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What’s For Dinner?
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DEL.ICIO.USDo you believe in adult-only dinners?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With our kids at overnight camp, my husband, Rich, and I have been enjoying Atlanta’s fabulous dining scene while catching up with friends for quiet adult dinners. Our son Jack’s non-stop spring and summer baseball season ate up almost every weekend and we haven’t been able to socialize with our friends in ages.
We moved to Atlanta with young children, so many of our friends are people we met through our kids. But as siblings age, or new siblings arrive, we sometime reach that moment of family inequitably, where the kids don’t really mesh either because of gender or age differences. Since there’s that awkwardness of incompatibility, we often try to schedule adult dinners out with those friends when we really want to be able to connect in a stress-free environment.
We have some friends who don’t believe in going out without their kids and always insist on a family-oriented event, even though our kids don’t match on gender, age or interests.
Do you believe in going out without your children? How do you handle it when families don’t fit when it comes to socializing?
Comments
By Shelby
August 14, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
Of course there should be adults only at times. Not everyone appreciates having to deal with your “sweet child” when having adult conversation. I am 65 years young and love my grandchildren, but they are now 12 thru 17 and were taught at an early age that there were times when they should not be included. As they like time with THEIR FRIENDS!!!!!
By Carol
August 14, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
Not only should adults have dinner without the children, I feel that all nice dining establishments should have an area set aside for people with children. If I go to Mickey D’s I expect kids. However, when I go out for a nice meal, I always asked to be seated in an area with NO KIDS!! I’m tired of paying for a dinner that I don’t know I’ve eaten for screaming kids and/or kids running around as if you are at Chuckie Cheese! Please, parents, either leave the kids at home, or make them behave as if they are humans.
By ATLmom
August 17, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
My husband and I tend to go out to dinner with friends separately, which isn’t a perfect solution, but saves on babysitting costs. I’ll have a girls night and he’ll stay home with our son, or he’ll have a guys night. We definitely need adult only dinners, though. It’s the only way we can truly relax and enjoy a good meal out.
By Laurel377
August 18, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this
I definitely agree that adults need time to themselves to visit with each other and with their own friends, uninterupted by the needs of little ones. Those parents will learn the hard way if they make their lives all about their kids. When the kids are gone, they may find that they no longer have any friends and indeed, may no longer have a marriage. Additionally, parents these days seem not to realize that there are some places that are just not for children. In my town, the only place to get a good draft beer has video game machines too. Thus, parents bring their small children into what is essentially a bar. It simply blows my mind! When my kids were little, I didn’t take them to places where alcohol was served. It’s not fair to the kids, or to the other adults who are trying to relax and enjoy an evening out. And since when did parents decide that karaoke is for kids? Some of the adults are bad enough but, who wants to listen to a 4 year old sing off key? His mother may think it’s cute but, she’s the only one.
By Cait
August 26, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
I do not have children, but I must comment on this subject as I’ve seen many blogs about this lately.
When I was younger my parents took me just about everywhere with them. This includes bars, restaurants, parties, or other social outings. Of course - I was expected to behave in these situations and there were major consequences if I didn’t. I think these situations had a completely positive effect on me. Putting your children in situations with people from different lifestyles & backgrounds broadens their perspective on things. You become more tolerant of others and more socially savvy. Peers of mine that weren’t exposed to social situations like this were some of the most socially awkward people.
Now, I’m 22 and have an awesome relationship with my parents & their friends. And I’d like to point out that I’m not a huge partier/drinker because I was around people consuming alcohol at a young age.
Just like you expect your kids to get an academic education, taking them to adult social gatherings is another educational experience. I plan to do the exact same when I have children.
By Dixie Dog
August 27, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
There should absolutely be adult only dinners and times out. The parents are the foundation of the family and should make time for themselves and their marrige. Too, too many people these days think that their children should come first and that is just plain wrong! Yes the children should be taken care of but that doesn’t mean they have to be taken out. Children are best off with parents that have a great relationship and that means they have to have some time to themselves - so go out for some adult time, dinners, movie, etc.