I have a fear. Ok, I have several fears. But this one rears its ugly head almost 3 times a day. I feel like my kids have forgotten their manners.
Ever since Jane was born Mark and I would take her out to eat with us almost once a week. This allowed me a break from cooking dinner every night and allowed Jane from a very young age to learn how to eat out in public. It worked really well.
We continued this with Wilson. Both my kids knew how to sit still at a table, order their food, and wait patiently for it to come. Then they would sit quietly and enjoy their meal while “talking” to us as best as their toddler ability allowed.
Now the running joke a mealtime is “What? Were you two raised in a trailer?”
Whenever picnic tables are provided at our campsites that’s where we have our meals. Living in a tiny trailer and Wilson scooping rice, oatmeal and blueberries into his mouth on what is essentially our bed must be avoided whenever possible.
He’s not yet two. He’s still mastering getting every bite into his mouth. I get it.
It’s not the mess that I really have a problem with. It’s the fact that they stand up on the picnic table. Get up and down several times. They have trouble sitting still to eat their meals. They’re constantly distracted by whatever is going on around them. Birds. Ants. Toys. Each other. Jane even wiped her peach juice covered hands on Mark’s shirt the other day!
I’m nervous that when we get back to the real world and they have to sit in a restaurant and our dining room table they will have forgotten how.
Any advise for kids and outdoor eating?
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