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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend some of the kids' Christmas money on a meal out?

339 replies

Happythistime · 27/01/2016 17:34

Can't decide whether this sits right with me or not.

We are thinking of taking the kids to the Rainforest Cafe at the weekend. It is super expensive due to its central London location and themed interior. I want us to go and not wince at the prices and I know the kids will love it so am toying with using a little bit of their Christmas money that they've received from relatives to go towards the bill.

I think that if Christmas money I had given to a child went towards a nice day out, be it a meal or a show or something similar I'd be happy with that. Usually we just put their gift money straight into savings as they have more toys than they need. A bit of me worries though that people would see it as me and DH profiting from their xmas presents. We would obviously pay the bulk of it and only put a bit of their money towards enabling us to go and enjoy it without feeling resentful at the prices. AIBU?

OP posts:
SoThatHappened · 28/01/2016 01:42

I dont know I guess if it is a nice atmosphere. But at 6 years old especially I think I would rather have a £15 toy than £15 spent on a lame baked potato, froot shoot and scoop of ice cream set menu.

LeaLeander · 28/01/2016 01:49

Plastic claptrap and commercial character toys a better use of gift monies than books, music or a meal out with parents?? What a sorry set of priorities.

notonyurjellybellynelly · 28/01/2016 01:53

I would also do it but not at the Rain Forest Cafe. The food is awful and I wouldn't like you to regret spending their Christmas money on it. But if you insist thats where you want to go please remember to book ahead or you'll end up not in the main part of the restaurant.

ScrabbleScream · 28/01/2016 01:56

Ive just looked it up. It just looks like a giant aquarium.

Why not take them to London aquarium, walk round the Southbank and on the eye instead OP? If you want to eat burger and chips go to McDonalds.

IHaveBrilloHair · 28/01/2016 01:56

Flipping Nora, the angst, the angst.
Take the money and treat the kids to something you think they'll enjoy, I know mine would have at that age, even if the food was a bit shit.
I took all of my dd's Xmas money and spent it on her, she has no idea, but I did it as she's terrible with money and would have spent it on biscuits and fizzy drinks.
This way she got her biscuits and fizzy drinks which I buy anyway, she also got the hair dyes she wanted, guitar music, a memory stick and some jeans.

YouGottaKeepEmSeparated · 28/01/2016 01:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Welliwooster · 28/01/2016 02:03

I wouldn't... But that's just me!

My DS often offers to pay for a takeaway (he's 10) and I would never accept. Let them take their money for spends though.

HicDraconis · 28/01/2016 02:16

Lealander yes, because that's what the children would like. Lego (which is far from plastic claptrap) and character toys (which download into the computer game they play).

Books and music are more like essentials and are therefore provided by me (on a daily/weekly basis); meals out less so, because I like cooking, so more like monthly. Still provided by us though, I'd never ask a child to contribute to a meal out.

Lego kits and computer game accessories are definitely non essential stuff that they like to have, so that's what they spend birthday money on.

I think our priorities are fine :)

SoThatHappened · 28/01/2016 03:06

Plastic claptrap and commercial character toys a better use of gift monies than books, music or a meal out with parents?? What a sorry set of priorities.

If I was offered a nice new dolly or some my little ponies at 6 years old or a baked potato in a cafe with my mum and sister whom I fought with all the time....I would take the toys. That is what children like.

You are thinking like an adult and adults prioritise quality time. As Draconis says that is what children like and it is their Christmas present.

scarednoob · 28/01/2016 03:30

RFC is more cuddly toys than plastic stuff. We took my brothers' kids to have a look on the way to ripleys, and only realised much later that the 18 month old had somehow managed to walk out past the sensors holding a cuddly dog Blush

Her older brother and sister spent lunch singing, "Polly's going to prison!!!" and making her cry.

MistressMerryWeather · 28/01/2016 03:52

Well some kids do not get many opportunities for meals out Hic. It's a huge treat for some.

I can't imagine why you are buying books or music weekly let alone daily? That would be beyond excessive, unless you are talking about weekly visits to the library?

I think the use of the word 'feeding' on this thread is rather emotive and silly as the children will be fed either way.

She isn't suggesting using the money to make her weekly shop a bit more fancy.

'Oh look, Nancy has some money from Christmas, lets buy two bottles of our favorite pinot noir! Oh and stick in an extra box of fish fingers'

Chottie · 28/01/2016 06:12

I would use the money, you are going out for a special meal, I bet your DCs will be talking about it for ages afterwards too.

