Xmas dinner out

[barney]

Very long standing friends of ours came to visit Boxing Day so I obviously asked them how their Xmas went.

As it turned out, they had decided to treat their Daughter, son in law and young grandchildren to Xmas lunch at a local restaurant/pub

On Xmas Eve, it was suspected that the youngest child (18 months old) had contracted chicken pox although the spots were not yet visible.
The baby was clearly under the weather when they set off for the 'treat'.

They all went anyway with the poor little kid crying through the entire meal and ending up with projectile vomiting over the table.
Obviously they cleaned it all up and missed the pudding course as by then they felt compelled to take the poor little blighter home.

They were genuinely surprised when I said that it would have been more sensible for one of the parents to stay home with the kid so the rest of the party could enjoy their meal.

My friends main point was that they had paid for it so felt they had a right to use it.
When I asked him about the fellow diners, he did say that there was a fair bit of tutting because the child wouldn't go into the high chair and screamed the place down.

Can you imagine how cross you'd be if you had paid £65 per head for a special meal only to be seated next to them.

I told him the story of another friend how had a two week cruise on Azura and was seated next to a family of Grandparents, Mum & Dad and triplets about a year old.
Although on first sitting, this was way too late for these babies to be in a restaurant and it ruined every night for my friends.
The family were oblivious to the noise and crying and continued their meal as if it were totally normal.
My friend asked to be moved but the cruise was full and no one would have willingly swapped so they had the final few nights in the buffet.
It was a shame because the evening meal is quite a bit of what makes a cruise holiday special.

Anyway, we were thinking about Xmas dinner out next year as there will just be the two of us, but are now thinking again.

[GillD46]

It's not just the ambiance being ruined that was the issue. If the child was incubating Chicken Pox, other diners were at risk too, and if one of them was immunocompromised, could have had extremely severe consequences.

[Stephen]

Very long standing friends of ours came to visit Boxing Day so I obviously asked them how their Xmas went.

As it turned out, they had decided to treat their Daughter, son in law and young grandchildren to Xmas lunch at a local restaurant/pub

On Xmas Eve, it was suspected that the youngest child (18 months old) had contracted chicken pox although the spots were not yet visible.
The baby was clearly under the weather when they set off for the 'treat'.

They all went anyway with the poor little kid crying through the entire meal and ending up with projectile vomiting over the table.
Obviously they cleaned it all up and missed the pudding course as by then they felt compelled to take the poor little blighter home.

They were genuinely surprised when I said that it would have been more sensible for one of the parents to stay home with the kid so the rest of the party could enjoy their meal.

My friends main point was that they had paid for it so felt they had a right to use it.
When I asked him about the fellow diners, he did say that there was a fair bit of tutting because the child wouldn't go into the high chair and screamed the place down.

Can you imagine how cross you'd be if you had paid £65 per head for a special meal only to be seated next to them.

I told him the story of another friend how had a two week cruise on Azura and was seated next to a family of Grandparents, Mum & Dad and triplets about a year old.
Although on first sitting, this was way too late for these babies to be in a restaurant and it ruined every night for my friends.
The family were oblivious to the noise and crying and continued their meal as if it were totally normal.
My friend asked to be moved but the cruise was full and no one would have willingly swapped so they had the final few nights in the buffet.
It was a shame because the evening meal is quite a bit of what makes a cruise holiday special.

Anyway, we were thinking about Xmas dinner out next year as there will just be the two of us, but are now thinking again.

Sounds to me barney that they were clearly not thinking of their poorly child and only of themselves.

[oldbluefox]

And the same attitude on a ship explains why norovirus spreads so easily. I can't stand this 'Me,me, me' attitude especially where kids are involved.

[Boris+]

My way of thinking is that if a child isn't happy or comfortable then think outside the box and do something different. That way the child has a better mealtime experience, so do the adults - and then obviously so do other people in the same dining area.

I don't by any means think that my way of thinking should be adopted in order to spoil a child - some sort of discipline has to come into bringing up children, but especially where a child may be under the weather, perhaps my daft way of thinking isn't so very daft after all?

I can recall a cruise where at lunch time and also at afternoon tea this family would insist on making the child sit at the table etc - and everyone suffered as a consequence.

Hope you have a good xmas meal in 2015 though - wherever it is.

Em

[Kendhni]

I think you become immunised to sounds that you are used to ... For example a parent is used to the noise of their ownchildren and can shut it out until the sound changes to something that needs their attention ... Similarly we do not hear our dogs sometimes until someone points it out.

[gfwgfw]

Times they are a changing

Not so many years ago it would have been a rarity to see children in a pub/restaurant

Now it does appear children rule the roust in any public place not knowing what the word
"respect" to others means

Lubooo all

The Very Ole **** Giant of Cerne Abbas

[Manoverboard]

The simple solution, Barney, is to book a venue that excludes children ...

It will likely be a tad more expensive but it cuts out the risk of the occasion being spoilt by irresponsible and selfish parents brandishing their sickly / noisy offspring.

[Stephen]

I think you become immunised to sounds that you are used to ... For example a parent is used to the noise of their ownchildren and can shut it out until the sound changes to something that needs their attention ... Similarly we do not hear our dogs sometimes until someone points it out.

Usually by shouting, SHUT YOUR F****** DOG UP

[Kendhni]

I think you become immunised to sounds that you are used to ... For example a parent is used to the noise of their ownchildren and can shut it out until the sound changes to something that needs their attention ... Similarly we do not hear our dogs sometimes until someone points it out.

Usually by shouting, SHUT YOUR F****** DOG UP

Ahem ... yes ...

[Stephen]

Was I being too subtle Ken

[jay-ell71]

Barney, what a miserable Christmas day for all concerned. Such a strange, selfish attitude of the parents.

[suespud]

we went out for christmas lunch last year, with 6 children all under 6, youngest being twins of 9 months..an 18 month old and then 2 @ 5 years old and a 6 year old...plus 8 adults.
We asked to be put in a quiet corner ...but were told..their first sitting ( noon) was all families with young children.
they advised couples..or families with older children to book the second sitting for lunch. (2.30)

IT WORKED VERY WELL FOR ALL CONCERNED.

[Stephen]

Stay at home and get the BBQ out.......much quieter

[jay-ell71]

Sue... I am sure it did work out well, the Restaurant thought it through. However the OP was about taking a Sick child to a restaurant. I am sure if the little one had been well, then the lunch would have been fine.