I know it not a big deal, but it bugs me... - Page 5

[limabean]

Originally Posted by ~Boudicca~

Surely there are bigger things in life to knitpick. Off my soapbox now, flame away folks.

No flames here, but the above could be said about every single thread on MDC -- the forums would have tumbleweeds blowing through them if we were only allowed to discuss earth-shattering matters. And in all fairness to the OP, her thread title does say, "I know it's not a big deal, but..." I don't think she's planning to organize an angry mob to antagonize waitstaff for not bringing a menu to the table.

[DCMama01]

Originally Posted by Gimme Pineapple

I have had many jobs waiting tables. Before I got pregnant, I knew NOTHING about kids. All parents are different and the server can't be expected to know how you raise your children. Some parents feed their children off of their plate, some order from the kid's menu, some want kid's cups with water and no refills, some allow their children to have unlimited amounts of soda.

But- a server is there to SERVE the customer. They just need to be filled in on how you want things to be.

EXACTLY!!! The answers on this thread conflict, so how is your server supposed to know what you want if you don't open your mouth and ask?

[HollyBearsMom]

Do you ask for one?

[DCMama01]

Originally Posted by KimberlyD0

I was also a server and I want to be sure I have it all strait.. these are things parents complained about (I didn't have kids then)

1) they didn't offer a kids menu or crayons
2) they offered my suck and suck age a menu and crayons
3) they offered my child an adult menu
4) they didn't offer a menu
5) they offered a highchair/buster seat
6) they didn't offer a highchair/buster seat
7) they gave my child and ADULT fork (never mind that we only had one size)
8) they didn't bring the right utencil
9) they brought the kids meals earlier
10) they didn't bring the meals soon enough for the kids
11) they ignored my kids
12) they talked to the kids (I actually got in a lot of trouble for this one time when a kid about 4 was really upset. He's dropped something so I went and helped him pick it up and comforted him, apparently mom didn't like that)

do you see a theme forming here?? The server just can't win..

When I do go out I ask for a kids menu and crayons for both, a highchair for one, buster for the other, DD#1 usually orders herself, but not always, DD#2 is just now getting her own meals. I also bring smaller utensils and plastic plates for the girls. Less risk of them being broken.
Makes the servers job just a little easier, and knowing the crap they put up with its the least I could do.

I have had some excellent experiences. When DD#2 was small I was asked if I wanted a booth when they noticed I was having trouble BF her, I jumped on the chance as it was much more comfortable, although it was right by a window LOL. When DD#2 was smaller and only ate small amounts many places would give me veggies, shredded cheese, and mashed potato's free. they said it wasn't worth chargeing cause she really wasn't eating much and it made her, and me happy.

I don't miss waiting tables at all. What's with the assumption that servers don't view children as human?? Thats ridiculous. That server might be working to support children of their own, you never know.

[SiobhanAoife]

I don't mind telling the server what we need, in fact, I spent so much of my life having no idea what someone with kids would need that I just routinely assume that people don't know and need to be told, and that this is just normal.

What does vex me internally just a little is how lately I keep being asked "Just one?" or "Table for one?" when I walk in wearing my 15 month old daughter. I don't get upset, I just gesture to her and say, "Just the two of us!" but hello, she's strapped to my front, there's no way you didn't see her, and she counts, too!

[KimberlyD0]

Originally Posted by SiobhanAoife

I don't mind telling the server what we need, in fact, I spent so much of my life having no idea what someone with kids would need that I just routinely assume that people don't know and need to be told, and that this is just normal.

What does vex me internally just a little is how lately I keep being asked "Just one?" or "Table for one?" when I walk in wearing my 15 month old daughter. I don't get upset, I just gesture to her and say, "Just the two of us!" but hello, she's strapped to my front, there's no way you didn't see her, and she counts, too!

Maybe they think your just going to wear her?

[Cascadian]

Originally Posted by choli

I have to agree. The inability of waitstaff to psychically divine my preferences regarding childrens' menus and cutlery is not on my list of stuff to worry about. I have a mouth, I can ask for what I want.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by SiobhanAoife

I don't mind telling the server what we need, in fact, I spent so much of my life having no idea what someone with kids would need that I just routinely assume that people don't know and need to be told, and that this is just normal.

What does vex me internally just a little is how lately I keep being asked "Just one?" or "Table for one?" when I walk in wearing my 15 month old daughter. I don't get upset, I just gesture to her and say, "Just the two of us!" but hello, she's strapped to my front, there's no way you didn't see her, and she counts, too!

I imagine they are simply verifying whether you only need one seat at the table. If you are wearing her when you walk in, it's within reason that you may prefer to continue to hold her. In that case, for their purposes of determining how many chairs/places at the table are needed, no she doesn't count.

[leighann79]

Originally Posted by Gillian28

I have had the opposite experience at restaurants! I often have waiters bringing my BABY a kids menu and crayons. He's almost one now but this has been going on for months! I feel like saying "All he is going to do is eat those crayons!" And he definitely doesn't need his own meal off the kids menu! And after they take our order they then ask if they can bring anything for him (and I can remember this happening once before he had even started solids!).

None of this bothers me of course, I just think it's funny

I had this experience last night! LOL They gave my 5 month old a kid menu and crayons. I let him have the folded menu until it was a wet mess.
They have been trying to give me a high chair for him since he was a month old. He still can't sit up enough to sit in one. lol

It may just be the kind of restaurants we go to, but my kids have never been left out in any way.

[contactmaya]

The whole array of issue that arise from parenting, embodied on posts on mdc, i consider to be of political, social and philsophical significance. This post however, is an exception is just how trivial it is.

So waiter doesnt give kiddo a menu? Just give him one yourself if your 3 yo genius can already read.
Maya

(who routinely gives her 4yo and 1yo menus for fun, but doesnt expect the waiter to do so)