If I had given money as a present, I would not have a problem with you using it in this way. Have a wonderful time.

Blu · 28/01/2016 07:08

OP, you know your kids, and your family. If they would enjoy it (and it looks asif most kids would love it) then book, go and have a great time!

HicDraconis · 28/01/2016 08:37

MistressMerryWeather I buy books weekly because it's one of our family rituals - the Saturday Book. Currently it's kindle downloads but before that it was something we did after the weekly food shop, we went to the bookshop.

They get 20+ books out from the library at a time...

You can never have too many books 😄

Meals out are still a huge treat for my two. I would still never dream of asking them to contribute and at the ages of 8&9 I really don't think they should have to.

Mouseinahole · 28/01/2016 08:48

Happy I hope you saw the RFC discount voucher offered up thread. I have printed one off for my dgc.

MackerelOfFact · 28/01/2016 09:08

YANBU to spend the money on a treat for the family, but YABU to go to the dreadful Rainforest Café.

If you want a novelty restaurant I would recommend somewhere like Inamo with its interactive tabletops, or maybe Benihana or a Korean/Brazilian BBQ place where you can watch the food being cooked. Then just take them to the Natural History museum for their animatronic creature fix.

Theladyloriana · 28/01/2016 09:12

A. Your over thinking
B. The place is a total rip off and the DC won't love it that much
C. Choose somewhere cheaper they will enjoy
D. Stop thinking about it

Voila!

Charley50 · 28/01/2016 09:31

I think that because they are having a fun trip anyway; NHM and Hamleys it will be a bit of expensive overwhelming overkill to also go to rainforest cafe as well. DimT is nice for kids; for pudding there is fruit and marshmallows with warm chocolate dip mmm for kids. It often has offers on. Agree about Wahaca too. Yum.
Btw if you're in London for two days also check out little angels puppet theatre they have lovely shows for kids that age.

Charley50 · 28/01/2016 09:34

Oh and check out the rail companies daysoutinLondon offers. Half price on lots of stuff.

Welshwabbit · 28/01/2016 10:38

OP, clearly you would be paying for the experience of the RFC - the food will be a bit of a sideshow. I've not been but if you think the kids will love it I think it's a perfectly fine way to spend a bit of their Christmas money.

One thing I would say though is that if you are going to the NHM on a weekend or during half term, get there for opening time or it will be rammed and there'll be a massive queue. If you go there first it may be a faff to get across London to the RFC for lunch (especially if the 3 year old is starving) and as others have said, 3 exciting things in one day may be a bit much so you might be better off just eating in the NHM. They have loads of places that are pricey but not crazy and you can get activity books for the kids to look at while they wait for their food.

ArcheryAnnie · 28/01/2016 10:57

I'd either put it into their savings or get them something I know they want.

But gruntled and everyone else saying the same sort of thing, this is what the OP thinks the kids would want. At this age you introduce them to new experiences that you think they'd like all the time. The Op probably wouldn't choose the Rainforest Cafe for a adults-only meal with her DH, it's a choice made because she thinks the kids would like it.

And to all those comparing going to the Rainforest Cafe with making your kids "pay for a meal, same as the weekly shop" - don't be so ridiculous. That place isn't about the food, but the experience. It might not be to your taste (and it isn't to mine) but then none of us on this thread are 3 or 6 years old.

LaurieMarlow · 28/01/2016 11:10

It's a really positive thing to plant the idea that experiences rather than things drive our happiness. I think it's a lovely use of their 'treat' money.

Posters comparing it to a weekly shop or a baked potato in a cafe are being frigging ridiculous.

harrasseddotcom · 28/01/2016 11:18

pahahaha at the dont go if you resent the price. Id never leave the house with that attitude. Things are bloody dear, and if its not something you would normally do but can do with xmas cash then i dont see the problem. What i think is wrong is people putting xmas gifts into savings. Wtf is all that about? Would you sell gifts your children had received to put into savings? Why not?

Headfulahorlix · 28/01/2016 11:23

Take them to Chinatown to eat. Kids love it there and much cheaper so no need to use xmas money. Money can be used at hamleys!

LaurieMarlow · 28/01/2016 11:32

Some nice suggestions here ...

londonist.com/2014/02/half-term-10-child-friendly-restaurants-in-london