by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
There are a lot of sacrifices you make when you become a parent. Gone are the days when you can just get in the car and go out for a night on the town. Now you need to find a reliable babysitter who happens to be available on a Friday night. As a mom of two, good luck with that! When my children were born I was able to give up bars and clubs easily since that was never really my scene to begin with, but forgoing eating out every now and then? No way! It took a while to get the hang of taking my little ones to restaurants, but now I can take them virtually anywhere and have a great time. It really just takes a lot of planning and some patience to make a family night out successful.
There’s nothing worse for a parent (or other restaurant-goers) than a toddler who has a meltdown while waiting for his food. Trust me, it’s more embarrassing and frustrating for the parent than it is annoying for the people around them. It’s actually not too hard to keep this from happening as long as you prepare before hand.
· The absolute best thing you can do is to make sure that your children are well-rested and in good spirits. Don’t try and go out before or during nap time and if little Suzy is exceptionally grumpy, scrap your dinner plans altogether.
· If the children are really hungry, they probably won’t want to wait for the waiter to bring their chicken fingers out. Try to pack a small snack or ask the server for some crackers to keep the kids’ grumbly tummies at bay. You may also consider ordering their food first while you peruse the menu. This strategy has served me well over the years.
· Match the restaurant to your child’s temperament. If your little one is super active and excitable, don’t take her to a quiet, intimate setting. On the other hand, if you happen to have a polite angel, you may be alright with a calmer environment. Knowing what your kid will tolerate and anticipating how they will act in certain environments will make your job a lot easier.
· A lot of kid-friendly restaurants will provide coloring pages and crayons but those only keep my kids happy for a few minutes. Bring fun, but quiet, toys and books to keep your brood occupied while they wait.
· Eating out is a chance for them, and you, to have something different from what they have at home. Tell them what’s on the menu and let them choose what they want. This way, they feel like more grown up and you won’t have a huge battle once the food comes and they don’t want what you chose.
· In the beginning, always bring someone with you. That way if your child still insists on having a meltdown, you can take them outside while your companion gets the food to go. You can always try again next week!
On top of simply being kid-friendly, many area restaurants let kids eat free with the purchase of adult meals. Best of all, parents can take advantage of these specials every day of the week. Here’s a kids-eat-free schedule in case you want to try to do just that:
Ale House (Regency)- This unlikely family-friendly restaurant offers two free kids meals with the purchase of one adult entrée valued at $9.99.
Brucci’s Pizza (Ponte Vedra)- Get two free kids’ menu items and two kids’ beverages with the purchase of any large pizza.
Roadhouse (Baymeadows and Mandarin)- Kids under 12 eat free when accompanied by an adult.
Healthy Way Café (Southside)- This one’s a great deal! Up to three kids eat free with the purchase of one adult entrée from 3 pm until close.
Tom & Betty’s (Westside)- Thursdays are kid’s night at this terrific restaurant. Enjoy balloons, face painting, and magic shows as kids eat free (meals up to $4.99) with the purchase of each adult entrée.
IHOP (most locations)- So it’s not a Jax exclusive, but if you’re wanting a no fuss free kid’s meal on a Friday, this is pretty much you’re only option. Get two free kid’s meals with one paid adult entrée.
O’Charley’s (most locations)- Kids eat free every day at O’Charley’s from 11 am to 10 pm. Get two free kid’s meals with one paid adult entrée.
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