Eating out? Is it me

[Lunafortheloveogod]

Ok am I being uptight or is it perfectly reasonable to still not want to eat out.

You need a mask in Asda but not in a cafe that’s half the size.. the tables aren’t all distanced and I’ve seen places that don’t clean. What are they cleaning with? Toddler gives me the fear cause everything is licked so I wouldn’t want him licking bleach.

A few weeks ago we were to stay in and avoid each other now it’s ok to pop for a pub lunch.

MIL has a milestone coming, not major, and wants us all to go out to eat.. I’ve said no offered to do something at home, atleast then I know anything the toddler licks is clean.. menus are limited dh is fussy and me and the kids have allergies so we’d be having a plain dry baked potato if we went. But I really don’t feel comfortable. Latest idea was leaving me and the youngest home still taking the licker with them I still said no. It’s been the conversation every night for a fort night.

Am I mad? Is everyone just back to normal now? Would you take small children out to eat at the mo?

With a toddler that you allow to go around licking everything, please stay at home.

Personally, I've eaten out several times recently, and enjoyed great meals whether alone or out with friends. As I would at any time, covid or not, I assess whether the restaurant looks clean, look at its hygiene ratings. If I'm booking somewhere in advance for a special occasion, read reviews. If it's just walking in, I'd assess whether or not its too crowded for comfort.

That’s a shame. I like to share events with loved ones.

Me too. But is someone really a ‘loved one’ if they’re not bothered if you will be sitting there eating a plain potato. I wouldn’t expect any of my family and friends to go somewhere that leaves them with such little choice.

I live in wales and visited a town over the border yesterday. Went for a meal, no restrictions. Shops however, masks were worn. My phone rang and I pulled my mask down to speak. Bloodyhell you would think i took my clothes off the way i was starred at!

Yet those people are the same lot who come to wales and ignore the social distancing rules.

A councillor has urged locals to stay away from a town because of holidaymakers’ lack of common sense.

Bad In ordinary times I would agree with you but it’s not the mil’s fault that there is a limited menu.

I would be really surprised if the venue didn’t cater to the OP’s allergies, most places are crying out for business right now.

Sounds like it’s you and your family situ, nothing to do with Covid.

As a pp poster pointed out this is moot as you can't have more than two households sitting inside, or six people from any number of households outside.

Unless you intend to sit at different tables of course.

I agree with you this is after all a killer disease that has effectively brought the worlds economy to its knees, which is the only reason we are being pushed to 'eat out to help out '. Crona is still very much a treat so if you feel uncomfortable going out just yet stand your ground..nothing wrong with a home cooked meal with the famo they will either go without you or get over it and take you up on your home cooking

@SabrinaThwaite
I was thinking the same thing.

Some of the replies to this thread regarding the toddler licking things are so ignorant.
I'm not saying the OPs child does but please do keep in mind that other people read these comments & it's appalling that something as simple as sensory issues, especially in children with autism can bring out such horribleness.

DH and I are planning on eating out next week (first time in aaaaaages!). But we are NOT taking our 3 year old as she doesn’t socially distance. If you aren’t comfortable taking your kids out under current restrictions, don’t take them out!

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze, quite the charmer.

To be fair, there are a few posters who say their kids lick tables etc and don’t see that as an issue.

If anyone fancies teaching the child who I repeat doesn’t know his own name, will not follow an instruction, cannot babble more than 3 sounds, doesnt point/clap and many more fun things we deal with how not to lick/put things in his mouth.. crack on I’ll let you in. You’ll be a literal miracle worker. I’d quite like a day with everything dry/a child on par with his peers.

Christ even one who doesn’t projectile vomit and turn purple over cheese would help.

I think it’s your Mil milestone so let her choose where she wants to eat. Personally I like eating out and I get meh when someone offers to cook instead. I never enjoy it- I like to pick from a menu etc.
If you don’t want to go can your Dh and dc go and you stay home?

Would your DH joining MIL and family for the meal out, and then you doing a separate tea party at home that you and the DCs could enjoy with MIL work?

Or if you’re worried about DC maybe order and take him for a walk until the food arrives? That’s what I always did when mine were little

I think your MIL needs to accept that you're not comfortable going out to eat the moment. That's not an unreasonable position to take. The fact that you'd end up eating something unenjoyable is even more of a reason not to want to go.

But honestly, whatever your reasons for not wanting to go, if you don't want to go, you simply don't, and it's rude and awkward for someone to insist on it and not take you up on your kind offer to prepare a nice meal for everyone at home.

Pushy people who won't take "no" for an answer are so annoying!

In ordinary times I would agree with you but it’s not the mil’s fault that there is a limited menu.

Of course it’s not. But when there are bigger restaurants that OP said would make eating much easier, why is the MIL being so inflexible? She could solve the problem by switching venues. It doesn’t sound like a great place to eat to me anyway but if she cared about OP and her kids then she’d stop insisting on this particular venue.

Like I said earlier, I no longer please others who couldn’t care less about pleasing me. So I’d stay home.

@Lunafortheloveogod I'd just let DH go & have MIL round for cake / tea or whatever after or the next day so she can celebrate with her GC too

Despite the comments, voting at the moment is almost even.
I get what you're saying, and I wouldn't go either.

Bad who knows, but maybe on previous occasions the focus has been on the op’s allergies and kids and for once she wanted to go somewhere she wanted.

And as we know, the op isn’t obliged to attend and can refuse and there will be no harm done.

We are still not eating out it really is not safe yet unless you eat outside Boris is a tit who has rushed this and cases are rising again everyday is you mil wants to go for a meal let her but say you are not going or order in alot of restaurants are still delivering meals but until no cases in the UK we won't be eating out

YANBU. We normally get stuck with a dry potato as well unless there's beans on the menu. Allergies are a nightmare. Even without the added nightmare of COVID, I wouldn't got out to eat if that was the choice.

Each to their own

We’ve been out a few times with kids 8 and 3
We have been away for U.K holiday self catering apartment easy to isolate and control Contact
Been to a local theme park
We’ve not felt uncomfortable anywhere either

I work in a chain restaurant and we have been in for very thorough training before we re-opened. Despite the notices about SD, one in and one out for the toilets, children to remain seated etc, etc... people are doing what the hell they want 😡
We explain the new system to our customers, the reason for the reduced menu (it’s to do with limiting the handling of food) there are plenty of sanitiser stations, anti-bac wipes etc... and tbh, we wonder why we bother🤷‍♀️ What’s the point of us doing all the measures, (and beyond) if people are just pleasing themselves.
And don’t get me started on the moaning and complaining about the new system... getting in our faces cos “it never used to be like this” doesn’t help one bit!!