Eating In at The Restaurant

I don't think I'll be eating at that restaurant again anytime soon.  There was a fly in my salad, they wanted to put chicken soup on my steak, and the waiter spilled my Pepsi.

My little ones love to play restaurant.  I'm trying to do better at setting aside what I'm working on to play with them.  It really is so refreshing to actually play with them and hear the precious things they say and that work will still be there later (believe me!).

For example, at one point Kiana was ordering and Easton was the waiter.

Easton:  And what would you like to drink?
Kiana:  I'll have wine.

(At my surprised look)
Kiana (giggle):  I'm just kidding.
Curious where this idea came from, I asked:  Who do you know who drinks wine?
Easton:  King Saul.  And Jesus.
Kiana:  Yes, Jesus drank wine at the Passover.

Well, alrighty then!  I barely suppressed my grin.

A little later I realized that playing with your children is a great way to train them in parenting skills for their future.  Kiana was the mommy and Tyrell was the baby and  Tyrell was crying and crying and pitching a fit and I was a random lady at the restaurant.

Me:  What is wrong with him?
Kiana:  Oh, he's mad because I won't let him play with the candlestick.
Me:  Well, he needs to not act like that.
Kiana (with head tilted, hands flying, dramatically making his excuse):  Oh, well he's only 1.
Me (very seriously--this is a teaching moment!):  That doesn't matter.  When you're a mommy, you can never let your children pitch a fit.  You are the mommy and if you say he can't play with the candlestick, then he needs to learn to obey without pitching a fit.  Now go tell him mommy said no and he needs to stop his crying. If he doesn't stop, you will need to spank him.

 (You have no idea how many times I have wanted to give similar counsel in the store, restaurants, church, etc. to real mommies!)

Cherishing the moments. . .