Outdoor dining with kids?

[Anonymous]

We do not dine at restaurants indoors or out, with or without kids. Some take-out.

[Anonymous]

Yes, several times. On vacation in Colorado and nearby. Kids are 12, 9 and 6.

[Anonymous]

Every saturday and sunday with our 2.5 year old. I have yet to encounter a restaurant that wasn't going above and beyond to follow all of the rules.

This question/some of these responses about the anxiety spiral of analyzing every tiny facet of the exercise of eating outdoors is a perfect example of why sheltering at home for too long is going to be detrimental to the mental health of so many people. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I know very well once you unlock that spiraling thought it's very, very hard to claw your way back to reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every saturday and sunday with our 2.5 year old. I have yet to encounter a restaurant that wasn't going above and beyond to follow all of the rules.

This question/some of these responses about the anxiety spiral of analyzing every tiny facet of the exercise of eating outdoors is a perfect example of why sheltering at home for too long is going to be detrimental to the mental health of so many people. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I know very well once you unlock that spiraling thought it's very, very hard to claw your way back to reality.

This. People are losing their sense of perspective.

[Anonymous]

Yes.
And indoors too. Multiple times a week. Have been pretty consistently since it started being allowed again.

[Anonymous]

I ate out once by myself on a work trip in July (in VA but not in NoVA), and none of the other patrons wore a mask at any point. I left mine on except when I was eating and left quickly. I didn't enjoy my meal--it was too stressful. I can't imagine doing it with my kids, inside or outside. It seemed like the people most likely to think Covid is a hoax were the ones most likely to eat out.

However, that's just one experience, and I'm totally generalizing from that one experience. It was also indoors and not outdoors. I'm sure there are places where patrons are being careful and it would be fine, I just am not comfortable with the risk right now (though I really wish I was because I miss going out to eat).

[Anonymous]

Only when out and about and there isn't really a great alternative. So twice. We've also done takeout and eaten it at a park, which was a nice treat (obviously only on days where the weather is agreeable!).

[Anonymous]

Yes, we've gone out twice (patios both times) with 3.5 yo and 15 mo. Everybody was distanced on the patios, menus disposable, tables cleaned, no condiments. Husband and I and 3.5 yo wear masks to and from table. We didn't use the bathrooms. It was fun! Felt like pre-covid times.

[Anonymous]

We’ve done brunch outside on a patio a few times with our five year old. It makes her so happy to get out of the house...

[Anonymous]

Yes, outdoor. Usually once a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every saturday and sunday with our 2.5 year old. I have yet to encounter a restaurant that wasn't going above and beyond to follow all of the rules.

This question/some of these responses about the anxiety spiral of analyzing every tiny facet of the exercise of eating outdoors is a perfect example of why sheltering at home for too long is going to be detrimental to the mental health of so many people. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I know very well once you unlock that spiraling thought it's very, very hard to claw your way back to reality.

This. People are losing their sense of perspective.

+1. People's mental health is really being negatively affected by overly quarantining. I was just at the dr today getting an antibody test. He said a semblance of normalcy has to return. Eating out on a patio is fine with socially distanced tables, wearing masks as you walk in, walk out and go to the restroom. Going to a house party with 50 people not wearing masks is not fine.

[Anonymous]

Not eating at restaurants but getting frequent takeout. We're in DC an tbh I'm completely uninterested in eating under a temporary canopy next to cars driving by on a slide of road that has been blocked off with road blocks, which is how most of our local places are doing outdoor dining right now. I'd rather just eat at home and not take any risk.

[Anonymous]

*slice not slide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not eating at restaurants but getting frequent takeout. We're in DC an tbh I'm completely uninterested in eating under a temporary canopy next to cars driving by on a slide of road that has been blocked off with road blocks, which is how most of our local places are doing outdoor dining right now. I'd rather just eat at home and not take any risk.

Eat at the restaurants that have patios in normal times, this is not hard. You are making excuses for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. All meals at home, take-out once a week. If we want to "go out" we pack a picnic and eat at a park.

Eating at a restaurant sounds appealing until you think about what it would actually be like -- stress about whether you are exposing the servers, stress about the behavior of other patrons, stress about wearing a mask when you aren't eating or drinking, stress about keeping your kids' masks on when they aren't eating or drinking, stress about using a public restroom during a pandemic, stress about taking a child to a public restroom during a pandemic.

So much for a relaxing change of pace. It's not worth it.

Lol.

All in your head, honey.