Just once, I'd like to eat a meal...

[Galatea]

... at my own pace, from beginning to end without interruption, and I'd like to not share any of it with my toddler.

Am I asking too much? :irked:

[marybethorama]

No you're not. I've so BTDT.

[KarmaJoy]

:lol I think when I try to sqeeze in a meal its my baby's que to need something.

[meowmix]

LOL!! I always love those nights out with my husband.. I LOOOVE a wait to sit and eat! It's like I don't mind waiting because there is no child to get antsy and want to leave. And we don't have to order the minute our waitress says hi.. and we can eat an appetizer before the meal and coffee afterwards...

I love a date night! I have so BTDT with eating with my children. I adore them, but eating with them is like eating with little monkeys. :bouncy :nut :lol

[lrmama]

I was thinking the same thing last night. Dh and I went out for my birthday (with the kiddos, of course), and instead of enjoying my dinner, I was trying to keep dd3 from grabbing my plate, helping dd2 cut and eat her food, and trying to maintain a conversation with the friend we were with. I think I spoke to dh twice during the meal. When i told dh that it was the least relaxing birthday dinner I've ever had, he was clueless. He was sitting on the far end of the table, chatting with his buddy, ignoring the fact that I needed at least one more pair of hands to deal with the kids. :irked:

[veggiekicks]

I think I've forgotten how to eat slowly. Meal time is always DS's que to need me. I used to looove going out to eat, now it's almost a chore!

[phathui5]

I can't tell you how many times I've had my own lunch during naptime for that same reason.

[CryPixie83]

I can't tell you how many times I've had my own lunch during naptime for that same reason.
I try this, but as soon as I have my first bite, dd wakes up. Never fails. Ever. :lol I'm almost dreading our valentines day dinner at Olive Garden :irked:

[TinkerBelle]

I don't share all of my food with my kids. I have taught them from day one that they have their food and we have ours. Yes, of course I will let the baby have a bite every now and again, and I did that when the bigger ones were little. Mom should be able to enjoy her meal like they enjoy theirs. There has been no problem with the way we do it. No tantrums, nothing. They know they will get their own plate, etc.

We also will get a sitter on the RARE occasion that we need a night out. Of course, that has been a LONG time ago. Time for another one, SOON.

I am also blessed with a husband who will help (as he SHOULD) at mealtimes if things get out of hand with the 2 older kids. I actually get fairly peaceful meals in our house most of the time.

[OakBerry]

I know what you mean. Sometimes I drop ds off at my mom's house so he can eat dinner with grandma and grampa and dh and I run to a close by restaurant, even a pizza place. It's just so nice to be able to sit and talk to each other without constant interruption.
We take ds out alot with us but it's always us juggling to keep him happy.

[btlsmum]

Another naptime eater here too. And honestly, I just got to the point where I become territorial about my food. The kids know that Mom's food is hers, don't even ask for it. I'm happy to get you some of your own, but hands off Mom's food! LOL Seriously, I'm like a half-starved dog. Come near my plate and you are liable to get your arm ripped off. ;)


I make sure that everyone has their food and beverages before I even bother sitting down (this is in the evening). We bring condiments and the milk to the table so that if anyone needs more it's right there, no one has to get up and go to the kitchen.

It took me a few years but I just got tired of not being able to sit and enjoy my food. I agree, it's really frusterating to be interrupted while you are trying to eat.

[turtlemama77]

I was just telling my mom how much of a mooch my 13 month old is!! I probably encourage her because lots of times I fix one plate and we share. So now whenever I'm eating something, she wants a few bites (or more!). I have to say though, it is easier to fix one plate. Call me lazy, I guess! Haha.

I eat lunch during naptime some days, too. It is nice to enjoy a sandwich in peace!

[btlsmum]

I have to say though, it is easier to fix one plate. Call me lazy, I guess! Haha.



It's not so bad when you just have one. But, when you start getting two or three kids standing around your plate with their mouth's hanging open, its a whole 'nother story. LOL

[turtlemama77]

It's not so bad when you just have one. But, when you start getting two or three kids standing around your plate with their mouth's hanging open, its a whole 'nother story. LOL

Hahaha! Yes, I can just imagine!

