Have I just discovered the secret to enjoying a dinner out!

[Thingcanonlygetbetter]

Just back from a fabulous family dinner out. No stress, fab food and good service. Restaurant we went to for the first time seems very popular and we could only get a table at 8pm. Which we would deem to be a bit late. We would normally be a 7pm
booking.
We have just chatted about why was this soo good and think we have hit the jackpot! No kids on bloody iPads with the volume turned up, that just kills the atmosphere and grinds me and my families gears. We went out last Sunday night at 6pm to a different restaurant, good food and good service. BUT not one, not two but three kids on the table next to us were all watching /using iPads with the volume up and it was torture and really spoiled the experience. So in future if I go out I am going to go late when the little people and their IPADS have gone to bed. They all need to put a set of headphones on their Santa list!!

It’s a funny one, with MN. My child doesn’t use a device. He likes to meet other people, kids & adults, when out socialising. He enjoys chatting, laughing & learning as much as the next person. But that seems to be verboten, a kid talking to other people, bothering them… While they & their kids are busy on smartphones & iPads. While out. Socialising.

If I'm having a meal out I don't really want other people's children coming and talking with me. I've had my time entertaining my children in restaurants without bothering other people (without screens) and never let them go and bother other tables. Now I want to be able to have a quiet meal with the person or people I'm with. Other people's kids aren't part of that. At a party, sure. At a restaurant, I'm there for my table only.

I've only ever seen a young child not use headphones ? Like an under 3 who likely wouldn't manage? My children don't use tablets (yet)..but I was very close to getting them for our holiday..parents literally spend from 6am-8pm on hols running after their kids and getting no down time. Half an hour over dinner.wont kill them

Yes, that's generally what family holidays are like. 24/7 doing things and getting home feeling like you need a holiday to recover from the holiday. It gets easier as they get older. I agree half an hour won't kill them and isn't a problem, but I don't think I'd do it over dinner. That should be family time to talk and interact.

Yes I’m surprised too.

I have a son like this. Holds me back the same way I held my own mother back all those years ago.

i hope I live long enough to see him complaining about something.

My husband always jumps in first to ask people to turn stuff down. This is his pet peeve. You can ask staff to do it as well, or to move you due to the noise, which might have been better in your case.

But I totally agree. We should write to Andy Burnham and get him to tell everyone to stop this new trend - adults or children. It’s headphones when out!