What's in your restaurant bag?

This is one of my all-time favorite business tips for moms, and I have to credit my mother-in-law, a.k.a. “Heloise”/Marcia, Mom Since 1963 (MS’63), for the idea. When our now 11-year-old was 2, I couldn’t understand why he couldn’t sit still in restaurants. I even asked an expert about this, and she assured me it was out of many kids’ abilities to sit still for 90 minutes in an adult environment nonetheless, and that the only problem was our unrealistic expectations.

I was convinced we’d never make it to any restaurant more than once – or, that we’d need to go in disguise so they wouldn’t remember the kid who ran around the restaurant, shreiked from time to time, and emptied sugar packets like it was sport. Marcia S. suggested a “restaurant bag” complete with small noiseless but interesting toys, arts & crafts & anything fun to keep little hands busy.

It worked (and continues to work with kids of all ages) like a charm and gives us much needed dining time outside of our kitchen. I try to reserve these toys for restaurants only, and to change the items from time to time to keep them special and unique. Craft stores are great for stocking “magic ink” or small water paint kits. You’d also be shocked at the value you can find at your local Dollar Store for little trinkets & restaurant diversions – it’s like a kids’ wonderland as they race up and down the aisles with a whole DOLLAR! And this works for kids of all ages — the toys just get a little more electronic as the kids get older.

Once your kids expect the restaurant bag and you’ve forgotten it for some reason, it’s like forgetting your Passport on an international trip. I suggest keeping it in the trunk of your car so it’s always there, and do rotate or refresh the contents from time to time. [Sidebar on the Dollar Store - When one of my boys was young, he really wanted to buy a special relative a birthday present but only had a bunch of change in his piggy bank - he was able to get something for $1 that was appropriate & affordable to him while feeling very responsible and independent in the process.]

Feel free to comment or share your restaurant tips!

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