Weekend brunch used to begin with one question: Where should we go? We didn’t need much of a plan. We enjoyed choosing a place, trying something new, and letting brunch become the start of our weekend. The randomness was part of the fun. Now the same idea comes with a longer list of questions.
Has Duggu eaten? What should we pack? Will the restaurant have food he likes? How long will we have to wait? Is there outdoor seating or somewhere he can move around safely?
We still love eating out. But with Duggu at 22 months, sitting through an entire meal isn’t always something we can count on. During our recent trip to Vermont, we got a pretty good reminder of just how differently restaurant outings work for us now.
When Dinner Doesn’t Go as Planned
We stopped at a family-friendly restaurant for dinner after a day of enjoying the fall colors. There was a wait, but luckily, the restaurant had a play area outside, so Duggu was happy exploring while we waited. Once we got our table, though, sitting inside didn’t last very long. We moved to one of the picnic tables outside, thinking the extra space might help. Duggu could play on the grass while we kept an eye on him, and we could hopefully enjoy our dinner.
And then came the usual challenge with food. No matter what we order for Duggu, what’s on our plates always seems more interesting to him. We have even tried pretending his food is ours, hoping he will suddenly want it. Sometimes it works. Sometimes he sees right through us. Eventually, we packed up the food and headed back toward the hotel.
Before going inside, we stopped in the hotel parking area, where we had a beautiful view of the fall-colored mountains. My wife sat near the open trunk with Duggu’s food while I stayed close as he played. He would come back, stop for a bite, and then head off again. It wasn’t the dinner we had originally imagined, but sitting there with the mountains in front of us and Duggu happily exploring nearby turned out to be a lovely part of the evening.
Choosing a Restaurant Looks Different Now
Experiences like that have changed how we choose restaurants. Earlier, we mostly cared about the food and whether we wanted to try something new. Now we also check the menu for Duggu, consider the wait, and look for outdoor seating or somewhere he can safely explore. We carry a few familiar snacks, too. Having something he likes can help when he’s getting restless.
Even with all that planning, we know a meal might not go exactly as expected. Sometimes one of us eats while the other walks around with Duggu, and then we switch. And sometimes, like in Vermont, we simply take the food with us. We still enjoy discovering new restaurants. We just approach the experience a little differently now.
The Little Dinner Routine We’ve Come to Love
But eating out was never only about the food. It was also about spending time together, talking, and having something to look forward to after a busy week. And while restaurant outings look different now, we’ve found another little routine that gives us some of that time together.
After a long day at work, coming home and spending time with Duggu is something we look forward to. Between playing with him, having dinner, and getting him ready for bed, the evening goes by quickly. By the time he’s asleep, usually around 8:00 or 8:30, we are often pretty tired ourselves.
Once a week, we order dinner instead of cooking for ourselves. We usually place the order during Duggu’s bedtime routine, so it arrives around the time he falls asleep. Then we sit down together.
Sometimes we dim the lights or light a candle. Other nights, we’re happy just to have our food and a chance to relax. We talk about work, something that happened during the day, or whatever’s on our minds.
And on some nights, we put a show on an iPad or phone, take one earbud each, and watch while we eat. It’s nothing elaborate. Just twenty or thirty minutes when we can sit together and unwind. We’ve come to enjoy those dinners just as much as our old weekend outings, although in a different way.
Loving This Stage
We haven’t stopped going out for brunch or trying new restaurants. We just know that some outings will be easier than others. My wife often says things will get easier once Duggu is a little older, maybe around three. I think she’s probably right. But honestly, I love this stage.
That evening in Vermont is a good reminder of why. We went out expecting a restaurant dinner and ended up watching Duggu explore with the fall-colored mountains behind him. I look forward to the day when we can all sit together at a restaurant a little longer. But I’m enjoying these unpredictable outings, too.
For now, we will keep trying new places, adjusting our plans when we need to, and making the most of our time together. And after a long day, there’s still something comforting about our little dinner routine at home.
One earbud each, something good to eat, and a little time together.
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