Whenever we take the kids out to eat, I feel like I’m playing a game of culinary Tetris, rearranging the meals to fit the appetites of children with varying tastes. If Big Brother isn’t going to eat the fries that come with his cheeseburger, that means Buster and I can share them, which means Buster will only want half his macaroni and cheese, so if I eat half Buster’s mac & cheese, and half of Big Brother’s fries, then I don’t really have to order a meal for myself. But will there be enough left over for Big Man’s burgeoning appetite?
Kids have no conscience when it comes to wasting food, or the money that went to pay for it. As the one who has to make the money cover all our needs, I have a slightly different attitude.
Restaurants seem to have perfected the art of sizing every kid’s meal to be the perfect amount of food for 1.5 children, priced accordingly. This is surely the unconscious factor in our decision to have a third child. Now, all we have to do is work on getting them to agree on two meals to split three ways.
“Let me know when you figure out the economics of feeding me. I’ll just be right here under this high chair.”
Playing the mix-n-match restaurant game is even more difficult on vacation. The chicken strips in a strange eatery may differ slightly from home-town cooking, throwing the entire table into rebellion. The serving sizes are a wildcard, and the prices are sure to be higher. God forbid it’s one of the fancy-pants joints that cuts their fries on site or has a notion that pizza is something that should be reinvented.
It is especially difficult when Daddy can’t read. This happened on our most recent visit to Washington D.C. So full of himself at finding a burger joint amidst the upscale restaurants, in which feed himself and the two older boys, Daddy decided the menu said what he wanted it to say, rather than what it said.
Using his best gastronomic puzzle-solving skills, Daddy deftly planned out the purchase that would feed all three perfectly, and for only about $12. He confidently approached the counter and ordered the cheeseburger with fries and the macaroni and cheese. He was met with a blank stare. After an awkward moment, the young cashier explained, “We don’t have macaroni and cheese.”
“Of course you do,” Daddy remonstrated. “It’s on the menu.”
The young lady screwed up her face. “There’s no macaroni and cheese on the menu.”
Daddy probably rolled his eyes as he grabbed a nearby menu and promptly pointed out the line that clearly indicated the availability of grilled cheese sandwiches. “Hmmm,” he hawed. “I could have sworn that said macaroni and cheese.”
It’s hard to be quite as deft about plan B when you’re on the spot.
Thirty minutes, and $29 later, they exited, carrying a doggie bag containing a completely untouched grilled cheese sandwich and nearly two full orders of leftover fries.
I guess Daddy’s brain went on vacation too.
Snoozing on the Sofa 
Scott, your stories leave me in stitiches. The laughter in Life is best when it is over true life episodes. This post is just so good! I leave YOU with a laugh. I’m minding my own business the other evening, watering my flowers in my backyard, headphones on chilling listening to my music, and SPLAT! A HUGE bright BLUE streak is running down my right arm courtesy of some bird, nowhere in sight, leaving its mark running down my arm. Now what are the chances of THAT happening??? LOL True story And in looking up, I saw NO bird! ❤
Those birds can be sneaky – especially the Blue Bombers. At least he only went for your arm. I mean, you could have been looking up, admiring the beautiful sky at the time.
LOL I just saw this Scott. I know. He could have splatted my face. Hehehehehehe
Perhaps hold off on that third child for a bit….always better to wait till you have your total brain to work with when dealing with odd numbers……
Ooops…..I guess I forgot…you already had that third boy! Well, I guess that explains the brain fritz…..odd numbers….I’m telling you!
It’s even worse when you’ve got to deal with fractions – like in dividing up meals.
My kids are randomly too hungry or not hungry enough for the kids meals. It’s completely unpredictable. What we need is to find a buffet restaurant in town. That would be the best possible option.
Yes, no one ever knows how hungry a kid really is, least of all the kid. They only realize they weren’t hungry after the goes untouched.
Restaurants need cooks that are kid-meal-flexible on demand. Or, how about this: A national Kids Meal Menu that must be available everywhere. Six items only, priced at a buck and a half each: Pizza, burger, chicken nuggets, fries, mac and cheese, veggie medley (for the healthy parents and kids I’ve met once or twice).
Have a great week, my friend, with the Growing Trio that keeps you on your mental toes.
For a buck and a half each, I’d even consider making them eat the veggie medley. You have a great week too, Mark.
Brain on vacation…mmm…don’t think that’s ever happened to me…
No, you just drop your brain off at the mall.
Wait, what? When did that happen?
I’m sure I’m just exaggerating.
As you always do my friend…hehe
Well it was a good try!!!
Parenthood is a series of good tries.
SNORT! Weighing the benefits of eating out against the costs of eating, oh my we rarely ate out with little ones. Restaurants win, parents lose, and there can be screaming of children involved. Now we can’t afford to feed our children, growing men, at a restaurant. They’re current mantra is something like, “Come to the table and stuff yourselves!”
My wife and I recently took only our eldest boy out to eat. It was such a pleasant meal, and nothing was wasted. Maybe we need to feed them one at a time.
You are smart folks. We still enjoy one to one dining out with our kids. Much more civilized and sweetly special.