I don’t understand why this would be weird. Single parents don’t have dinner with their kids?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not from a patriarchal culture! We're super bland Midwesterners. But we left the DMV for a succession of small towns when DC was too young to go out much, so we really only eat out on vacation (I don't consider our local Applebee's a valid option). And during covid, I think I just got a bit too isolated, so it feels "wrong" to eat out, period. It's something I'm working on.

Well good you're working on it, but yes, this anxiety is weird enough and the question would never have occurred to me (and seemingly most people here).

No need to jump on the OP. Sheesh. She asked a question.

To the OP, I'm glad you'll be having fun out to dinner with your kid. Enjoy!

Like anyone gives a shit. Get over yourself.
Are you an international celebrity? No one cares.

No, love going out with my teen.

As a single mom, I find your question offensive. Do you think all single parents should not take their kids out to nice dinners because someone might think it’s weird?

OP here. Not from a patriarchal culture! We're super bland Midwesterners. But we left the DMV for a succession of small towns when DC was too young to go out much, so we really only eat out on vacation (I don't consider our local Applebee's a valid option). And during covid, I think I just got a bit too isolated, so it feels "wrong" to eat out, period. It's something I'm working on.

I agree that what is weird is the OP thinks it's unusual and has never seen one parent and one child out to dinner. I wonder where OP lives that this is not a thing. Not only is this normal, but it's also normal to see one person at dinner alone.

It’s so strange and sad to me that you find the idea of going out for a nice dinner with your child “weird” unless your husband is present. Are you from a patriarchal culture?


My husband is not much of a foodie so I frequently will take my (much younger) children out to nice restaurants without him and have never thought twice about it. My older child in particular shares my love of trying new restaurants and we have tons of great memories of special meals together.

My DH travels 2-3 nights every couple of weeks. He eats out when traveling , so much so, that when he is home, he really doesn’t want to go out to eat. When he is home, he prefers eating big salads and drinking green smoothies and protein drinks to get back to his ideal fitness state. (He’s an obsessed health nut; and has a love-hate relationship with steaks and wine dinners with clients )

Anyway, my 14yo teen and I go out to eat when he is gone . I’ve rationalized that it’s actually cheaper because it’s just the two of us (instead of 3). DH gets to eat out in fancy restaurants on his company’s dime . And knowing that this is our tradition, we sort of get excited when we know he will be traveling. We have a “bucket list” of $$$ restaurants we want to try.

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?

Plus 1

This is such sn odd concern, OP!

I don't understand why you think it's weird. My 20 year old is a foodie, in part because I have always taken her to fancy restaurants. Sure, we'd get fries from McDonalds or go to Red Lobster once or twice a year, but predominantly, we go to nicer restaurants, and have since she was about three.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Strange. I have done everything with my only child - vacations, restaurants, museums, shopping. It never occurred to me that it would be weird.

News flash - one parent and one child can be the “entire family.”

Reply meant for OP, not PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Strange. I have done everything with my only child - vacations, restaurants, museums, shopping. It never occurred to me that it would be weird.

News flash - one parent and one child can be the “entire family.”

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Strange. I have done everything with my only child - vacations, restaurants, museums, shopping. It never occurred to me that it would be weird.