To be embarrassed by my friend?

[MrPoppersPenguins]

Whenever we meet for coffee she has her 2yo with her and proceeds to whip out snacks and drinks (for the child) brought from home. These aren't even subtle... think large pastries, sandwiches, yoghurts etc

I'm cringing in the coffee shop hoping the staff don't notice. This week they clearly did (although they didn't say anything). She doesn't have special dietary needs so could eat food from the cafe. My friend isn't struggling for money (she's relatively well off). I'm really embarrassed!! Am I BU to think you don't take your own picnic to a coffee shop?? She does buy herself a drink though.

I used to if it was around lunchtime and they didn't have any suitable food for DD.

If she's feeding her 2 yo pastries, then no YANBU, she should buy them from the coffee shop

You can get away with that type of thing with kids.

Meh.
Maybe her DD is a difficult eater. So she has stuff that she knows would be eaten.

I wouldn't like this either, I think it is quite rude! However as this is AIBU everyone will jump on you and say you are being unreasonable and of course it is fine for your friend to feed her kid her own food in a cafe. Probably the same people who jumped on the poster a few weeks ago who fed a small pot of pasta to her son in a cafe and told her how awful she was.

The real question is, does one of you sit at the table to reserve it before you have bought your coffees?!

Yanbu I would be embarrassed too.

I think some parents get "stuck" in a stage - so fine for parent of weaning six monther to whip out a pack of baby food but not to bring substantial amounts of proper food for a two year old. She hasn't appreciated she needs to move on.

is the child a picky eater? I used to take food for my ds everywhere because it was a waste of time and money buying him food out places.

What the hey - I wouldn't be embarrassed. Probably wouldn't even notice

KERALA1 has pretty much written my thoughts.

I agree with Kerala - I think you get so used to lugging food around for a weaned child that you automatically do it. But I agree that at 2 they're old enough to just eat whatever is in the cafe. Drinks are different though I think.

I can see both sides here but YANBU to be embarrassed.

I still carry a snack bag for my youngest (23m). However, I do order something from the menu for her and only resort to the snacks if it's taking ages to come as she gets very restless.

The thing I find much more embarrassing is being out with other mums who make absolutely no attempt to clear up their DC's mess. There were a couple in an NCT group I attended in a nice cafe that were BLW and would order the babies a full English. I was mortified about the state of the place at the end. At least they paid for the food though!

I once went to the Waffle House in St Albans with someone who brought a full packed lunch for their child

I think it is pretty rude. If I had to take a lunch due to allergies I'd ask politely and explain. To just get your own food out is obnoxious.

Like a PP I've only just recently stopped bringing DS (3.0) a full packed lunch because he was so fussy he just wouldn't eat it and I would end up with a (relatively) expensive meal that was untouched.

These days I tend to carry snacks but will order him something normal and have the snacks in case or refusal or if still hungry afterwards.

I have a feeling I have embarrassed a friend or two doing that but I always bought something for myself so not as if the shop was missing out completely.

Littlepond - 😁

YANBU, I would be embarrassed too. I think some people get so enmeshed in the parenting thing they are totally oblivious to everything apart from their kids and forget social norms. It's like parents of little kids get so used to the noise of crying/whining they don't realize that other people around them don't have the same tolerance to noise.

Toes yes we do but babies and toddlers rarely come with a volume control. DS 5 is only just learning that other people don't appreciate his noise.

I wouldn't be embarrassed by someone else's behaviour: if the cafe don't like it, they can speak directly to her.

If you go to an obviously child orientated place for a child centred treat, then it would be very bad to use the place for a children's picnic. But when parents meet for a coffee it is really them that are the customers, and the toddler is an accessory that they have to bring with them. So I don't think it is the worst thing if the toddler is kept occupied with a home bought snack.

Why is she feeding her 2 year old huge pastries?

I usually take some form of packed lunch and snacks with us if we're going out mid morning. I will buy toddler food if there's something appropriate but usually its a babybel or piece of fruit he wants and it makes life easier if I have them.

Does he have additional needs evil?

I do this because DD can't sit still for the 15 mins or so it takes them to bring the food! I bring a tub of pasta, chopped fruit, breadsticks etc. I don't see a problem since I'm buying food and drink for myself. I'm sure they'd rather have food brought in than a hungry screaming toddler.

I have had funny looks TBH but assumed because she was throwing food and making a mess.

Also don't most mums share a meal with their toddler? Mine can't eat even 1/4 of a child's meal (she's nearly 2)

Toys and books then.

Surely you don't feed her every time she doesn't keep still

Yanbu my friend runs a lovely coffee shop and got sick of a particular group doing this. They would sit there nursing one latte for 3 hours in a big area of comfy chairs whilst their little ones literally had a picnic. Other customers complained and she had a word.
I think her takings have gone up since

I was at the science museum and woman came in with 2 children aged 9 or so. Pushed their way to a table when the cafe was heaving left their scooters lying in the path and without even buying drinks proceeded to eat their massive packed lunch. I still feel the outrage..