Would You Be Upset if We Take Our Three Year Old With Us to Dinner Tonight for New Years Eve?

[Anonymous]

This cannot be a real post. I call BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 3yo at a restaurant at 10pm -- you are out of your mind. Lots of people take their kids out tonight but at a kid-appropriate hour and to kid-appropriate restaurants. That does not include a steakhouse at 10pm. If you want to keep your child up till midnight that's your business, but don't make it everyone else's too. I wouldn't be surprised if the restaurant takes one look at your toddler and tells you they lost your reservation. You've responded to the other PPs saying this is your tradition and your family sitter fell through - well, time to get a new tradition.

This is OP. You are VERY insensitive. My child is actually pretty well behaved when we go out to restaurants, which is frequently. To say that the restaurant would turn us away once they saw our child is beyond cruel. i was looking more for tips on how to handle the situation because it is what it is - meaning, we have no choice at this point but to bring her. Anyhow,I hope your new years resolution for 2013 is to get a new personality.

Why can't you stay home?

Did you read my original post? We ALREADY have our reservation. At this point its too late to make alternate reservations.

Make alternative reservations with your couch, a nice bottle of scotch and some take out.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Are you nuts? Seriously? How rude. Some folks are paying a sitter seriously high rates, on top of the meal and parking/cab, and you are considering bringing your three-year-old out? It is not impossible to get a sitter with advance planning and a willingness to pay NYE rates. DO NOT DO IT.

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt' hate, but I would prefer not to have to sit near you. I have a toddler, and if I was springing for a NYE out, which would be without child, I wouldn't want to hear toddler babbling, let along overtired toddler screaming, but I assume that you know that.

Signed,
Celebrating at home this year

[Anonymous]

I side with basically every person on here, yes, OP, you're being thoughtless.

However, if you're insistent on "eating out", and desire red meat, let me offer a suggestion in one word: Hibachi.

It's loud enough so as not to annoy others, which you'll be doing.

Oh, and consider getting some friends who also have three year olds and stay in with them. The end of the world it is not, just the end of the year (and your carefree youth apparently).

[Anonymous]

Agree.. CANCEL THE RESERVATION!
You do have a choice. You haven't paid for your dinner, only have a reservation. Do everyone else a favor (your toddler included) and cancel the dinner reservation. Next year, make it at 6pm if you have to bring your child. You can still celebrate New Year's at home.

[Anonymous]

I would worry less about having child at restaurant and more about being on the road late on New Years eve and day when drunks rule the road

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 3yo at a restaurant at 10pm -- you are out of your mind. Lots of people take their kids out tonight but at a kid-appropriate hour and to kid-appropriate restaurants. That does not include a steakhouse at 10pm. If you want to keep your child up till midnight that's your business, but don't make it everyone else's too. I wouldn't be surprised if the restaurant takes one look at your toddler and tells you they lost your reservation. You've responded to the other PPs saying this is your tradition and your family sitter fell through - well, time to get a new tradition.

This is OP. You are VERY insensitive. My child is actually pretty well behaved when we go out to restaurants, which is frequently. To say that the restaurant would turn us away once they saw our child is beyond cruel. i was looking more for tips on how to handle the situation because it is what it is - meaning, we have no choice at this point but to bring her. Anyhow,I hope your new years resolution for 2013 is to get a new personality.

Why can't you stay home?

Did you read my original post? We ALREADY have our reservation. At this point its too late to make alternate reservations.

Tough luck. You don't bring a young child to a setting intended for adults just because you have a reservation. And on what planet is it "insensitive" and "beyond cruel" to point out such common sense wisdom? I suggested that the restaurant may turn you away because late-night events on NYE are obviously intended for adults only, and they are going to miss your business less than they will mind the complaints of 100 other diners who explicitly chose not to go to a kiddie event.

[Anonymous]

It's not what I would choose to do, but as long as you commit to removing her from the scene the second her behavior begins to affect others' dining experiences, then I think it's fine. I would bring a bag packed full of non-messy snacks and new/interesting toys/diversions, and tip well, especially if you don't plan to order her a dinner entree.

Happy new year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This cannot be a real post. I call BS.

You know what, I think you're right. This is just too stupid to be real. Someone is playing with us.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't recommend this OP. I don't think it's appropriate. I have two little ones myself and have had to forego many a NYE party or dinner because it just wasn't child appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 3yo at a restaurant at 10pm -- you are out of your mind. Lots of people take their kids out tonight but at a kid-appropriate hour and to kid-appropriate restaurants. That does not include a steakhouse at 10pm. If you want to keep your child up till midnight that's your business, but don't make it everyone else's too. I wouldn't be surprised if the restaurant takes one look at your toddler and tells you they lost your reservation. You've responded to the other PPs saying this is your tradition and your family sitter fell through - well, time to get a new tradition.

This is OP. You are VERY insensitive. My child is actually pretty well behaved when we go out to restaurants, which is frequently. To say that the restaurant would turn us away once they saw our child is beyond cruel. i was looking more for tips on how to handle the situation because it is what it is - meaning, we have no choice at this point but to bring her. Anyhow,I hope your new years resolution for 2013 is to get a new personality.

How frequently do you take your three-year-old out at 10 pm?

Hey, you do have a choice. Cancel the reservation. According to Opentable, Ruth's Chris in Bethesda currently has zero reservations at 10 pm tonight. I'm sure others would be delighted to have it.

Here's the deal - it's fine only if your 3yo doesn't do ANYTHING to disturb anyone else. But being a 3yo, that's pretty much impossible, and it's clear that you're not willing to put other people's experience above your own, so when she starts fussing or crying or throwing food or talking loud or spills her drink, or bangs a piece of silverware against a dish, or has a meltdown, you'll just think, "we have no choice," and continue on, even though you do have a choice. You can not be there in the first place, and you can leave if she disturbs other people. But you won't do that, because you can't even see that as a choice.

I'm thankful my reservation isn't at Ruth's Chris in Bethesda tonight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would worry less about having child at restaurant and more about being on the road late on New Years eve and day when drunks rule the road

AMEN! The number of drunk drivers on NYE is ridiculously high.

[Anonymous]

I agree OP that you are being selfish. You are considering your family "tradition" and your desire to spend NYE out over both your child and the other patrons. However, if you refuse to cancel your reservations, at the minimum, I would be prepared that if your child fusses for more than about 5 seconds, that you be prepared to take your child to the bathroom, the foyer, anywhere away from the other patrons. And included in "fusses" is if your child is talking loudly enough to be heard by several tables. While many people are also parents and tolerant of children, NYE at a fancy restaurant is not the time when people want to hear lots of "Why can't I get down?" "I'm bored, Mommy." and on and on. If you really are able to keep your child awake, happy, quiet and entertained for 2.5 hours at 10pm, then great. As long as she is not a nuisance to the other tables around you, you should be okay. But the number of children that can stay quiet and happy at that hour for that amount of time are very few and far between. Good luck whatever you choose to do.

[Anonymous]

I'd be pretty unhappy to be out at 10:00 for an adult-time meal out, a rarity these days for us, and see a 3-year-old. Especially at a nice restaurant.