Went out to eat last night. Beckie and Josh will be going back to school on Saturday and so in order to see everyone (family) before they left it seemed like a great idea to go out to eat. So we (myself and 8kids) met my Dad, Colleen, Linette and her family, and Betty (my mother in law) at the Hometown. Simple right? When is anything in my life simple?
The kids were great for the first 1/2 hour, orders were placed and we waited, and waited. Perhaps not as long as it felt, but with three in melt down mode it felt like an eternity...of course joining in conversations is impossible since someone is forever needing this or that and by the time you can join back in it's a totally different subject and you are clueless as to what is being discussed. Trying not to let all the stares get to me, actually they weren't staring because the kids were loud, or out of control, (which they weren't, actually all things considering they were remarkable well behaved) this number of kids just simply generates stares, a lot of stares, living in a fish bowl when I am out in public is perhaps the biggest challange for me. At one moment I found myself wondering why? I had been so excited to go out to eat, I was more exhausted than if I had stayed home, cooked and cleaned up after all these people. Food began to arrive in trickles, naturally the food for the little ones didn't come out first and after a bit it becomes apparent that no more food is coming....the one children's meal that had arrived had been divided out amongst the 4 little people in hopes of stalling any further meltdowns. So I go check and find out that those meals and mine didn't get entered. Oh joy! the waitress offers to put them in, I declined.The thought of entertaining that crowd for another 30 minutes was just too daunting.
As I was bundling the kids up my oldest say's "why didn't you let them make the food?" my response of "They won't last another 30 minutes and I'm tired of being stared at" was answered with "well they will have to wait at home for you to make something" yes my dear they will but at home they will be disturbing no one but me. She in her youth is so blissfully unaware of much that happens around her. Did I complain about the service? I had every right to, but no I didn't. It was apparent the waitress was new, and young. She looked horrified when she realized much of our food had been missed. What purpose would that have served? Would making her feel worse, made me feel any better? My mother in law said well you should get some free food....why I thought, do you honestly think I'm going to repeat this anytime in the near future.
We dined on peanutbutter sandwiches, which to the under 5 crowd is actually gourmet dining. With the candle burning on the table, it perhaps is the closest I'm going to get to fine dining. As I sat there listening to their chatter, sharing my sandwich with Rose, who does have one of her own, but apparently mine tastes better, enjoying that for this moment all is calm and all are happy I realize I am blessed. Someday I will sit in a resteruant, eat a meal with no interruptions, engage in a lively discussion, perhaps there will be candles on the table and *gasp* linen napkins. Someday...but for now Take Out is my new best friend.
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