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Original poster

So this couple walk into a restaurant with an oldish toddler......

180 replies

Flum · 16/04/2008 13:32

... sit down at a table, get out a portable DVD player, plonk it in front of him and switch it on.

Is this normal behaviour? Would you do this?

Judge, Judge, Judge away.....

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Niecie · 16/04/2008 13:33

I have my judgey pants on today and my judgey pants say

cheesesarnie · 16/04/2008 13:34

i wouldnt/couldnt!i suppose maybe they wanted quiet meal and knew this was only way for theyre dc?im not normally judgy but omg!

eidsvold · 16/04/2008 13:34

I guess if he was running amok around the tables etc people would moan, if he is kept entertained and not bothering anyone watching a dvd people would moan.

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schneebly · 16/04/2008 13:35

I wouldn't do it becuase if I was taking the DS's to restaurant it would be for a family meal.

It wouldn't surprise me much to see someone else do it though I might silently think it was a bit sad.

If I wanted a 'nice' peaceful meal without interruptions I would arrange a babysitter and go out without the children.

Niecie · 16/04/2008 13:35

No I wouldn't do this although it can very tempting.

How is that teaching the child to behave in public, at the table and how is it teaching anything about food and eating and socialising. It is just wrong on so many levels.

misdee · 16/04/2008 13:35

[walks away]

belgo · 16/04/2008 13:35

if the sound was down low, I'd say: excellent idea.

hana · 16/04/2008 13:36

we just don't take the girls out at the moment with the ages that they are at. It. Is. Not. Fun.!!!

ChairmumMiaow · 16/04/2008 13:36

I can understand TV/DVD as a distraction if you're trying to get something done, but I agree with the as surely they could have included their child in their conversation / meal! (DS is only 12 weeks but has been avidly watching us eat / been talked to while we have our dinner for several weeks!)

Novicecamper · 16/04/2008 13:36

Oh to be so perfect...

Tutter · 16/04/2008 13:36
Original poster
Flum · 16/04/2008 13:37

More detail it was in Tenerife so bit Chavvy I know , but this couple were not chavvy at all. The restaurant was an incredibly 'nice' seafood restaurant.

My DDs were very erm 'interested' and actually the couple got a bit of a disrupted meal as DD2 kept going over to have a look! Ha ha.

OP posts:
TheDullWitch · 16/04/2008 13:37

That is appalling.

It astounds me people let their children take DVD players and playstation things on holiday. Why bother going away? Why not just live in your own portable bubble?

bonkerz · 16/04/2008 13:38

maybe the toddler had autism? MAybe it was the only way to make the experiance for thier toddler bearable? Just a thought!

Original poster
Flum · 16/04/2008 13:39

On a secret level I was just a bit jealous too. I haven't got stuff like that because I know I would not be able to resist the temptation to use it.

I have to have only one tiny telly in the house way upstairs, so am not tempted to dump kids in front of it all the time. I still do every afternoon though: just don't have the will power to be the perfect Mummy.

OP posts:
Tutter · 16/04/2008 13:39

"apalling"

appalling?

yawny yawn yawn yawn

i haven't done it, but i wouldn't give a flying fig if someone else did

some kids hate sitting in a dullarse restaurant. am thrilled for you, however, if yours enjoy discussing the merits of organic roquette over webbs lettuce

at quiet 12 week old

you WAIT til he can escape from that highchair...

VacantlyPretty · 16/04/2008 13:40

Message withdrawn

Oliveoil · 16/04/2008 13:41

I take crayons and paper when we go out

but am not arsed what other people do tbh

as long as they do not run around nearly slamming into the waitress carrying HOT SOUP (like I saw one cherub do once, parents oblivious)

bosch · 16/04/2008 13:42

No doubt on occasion they drank too much or went to bed late - they're on holiday, give 'em a break!

Plenty of time to discuss world politics with little one when they get back home.

Might not be the height of good parenting (we don't own portable dvd players/ playstations etc) but is it REALLY THAT BAD?

margoandjerry · 16/04/2008 13:42

ooh I think it's quite a good idea.

I'm all for children learning that the table is for eating and civilised chat but that takes 20 years surely? And in the mean time I'd quite like to have a meal myself now and again!

It is boring for children to sit at a table for two hours while we blah on about boring things.

I wouldn't do it myself (fear of being judged) but admire their style.

margoandjerry · 16/04/2008 13:44

Actually, you know what, I would let a toddler do this. But not a teenager. And yet I suspect the sight of a teenager with a DS at the dinner table would shock you less.

cheesesarnie · 16/04/2008 13:44

Tutter mine are 7,6 and 2.they dont know what organic roquette over webbs lettuce is.we dont often go out to restaurance partly because id rather spend the money on something all of us would enjoy and partly because i cant be arsed.sometimes my children behave sometimes they dont.im not a perfect mummy i do stick them in front of the tv sometimes-they like it,i get 15 minutes off.i just think taking a dvd to a restaurant is bit unusual-not wrong but i would be bit shocked.

geekgirl · 16/04/2008 13:46

don't think it's a bad idea either.

wouldn't do it myself but don't really see the problem.

Tutter · 16/04/2008 13:46

"on something all of us would enjoy"

precisely

OrmIrian · 16/04/2008 13:54

What's the difference between that distraction technique and another one such as colouring books and crayons? Or lego? We rarely do out for a meal as a family so when we do I prefer to interact with the DCs, but even so on Sunday they all took along a handful of Crazy Bones to play with. And if I'm honest they spent more time playing with and talking to each other than to us. Which was fine. They behaved nicely, smiled at the waitress, said please and thankyou and didn't bother anyone else. Job done.