Redemption

A month ago I posted Diary of a Wimpy Parent where I described my wimp out in a parenting moment.  Well, I am proud to say I redeemed myself and finally grew some parenting…muscles.

We found ourselves at another restaurant (we eat out too much!) after we had just visited an art exhibit together as a family.  Now this is one of my favorite restaurants and I don’t get to eat there very often.  And I hadn’t eaten much all day because I was saving up for their all you can eat salad bar.  (I tell you all this so you fully understand how difficult this decision was for me.)

As we got out of the car my daughter started to whine and complain about the choice of restaurant.  Once we sat down to look at the menu, my son started crying, then accusing, then fighting, over a lost crayon.  The waitress came by and we ordered waters to get us started which sent my third child into a fit because she wanted a soda.  We told her we weren’t ordering soda tonight- we were just having water- and the screaming continued.  Every kid was unhappy.  Since we had already tried to deal with each situation individually, with no success,  my husband issued a universal warning.  He told the kids to knock it off or we would leave.  I was surprised when the noise and crying and fighting actually escalated after his threats.

My husband and I looked at each other and knew what we had to do.  We stood up, told the kids we were leaving, left a tip for the waitress (luckily no food was ordered yet), and the family walked out of the restaurant without any dinner.  Chad and I did the Kramer grip on the way home knowing we did the right thing, yet both totally bummed we didn’t get to go to our favorite salad bar.  (This clip reminded me of how my husband and I felt on the way home- unified in purpose- I miss this show.)

The kids ended up having frozen chicken nuggets for dinner when they got home.  I think both kids and parents learned a lesson from this situation.  Let’s hope I don’t have to flex my parenting muscles anytime soon.

5 thoughts on “Redemption”

  1. The old saying – “this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you” has a whole different meaning when you are eating Dino Nuggets from Costco instead of Pizza and Salad from Brick Oven.

  2. That is the bravest thing I have ever heard of…Seriously I am so sorry you missed out on Brick Oven. Next time tell your kids that they aren’t invited and you and Chad just go and I will watch them. As for your muscles…they have grown oh so strong. Great job and I love this video. RIP seinfeld. It is just too bad that and chad and to be punished as well for the misbehavior of your kids. Maybe next time you eat and tell them “No FOOD/SOUP for you” or send them to the car “SERENTIY NOW!”

  3. As much as I love Dino nuggets, you’re right Chad, they just don’t make up for The Brick Oven. Tiff, you were redeemed for your good parenting with a trip there with your sisters.

    And… Way to grow a pair! 🙂

  4. Oh Wow! That is some major parenting muscles. I’m proud of you! It seems like you and Chad should reward yourselves with something really really good and make the kids suffer while watching………bwahahaha

Comments are closed.

Subscribe

Subscribe now to get notified about the latest from Raising Lemons!

 

Accessibility Toolbar

Scroll to Top