How many of us celebrate Mother's Day by going to a restaurant with our children? Is it just me, or does that concept seem sort of idiotic? I mean, how cherished do you feel when you celebrate your "special" day by attempting to prevent your toddler from squirting ketchup into your bra? I suppose it depends on the age of your children -- I'm sure dining with tweens and teens will be downright delightful -- but when it comes to taking your babies, toddlers and preschoolers to a public dining establishment, it might be more appropriate to send them alone with dad and stay home to enjoy "your day" in peace.
Last year, my husband and I took our two daughters to a popular chain restaurant for Mother's Day dinner; while it was far from disastrous and our children were actually quite well-behaved, to call it "relaxing" would be a stretch. I'd like to say that this year I've wised up and we're either staying home, getting a babysitter or my generous husband is sending me off to enjoy mimosas and brunch with my girlfriends, but let's get real -- I have no doubt that on Sunday we'll join the throngs of other optimistic parents and drag our kids to another mediocre restaurant.
Here's a little song I wrote about last year's dinner: I call it "The Mother's Day Blues."
A version of this post originally appeared on Mommy, for Real. Connect with Stephanie on Facebook.
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