Dear Restaurant Goers

My mom use to tell me that there was a time period where we just didn't go out to eat. Unless it had a drive through she wasn't keen on attempting it with two kids alone. I remembering thinking 'seriously mom, throw us in the stroller and just GO ya wuss!'

Please take this as a formal apology mom.

I AM SO SO SORRY FOR EVER DOUBTING YOU!!!

{dat sass doe}

Dear causal dinning customers,

Listen up.

I can see you staring at us when we walk in, hoping, and praying that we aren't seated next to you. A highchair and a booster seat, come on now!

The hostess starts walking your way. You look to your left and to your right.

BOOM. Here we are. Sitting a foot away from you. About to rock your world.

Usually it starts off well. We are prepared with snacks, bubbas and the iPad, for when the times get tough.

Tracen will usually sit pretty well, maybe smile and blow a kiss at you if you're lucky.

Give it about 10 minutes and the kids have drank all the dranks and the screws are starting to become unloose. 

The food is taking ageeeeessss to get here, screams the older one. There's no bacon in the damn place and he wants to watch something else besides sports. Why else do restaurants have TV's?

I see your gears going. Wondering why I keep making that uncomfortable eye stare at you. Well that's because we aren't going anywhere. We are eating this damn food no matter how long it takes for it to get here!

Sky keeps signing for more. More. ALWAYS MORE FREAKING FOOD.

The food has finally gotten here and I feverishly start cutting up the boys food. This way they can shove their faces and give us a break to eat, no no, maybe TALK? Wait people do that at dinner?

Not even 10 minutes later and they are done. Food everywhere. Did anything even make it into their mouths? I've barely been able to dress my salad let alone have a few bites when it starts.

The iPad comes out and we try to place it in between both boys so they can watch Peppa while we eat. You know, to share, because that's what parents should be teaching their kids you think in that little pea head of yours.

Who are we kidding though? Skylor snatches the iPad, trace screams BUT HE'S NOT SHARING! Sky takes the iPad and chucks it on the floor, laughing, knowing exactly what he just did. While we both curse and attempt to snag it from the ground Sky attempts a Houdini high chair escape.

Peering over the booth your eyes meet with my 20 month old.  His face is crusted with crackers, milk and cheese and he smiles a big toothy grin at you. I see the interaction and smile, how cute is that I think! I'm sure you had other thoughts about my germy little monster. Nevertheless, I thought it was rather sweet. At least he didn't throw the iPad at YOU!

The waitress trips over Sky's shoe that he refuses to wear. But we got her attention and the bill, good job little one, good job.

We tip the usual 20%, sometimes more if you bring my kid bacon {shout out to the Applebee's waitress, my kid loves you!}and we're on our way. But not without a bribe. I lure them in with a "prize" at home if they can get in the car with no tears. It works. We're out.

As we leave I see you flash a fake smile. We'll be back I think to myself, and hopefully sitting right next to you!

We finally get in the car, "well that was fun!" we both say while laughing. Usually followed by a "it won't last forever, ya know. One day we will be begging them to have dinner with us!"

Listen up fellow dinners sans kids. That meal out where my kids are acting like fucking maniacs and you wonder why I can't control them, I get it. I get why you may be staring at us, I use to do the same things. But the looks don't bother me as much as you may think. In fact, I'm probably attempting to Vlog the whole thing because this is my life and these are the memories I don't want to ever forget. I have two little boys right now and we're trying to teach them how you should act out in public. But the only way to do so is to lead by example. You don't teach a kid to play soccer by making them watch the world cup at home, you get them on the field so they can learn.

Sure there are some meals out where I contemplate my sanity and wonder why we even attempted this..again! But for the most part, I enjoy seeing their faces light up. They get excited to color, to interact with other people and to order for themselves. Although Jerek and I barely get to speak to each other during these times we don't have to cook or clean, so it's basically a win in our books!

So the next time we walk in and I hit you with my over packed diaper bag of shit that won't keep my kids still, keep on starring, your looks don't bother me. My boys have a 50/50 chance of being angels at this meal and you took the gamble on coming out to eat, not me.