[Christine&men]

Just once I would

like to take a shower without audience.

like to clean my bathroom without DS trying to play in the toilet (don't care if it's clean, I just don't think it's a good idea).

like to go grocery shopping without having to make silly faces/voices for the amusement of other shoppers and my son.

I guess that was a little venting. :blah

[chrfath]

:thumb I hear you.

[lilyka]

I eat supper after bedtime. :) for the love of everything holy I would like to sit, enjoy and not have anyone beg off my plate. and I will wait for that until little kids are in bed.

[momto l&a]

For 2 weeks someone of my family hasnt been feeling well. After we all got to feeling better dh sent me out for breakfast all by myself :love Because he said I probably needed to recharge after being drained for 2 weeks.

It was devine to sit and read a paper, order something I wanted, not something that could be shared my my 15 month old and eat at my own pace.

[lilyka]

wow, how sad is my life that i am positively envious about someone getting to go to breakfast alone :lol You are a lucky woman.

[momto l&a]

Yeah I never thought I would love to go to a restaurant ALONE.

I use to think it was embarrassing to eat alone.

Now I know better.


You can be envious of me and I will be envious of some gal on mothering who has a nice clean house today because she had a house cleaner come :drool

[Galatea]

I remember when I worked, before marriage and kids, every Friday I would go to the local restaurant for a late lunch, sit at the bar, smoke cigarrettes, chat with the bartender, and order a salad and pasta, all the while reading a book. What a glorious lunch hour! How I miss it!

[Llyra]

My mom always said the happiest day of her life was the day my little brother learned to use a knife, because finally she could eat her dinner while it was still hot, instead of having to cut his food up for him first.

I went through this tonight with DD. She wanted the lettuce out of my salad. NOT because she likes lettuce-- catch her eating greens!!!-- but because she likes to slurp the dressing off it. So I gave her a pile of greens and a dish of dressing to dip her own, but NO that wasn't good enough. It had to be mine. And once she's slurped the dressing off a piece of lettuce, it's no good putting dressing on it again. She must have a NEW piece of lettuce.

I wound up taking back the "slurped" piece and eating them myself, because otherwise I wasn't getting any of my own.

DH says I'm crazy, and I should just tell her "no, that's mine" but after a long day alone with the tantrums and the meltdowns and the whining and the other ups-and-downs of a 17 month old, I'm glad for any peace I can get. If all my salad has to be licked by a toddler before I can eat it, and that's the only way I can eat in reasonable quiet, then so be it. It's easy for him to say "just ignore her" when he only sees her for two or three hours a day.

I love my daughter with all my heart. Don't think otherwise. I just need to vent sometimes...

[Galatea]

If all my salad has to be licked by a toddler before I can eat it, and that's the only way I can eat in reasonable quiet, then so be it.

:rotflmao

[TinkerBelle]

DH says I'm crazy, and I should just tell her "no, that's mine" but after a long day alone with the tantrums and the meltdowns and the whining and the other ups-and-downs of a 17 month old, I'm glad for any peace I can get. If all my salad has to be licked by a toddler before I can eat it, and that's the only way I can eat in reasonable quiet, then so be it. It's easy for him to say "just ignore her" when he only sees her for two or three hours a day.

I love my daughter with all my heart. Don't think otherwise. I just need to vent sometimes...


Well of COURSE you love your child. No one would think otherwise. :throb

That does not mean she should just be able to take your food and you eat the slurped on food. I could not allow that because it would just gross me out and I believe that if my one of my sons could not be happy with his own food, then I guess he will just not be happy for a few minutes. But that is just me.

However I do understand how frustrating it can be and how tempting it is to just give in for the few moments of peace. I have done similar things just for a few blissful moments of peace. :shy

My DH also thinks he knows everything when he spends a heck of a lot less time with the boys than I do. :flipped

[MommyMine]

When i told dh that it was the least relaxing birthday dinner I've ever had, he was clueless. He was sitting on the far end of the table, chatting with his buddy, ignoring the fact that I needed at least one more pair of hands to deal with the kids. :irked:

I started asking my dh which kids he was "taking" as we sit down....at first he was livid, but now he does it without me asking. It is a lot easier with his help.

[moppity]

:lol I have lunch at naptime and for dinner DH and I take turns on who eats the hot meal at their own pace...I don't think we have eaten *together* since I was pregnant!