To have walked out of the restaurant

[watchthetv]

I had been at a play area with my kids and when we went to sit down it was a booth. My kids immediately started bickering about who’s food was whose and which drink belonged to who and I’m trying to get them to just shuffle down a bit so I can sit down. They weren’t listening to me at all. Eventually I was going to blow and stepped outside.

You mean you walked out and left your bickering kids alone in the restaurant? No that's obviously not okay.

You left them behind?

No, three other adults with them

Did the kids leave with you? If not who kept an eye on them? How old are the kids?

So what's the problem?

They are 5 and 3.

So you just left them kicking off with other people having to deal? If theyre misbehaving then parent them or take them home.

well

How old are they?

You are the parent, literally your job to manage them and give the manners, unless you left them with their dad?

Or the nanny, if you have a nanny with you, then ok

Been there. Done that.
Take a deep breath.
All will be fine.
💐🙂

At that age I’d have sorted their food and drink placed where I wanted them to sit. What made it really difficult for you? What were the other adults doing to help?

I Can only dream of a nanny. I was trying very hard to parent them but it is very difficult when they don’t listen to a blessed word you say.

if you can't behave like an adult here, what makes you think they can?
Why do you expect a 3 and a 5 yo to be more grown-up than you are?

we all reach boiling point at some stage. You left them with three other adults so they were safe. I’d calm down then go back in, ask them to budge up and I expect they will this time!

but WHO did you leave them with?
Their dad? fine

who were the 3 adults?

To be fair, it shouldn’t have been hard. It was a booth so they just had to go in and sit down but then they started fighting kind of at the top of the booth so I couldn’t get in at all and I was stood like an idiot blocking the aisle.

Alk kids behave like that sometimes especially siblings that age.
You just take a deep breath and stay calm.

Well, it wasn’t King Charles and Camilla was it yes, their dad and PIL

I hope so, all the other kids in the restaurant seemed well behaved.

3 adults v 2 kids.

No problem.

As long as the kids didn't wander off into the woods and make rudimentary bows and arrows and hunt the wildlife. 🤷🏻‍♀️

🍷💐

If you teach a 3yo that ignoring mum when she tells you to do something, so she will leave and you can keep ignoring her, I am not sure you will be happy with the long-term results

Yep, I get it. The only way is divide and conquer - one on either side of you or on opposite sides of the table. Apologise for blocking the aisle and physically remove the one closest to you. Did the other adults not try to help?

you are the one trying to make yourself interesting

How is anyone supposed to know who you childishly left them with? You could have been with friends, having to deal with their own kids, how are we supposed to guess?

If I’d physically removed then I’d have knocked all the drinks etc over (not much room!) I hate the way ordinary stuff with kids turns into misery.

I’d have expected dad to wade in and the grandparents to help diffuse things. It shouldn’t be left to one adult to wrangle the kids while the other 3 presumably settled themselves with food etc.