weird to dine out alone with tween?

[Anonymous]

I have an only child and DH who is frequently gone, including during vacations. Is it weird to take my 11 year old to nice restaurants? Not anything that requires a suit, but reservations and not jeans. I wouldn't bat an eye if DH was along (and I see families at these places), but it feels strange just the two of us.

[Anonymous]

I see nothing wrong with it. I think it’s nice, especially on vacation.

[Anonymous]

I thought this was going to be about going to a restaurant with a tween you're not related to, which: yes, weird.

Eating at a restaurant with your kid is extremely normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an only child and DH who is frequently gone, including during vacations. Is it weird to take my 11 year old to nice restaurants? Not anything that requires a suit, but reservations and not jeans. I wouldn't bat an eye if DH was along (and I see families at these places), but it feels strange just the two of us.

No.

I'm a single parent. I have two kids, but usually if I go out it's with just one when the other one is doing something special.

It's a great way to connect, and enjoy ourselves.

[Anonymous]

What? Strange question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What? Strange question.

I never see it, so I feel anxious doing it.

[Anonymous]

Not at all.

I take my well-behaved 6 year old to nice restaurants quite a lot. It's a treat for both of us.

[Anonymous]

PP to add, I used to travel a lot for work, and never thought twice about eating in nice restaurants by myself (at a table, not the bar) either. Take your kid and enjoy!

[Anonymous]

My father used to take me out for dinner at nice restaurants when my mother was away on girls' trips or for work or was taking siblings for travel sports. Those were some of my fondest father-daughter memories from those years.

Do it, OP. It's also a good opportunity to teach your tween table manners and etiquette.

[Anonymous]

I nannied for a well off family when I was in grad school. Our afternoon handoff (to mom, only) was at whatever nice restaurant they were going to eat at that night. She did this Mon-Thurs every single week.

[Anonymous]

Really?

Single mom here. DD and I have gone out by ourselves to fancy restaurants all over the world her whole life! A family going out to dinner - why is that weird to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? Strange question.

I never see it, so I feel anxious doing it.

Hmm, I don't think of it as uncommon at all. I take my tween out regularly, don't sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really?

Single mom here. DD and I have gone out by ourselves to fancy restaurants all over the world her whole life! A family going out to dinner - why is that weird to you?

Like I said, I never see it. I see entire families. Never one parent and one child. And yes, I have paid attention!

[Anonymous]

We have an only and DH and I both take her out to dinner on our own at times. It's nice bonding time 1:1 and I think it will also translate to both of us being able to comfortably do that with her when she's an adult. It also makes her feel super grown up which is kind of delightful to watch -- she'll wear her best shoes and carry a purse and uses her best manners with the servers. She feels more like a kid when we go out to eat as a family somehow.

[Anonymous]

Excellent. We will enjoy, then!