FINE DINNING WITH KIDS

A very happy new year to you all, how are you enjoying the remaining 74 days in January? 😁😁. The December salary nu, some remain? As for me the 21 days fasting in Royal House is helping; woman needs edification in spirit and in body against the chilling with the big boys in December plus money no dey pocket and so I am managing it till the end of the month.

Anyways today my focus is on dinning or eating out with kids and teaching them table manners, before I had my son Papa, I loved to go out and ‘chill’ and experiment foods at different restaurants and bars and it was fun. When Papa eventually came, it became such a herculean task to just go out on errands as well as eat out but I was very determined to keep that aspect of my life, it was not easy though. On one such occasion; after combing through the oxford street in

, I ended up at Country Kitchen, this was the later part of 2013 and there were not much restaurants and pubs on the oxford street unlike the zillions you see today. Between the time I made an order and the arrival of our food was just 15 minutes,
Fiifi had just turned two and the terrible two phase was in full swing, he went from climbing the flower pots, scattering the vase with soap, toothpick and salt and finally ended up on the table. It was exhausting to trying eat and keeping him calm; halfway through the meal I asked for our food to be packed. I just couldn’t keep up!! From then, I made a decision NOT to go out with him or just opt for deliveries.

Now my kids are much older, and we have been regularly taking them out often, partly due to the fact that we do not have a house help, so it’s either we go with them or not go at all, we chose the former and it’s been great so far. These days before we go out for family dinners, we call ahead to book, let them know we have tag along kids, request for high chair for the 3-year-old to keep her a bit confined (most restaurants have them now and possibly ask for a family away table so we can ‘enjoy’ our drama.

On a positive note, the kids are learning to use cutlery, and observe a few table manners here and there. They can even go through menus and pick a few things; Papa has tried a sushi before but didn’t enjoy it, as for me I come from Elmina, but we don’t eat raw fish in the sushi, )no nso y3 eb3nadze?  They have also learning the different courses and how to comport themselves, but of course you would often hear the “brang brang” if you happen to sit by us, and that will be someone’s spoon or knife falling off the plate. An unbothered toddler sometimes eats with both hands or just used an oversized fork, mekyr3d33, our drama is plenty ankasa!! If it happens to be a buffet, be sure to see a clueless, yet confident nine-year-old in a queue in front with a big plate around the dessert table and most likely you will hear a toddler ‘shouting’ mummy or daddy I want this or that. They can be a handful but they sure do enjoy themselves.

The stares from people from other tables, which can be unsettling, but I have come to appreciate that most people don’t really mind, in fact they get fascinated seeing the kids going up and down with their business; The next time you decide to go fine dining, be sure to include the kids, they will learn a thing or two.

Happy school paying month and enjoy the 74 days left!!!

Y3behyia!!