book/silence is either a saint or not human.

[ouryve]

DH and I have forgotten how to linger over a meal. Without the boys to be constantly directing, we can be in and out in under half an hour!

[Bogeyface]

If dh and I ever manage to eat out together, we just shovel food into our mouths and occasionally poke each other with forks to wake ourselves up.

Or take advantage of the lull to steal their last piece of steak ..... or perhaps that just me [greedyemoticon] :o

[Hurr1cane]

Haha Hazy I said we eat together, we don't eat out together! We did once, on holiday in a cheap cafe with DS because I was too tired to pack sandwiches. But we were too busy trying to get DSs food shoved in him and stopping him climbing over all the chairs to converse (can't take an iPad on a beach)

We have a lovely tea together on the occasional night at 10pm when DS is banished to his room to sit in bed folding all the pages of his books into neat little triangles instead of sleeping

[FreeWee]

You lost me at 'Pizza Hut'

[thornrose]

And we all wonder why this world is going to the dogs. it's not because people look at an electronic device at the dinner table. The world has far bigger fish to fry!

[hazeyjane]

If dh and I ever manage to eat out together, we just shovel food into our mouths and occasionally poke each other with forks to wake ourselves up.

[Hurr1cane]

Also, when me and DP eat together we tend to be on our phones reading the news and chatting about what's going on in the world. It's only the same as reading a news paper.

[Bulbasaur]

I would far rather see 3 kids on their iPads sitting quietly and not disturbing anyone else than 3 kids running amok and ruining everyone's time in Pizza Hut and a stressed out mum trying desperately hard to get them to sit and eat and wishing she were elsewhere!!

Me too! In fact I remember a road trip, where all us kids were loud and noisy in the car, and when we got to the restaurant we all pulled out our game boys and played quietly. It was bliss for everyone involved.

[maninawomansworld]

Assuming that there were indeed no SN's to complicate things then judge away.
Totally appalling IMO. Rude, antisocial and lazy, lazy parenting.
No electronic gadgets at the dinner table - ever!

And we all wonder why this world is going to the dogs.

[hazeyjane]

Was going to post something insightful, but now I just want to eat pizza in bed whilst watching 30 Rock.

[Hurr1cane]

And good TV

[TheGingerBreadWoman]

I would far rather see 3 kids on their iPads sitting quietly and not disturbing anyone else than 3 kids running amok and ruining everyone's time in Pizza Hut and a stressed out mum trying desperately hard to get them to sit and eat and wishing she were elsewhere!!

Maybe that's me!

[AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore]

It's cheaper to have it delivered anyway. Drinks at home, just order food. No petrol, no parking.

No nosy people nearby judging.....

[Hurr1cane]

Alice, we sometimes even order pizza to eat snuggled up in my bed watching a film if DS is tired after a bad seizure.

I'm clearly the shittest of parents around.