Free treats at restaurants - Page 2

[wednesday]

To the PPs rolling their eyes about parents concerned over the unwanted offering of treats, think about the position it puts the parent in if the child truly can't have it. My son is allergic to dairy--he absolutely can't have ice cream. He's still too young to notice if I decline treats for him (which has happened) but it's not long before he will be old enough to know that something was offered and that I refused to let him have it. I would be really aggravated with anyone who provoked a tantrum by offering a treat to him directly rather than asking me discreetly first.

[Heavenly]

My son can't have dairy either. Or wheat or sugar. I have had people offer cookies and I just say he can't have that. He is a smart boy and he knows what he can and can't have. He's never really gotten upset by it. But I do tell him that that person was very nice to offer him something but that we shouldn't take things from strangers (at a restaurant its a bit different). I am blown away by the person who told their child that the man who offered him a candy was not nice! I can see having the whole we don't take candy from strangers conversation but to say the man wasn't nice? I really don't get that.

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by sphinx

I wish I knew why pushing sugar addiction on kids is considered a sociable act (and trying to keep your kids healthy is not!).
.

I've had a lady hand my dd (then 3) a sugar-free (chemically sweetened) lifesaver . At least she wasn't pushing sugar! :LOL

[Zaxmama]

I simple smile and say no thank you we are diabetic. polite, sweet and to the point...

[K&JsMaMa]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

I am really surprised that people actually believe someone is being RUDE to offer your child a treat! They are trying to be NICE! If you want to refuse it fine but it blows my mind that people are offended by that. What kind of a world do we live in that is pisses people off when someone tries to do something nice.

Yeah, that.

If you're on vacation, lighten up a little....it was just an ice cream.

[*Lisa*]

I probably would have just let DD have the ice cream. At the same time, we don't go out much, so it isn't really a big issue. We usually eat pretty well at home, so an occasional treat won't hurt.

At the same time, I DO get irritated that offering junk food to kids is so commonplace. I recognize that people are trying to be nice, but all the "niceness" is bound to either make a parent ALWAYS have to be the bad guy or to result in a really unhealthy diet, kwim?

[boston]

Originally Posted by sunnmama

I've had a lady hand my dd (then 3) a sugar-free (chemically sweetened) lifesaver . At least she wasn't pushing sugar! :LOL

I dunno. I'd rather my kid have sugar than aspartame, saccharine or sucralose.

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by pinkmommy

Besides, if I was worried about it, I would just grab a spoon and dig in, thereby reducing any ill affects on the kiddos and adding to my ample bottom.

Ditto! I've never run into this (haven't eaten out with DS, due to multiple reasons) but I would probably accept the ice cream, explain to DS that we can ALL share it, and dig in. That way DS gets some of the treat, he learns to share, and I can control how much DS eats (by eating however much I don't want him to ).

ETA- I do want to say I understand the people who would have wanted to be asked first. DS was allergic to dairy (one of the reasons we haven't eaten out- just friday he got more allergy testing done and tested negative to it, we're now doing a food challenge to make sure) so I can definately see where a waitress bringing him ice cream and me having to send it back would bring on the tears and probably irk me (at the waitress, not at DS).

[boston]

Originally Posted by wakeUpMama

To the PPs rolling their eyes about parents concerned over the unwanted offering of treats, think about the position it puts the parent in if the child truly can't have it.

This is a good point and it's one of many reasons why people really OUGHT to ask first before offering things to children. I have a mildly dairy allergic child myself. She would have a bad bellyache and maybe vomit if she drank a glass of cow's milk. So if she were really little, like 18 months, and unable to understand why she can't have cow's milk, then I'd be irritated if someone dangled some chocolate milk in front of her face at a restaurant. However, in my experience, this usually happens with older kids, 3 +. (your mileage may vary) And at the age of 3, my daughter is wise enough to ask people "Is that milk from a mama cow? ...Mama cow milk hurts my belly."

I agree that it's totally irritating at times. But....it's one of the nice things about the world, when people try to make kids happy. Live it up.

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by boston

I dunno. I'd rather my kid have sugar than aspartame, saccharine or sucralose.

Oh, me too! I was completely kidding....about the "at least" comment...being sarcastic. Dd and I both avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague.

[hipumpkins]

I would defiently let DD have the ice cream b/c she loves it and so do DH and I No alergies here. I think kids do understand they are on vacation. When we go to Florida my DD is allowed to have pink lemonade. It is the only time she is allowed to have it and she understands that.

******
As a waitress I don't even say the word, "dessert" to family with young children...rather I sort of mouth it to see if I can even bring the dessert menus.

[*Erin*]

Originally Posted by IdentityCrisisMama

Happens to us quite often. I normally let her have it *unless* it’s a ‘bribe’ for getting her in a better mood, which happens often as well.

It’s a tough situation though and I don’t think either choice is wrong, yk?

yep!
we've never been offered free ice cream, but i think we've only been out to eat 4 or 5x since dd was big enough to eat real food. i think if they did, i'd let her have it. as long as it didnt have radioactive colored toppings or sprinkles on it