11.04.2013

Mommy Advice: Do You Eat Out?

Elise is a self feeder and has been for some time, she doesn't use a spoon yet, just her hands (she eats mostly what we eat, just cut into small bite sized pieces), but she is very independent about it and I don't want to discourage her. This has been a surprising Mommy time for me, as I am usually a freak about messes. I guess that I just know that it is helping her develop skills that she needs and I just don't mind the messes as much as I thought I would. (I've also realized that I can handle throw up, if it is my own child's, who knew?)

Anyway, I still struggle with what the appropriate thing to do when we eat out is (and after talking it over with some fellow Moms, I realize that I am not alone). Inevitably about 1/3 of her food ends up in the high chair seat or on the floor. I can clean up the high chair and table, and always do, but what do you do about the mess on the floor? Do you pick it up? Leave it and apologize to your server? Tip extra?

How do you deal with your kids and eating out? And if you don't have kids, but you've ever worked in food service, I'd also love to hear how you would like for parents to deal with the messes?

3 comments:

Connie said...

We used to always tip well when our kids where messy. They have the equipment to clean it up better than I do. :)

Jill said...

I don't know the right answer, but my sister-in-law recently shared that she was mortified after a family birthday dinner out to see the mess that was left surrounding her daughter's high chair. And then my sister reminded us of the time we went to a chinese buffet when her son was about a year old, and how there were 8 billion pieces of rice surrounding his high chair when we left... pretty much impossible to clean up. I think the tip well idea is the best! :)

Janette @ The Johanson Journey said...

I think some food is "easier" to pick up than others-- it really doesn't change how we tip the server though-- I mean, they earn their money off how they serve us-- its the bus boys who have clean it up. I almost always try to pick up the noticeable things while Erik gets the check signed and taken care of- I always ask for a handful of napkins too which always seem to help in messy situations or spills. Like Jill talking about the rice-- I mean, that's a bit harder to pick up. I'd just tuck and run and say you are sorry. Its life.