In spite of screaming toddlers

[susandennis]

I had a hard time finding Spring Hill - it's not hard to find, I just did a crappy job of it. Then it wasn't open yet. I thought their website said 9 but their doors didn't open until 10. It was only a 5 minute wait and, at least, I was sure I'd get a table. I did. And then a couple with an 18 month old took the table in front of me. This is a nice, formal-ish, restaurant.

I so appreciate family friendly restaurants. I know what I'm getting if/when I go to one. I also appreciate fine adult restaurants. Spring Hill is the latter. And, yet, there was a toddler. And then it got worse. The couple were joined by another couple with yet another 18 month old.

And, clearly, the adults were so starved for adult conversation that it was very easy for them to ignore the screaming of their children and the throwing of cutlery. It was not quite that easy for me.

The table next to me asked to be moved and were. I should have done the same. But, I didn't. Turns out the restaurant was small enough so that it would have been hard to have escaped the noise.

Oh well. When my order arrived, all was totally forgiven. They had Croque Madame on the menu. This is one of my all time favorite meals and it's nearly impossible to find and my attempts to make it properly have always failed. I did not stop to take a photo but found this one after and it looks just like what I ate.



OMG it was heavenly. Just amazing. The ham was not your usual - it was salt cured and tasted very nearly like real country ham. The whole thing was crispy and delicious. The waiter was attentive and my coffee stayed topped off. It was good.

The hostess apologized for the screaming kids and assured me that they seldom get kids of any kind.

I will go back.

While I was out, I thought I'd drop by Target. I hadn't been to Target in eons and I was sure there was stuff there I needed. And it was close to where I was.

Turns out, Target had it's own batch of screaming toddlers! There seemed to be one in every department. I tried to escape but finally just left. Turns out I don't need to buy anything that badly.

Baby sitters, people!! Baby sitters need work, too, you know!

Now I am home and no one... seriously... no one is screaming. ahhhhhhhhhh

Comments

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

Huge suggestion from a former Target employee: shop there mid week if you can. During the day is even better ;) Oh, another good time is Sunday morning before 10am. It's usually dead :)

[susandennis]

yeah, thanks. i rarely go in there any more and the last few times I haven't even bought anything. used to be everything they had was tempting. now none of it is and screaming children just save me money.

[viridescence13]

I have a toddler...not one who normally does a lot if screaming though (and she never throws cutlery). However, I don't take her to fine dining establishments, and if she started screaming in any restaurant, we would be leaving as soon as we could get our food boxed and our bill paid. It's happened a few times in family friendly places. Target is a bit different...I would still leave ASAP though. I have no sitter but I pay attention to my child's needs and wants, and also make an attempt to be courteous to others!

[susandennis]

You hit my issue right on the head.

The parents at the restaurant were oblivious to the screaming and the throwing. They were chatting away with each other. I think if I had taken both kids out and put them in the road, they would not have even noticed.

At the store, the father of one screamer was screaming back. The mother of another was just saying no no no no while leisurely shopping.

You are right. It's not the kids it's the parents. I want more like you, please. PLEASE!!!

:)

[viridescence13]

I can't stand that. Kids don't just scream and act out for no reason -- ignoring them does not make it better, and neither does screaming back. I like going out to eat, and shopping leisurely. When I chose to have a child, I gave up my ability to do so whenever I wanted. So far, it's a fair enough trade off. ;)

Unfortunately most are not like me! I feel bad for their children.

[plantmom.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain re: the toddlers. The older I get, the harder it is to deal with screamers. I see a LOT of examples of bad parenting. Regrettably, the good ones are less noticeable, as their methods WORK. I try to be sure to compliment them, though, because I know how hard it is to do it right.

[mixter11nm.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of that dish. Sure looks great though. Glad you enjoyed it even with the screaming brats.

[london1952.livejournal.com]

Good job the food was delicious ! ....that's one of my favourite snacks too but have never attempted making it and have decided it's best to eat it "out" ! ;-)

[kyrielle]

I am so sorry you got the screaming toddlers. I actually have taken Drew to a fancy restaurant when he was that age (and when he was eight months)...but one of us *goes outside with him* if he starts melting down. The other patrons didn't go there to deal with it, and if I decide to try 'good meal' with 'kid in tow' then I am the one who gets the consequences if he doesn't cope! (And, for that matter, he deserves better than to be ignored when he is doing the rude, loud version of an adult saying 'I'm tired' or 'I hurt' or 'I am so far past bored I'm in another state' or 'I need a restroom' and being tied to a chair and ignored!)

Same thing with the musical events at the convention we went to this weekend...my kids, mine to deal with, not everyone else's. (Although I was happy to let people who *wanted to* deal with them - Drew had a fun time playing 'chase' with a 13-year-old who started the game, and Ian got held a lot by people who wanted baby-cuddles.)

We were in a diner getting food to go Sunday night and because we had to wait, we were trying very hard to keep Ian (awake and slightly fussy) and Drew (decidedly under-slept and hyper at that point) behaving. And I think we must have done it right since one older gentleman made a point of saying excuse me, but he just had to say what wonderfully polite kids I had. Made me feel pretty good, that did. :)