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.

I answered that I hadn’t left them alone and I have clarified they were with family.

^This.

You haven't done anything wrong leaving them with their DAD and Grandparents.

To be fair everyone was telling them to move but they just were so focused on arguing that anyone else’s voice was unheard. Mine are the best argument I’ve ever seen for only children.

Why are you being such a knob here? Op left them with their dad ffs.

You left them with dad and PIL, not really an issue tbh. Kids are arseholes sometimes no matter how well they have been brought up, but I imagine all the MN mummies of the year will tell you different 😉

Okay. YANBU to have a time out. But it should not get to this stage.

If your kids can’t behave, they don’t eat out. Or kiss desert etc. You need to work on your parenting skills, to stop these situations getting this far. (I very much know how hard it is. I’ve no parental support, we don’t eat out and the kids have fought a lot. They’re in training to be sociable adults.)

Your husband needs to be parenting right there alongside you. He needs to be responsible for defusing the stout as much as you. Your kids just ruined lunch for at least 4 adults.

@watchthetv did you go back in?
I hope you got some food for yourself.
I had a few times of ending up sat by myself on the other side of McDonald's because my daughter was being a pain in the arse (before people ask....left with her Dad/Auntie/Granny).
It actually usually did the trick.
Afterwards I often got a "I missed you Mama" 🙂

I don't blame you at all, I cannot understand why people actually pay to take children out to a restaurant and then have their meal ruined. Total waste of money until they are old enough to sit still and behave politely. They don't enjoy it either.

and how hard was it to say in the OP,

"I left the kids with their dad and walked out,"

Instead of dragging it and dragging it and talking about King Charles.
That was completely unnecessary. If there's a knob, it's not me.

Seeing as their dad was there it’s fine. Not so much anyone else as they are your/their dad’s responsibility. Good co-parenting is one stepping in when the other needs a minute.

No need to be obtuse.
Leaving with their dad is normal, it's a as much as a parent as you.

Your own mother? Wouldn't be so acceptable, kids are your own responsibility.

You could have just said you left them with their dad, it's such a non-issue then.

There are many knobs. You me and my kids. Is there anything to be gained by bicker, squabble, argue? There’s not really.

I am so resigned to this being shit I don’t even care when I leave somewhere in tears any more.

No.
OPs DH can start doing some basic parenting like "Sit down now" and separating squabling siblings.
Why should it be left to her?
Are his genitalia just painted on?

FGS @theneighboureatmysalad move on

It really ain’t that deep

maybe stepping out for a minute to calm down, leaving the kids with responsible other adults WAS the adult thing to do?

If we don’t take them out from a young age how will they be taught social skills?

@watchthetv When mine were teens I just left the house and went for a walk as they were both just not listening and arguing.
When I returned they were fine again and hadn’t even noticed I’d left the house.
Parenting is bloody hard sometimes.

You are getting unfairly picked on here OP by some of the usual holier-than-thou mumsnetters. YANBU to walk out and have a minute to calm down, especially as their dad was there. We all reach a boiling point from time to time, I've been there myself.

@watchthetv you did what you needed to do.
The kids were safe.
You needed to walk away.
It happens.
Don't let the horrible people on this thread bother you 🙂

As they were with family don't think stepping out is the worst option.

Honestly though - I'd have clapped made a noise then got very quiet and firm had them out the booth then put them between adults or told them if they can't behave we'd leave and no-one would have food and drinks and meant it.

Kids bicker - they learn not to when there are consquences like going with out food or heading home.

Though as PP say - their Dad was there and could have done all of that as well.

Well the OP could have made it a lot easier if she'd mentioned that rather important point in her first post rather than in her 7th...

if they're 3 and 5, they're not going to start bickering any time soon 😂
Better teach them to behave and keep the bickering for their own home. They're just kids.

My friend did this when I was at her house. I distracted the kids until she came back.

I don't have my own because I know I wouldn't have coped. It looks hard as fuck and you have my sympathy.

Give yourself a break. Its not as though you left them alone.

I’m deeply unimpressed that your partner didn’t properly step in before you got to the point of tears. Sometimes you do just need to walk away, they were safe, and their dad can sort their behaviour out. I’d have then had my own meal at a table on the other side of the restaurant in peace.

Not unreasonable to have walked out and hopefully their dad defused the situation. We’ve all been there and children would test the patience of a saint sometimes.