I’ve been a single mother for 15 years now and I’ve really enjoyed it; however, there are times that I wonder about how others did it.
For Example:
How did other single mothers take their kid out to dinner?
I clearly remember several times that Mr. T and I went out to dinner when he was younger. The worst part was when he had to pee. He was too young to go by himself, so I would take him.
While that could be an adventure, that’s not the bad part.
The bad part would be when I got back to the table and our table had been cleared. Some bus boys were really excited about doing their job! I tried to leave signs that we were coming back… but when I refuse to leave my purse or phone behind to be stolen, well, there isn’t much left!
Most of the time our meal was either remade or comp’d. Once, we went potty and I got back and fresh plates were already waiting on us! The waiter didn’t stop the bus boy in time and so he went ahead and put in a fresh order for us!
I think I should invent a placard. A plastic tent that can be tossed in the diaper bag and pulled out when you have to take your kid to the potty – “I’m coming right back! Potty break!” Do you think it would work? Am I the only one that ever had this issue?
Did That Just Happen Blog 
You are onto something here! I would totally buy one of those.
I think I may actually look into it! “Don’t clear my plate, I’m taking my wee one wee!” Lol.
The sign is a great idea! This could be your Golden Ticket!
I really think there is a need for it!! Sometimes when the little one needs to wee, you don’t have time to flag down your waiter!
That has happened to me before! I think you should invent a place card – I would use it! 🙂
I’m glad that it wasn’t just me! I may actually look into inventing that place card!
You should have left a sign or placecard on the table! Actually leaving your napkin on the chair is supposed to be a sign you are coming back, but most people and waiters don’t know the etiquette rules anymore.
I think I really may have to invent that place card so that those coming behind me have an easy way to leave a note! I’ve discovered that most people don’t know the rules of etiquette, either – my friends laugh at me sometimes at our monthly girls dinners, I tend to tell them a new rule every couple of months!
That’s hilarious!
Thanks! Looking back I find it very funny. At the time all I could think about every time we went out to dinner was “please don’t have to pee, please don’t have to pee!” 🙂
I always take my food to the bathroom with me. Solves everything.
Hahahhahahaha. Now that’s a solution that hasn’t been mentioned! And… Gross!!
I’m sure there are single mothers out there printing off that sign right now to stow in their purses!
LOL – that would be greatness!
I wonder if writing on a table napkin would work? But it has to be like big writing in all caps so they’ll notice it 🙂
Now, that never dawned on me – of course, at that stage I was lucky to manage to just get out the door!
This happened to my husband when he was alone with the kids as well. I love the idea of this sign!
I’m just so happy to learn that it wasn’t just happening to me!! I couldn’t figure out what on earth I was doing wrong… turns out, I wasn’t – apparently this is a wide spread issue! 🙂
Just came across you blog!! This post made me smile as just recently I took my eldest son out for dinner just me and him – in the middle of dinner he needed the toilet! And I thought – what??? What happens now?! So, anyway, grabbed my handbag and took him to toilet, came back in and yip, the table had been cleared!!!
I’m telling you – I need to invent that sign that fits easy in our wallets and bags!! Did you get the meal redone? for free? a gift card?
We got free dessert!! 😉 I would definitely carry such a sign in my bag!!!
That’s really a tough one and one I feared when out alone with young kids. Could you inform the waiter that you’ll be back?
You can – but sometimes finding our waiter is like looking for the elusive Big Foot – you see evidence that they exist, but are never there when you look for them!
That is what I tried to do – let the waiter know – but sometimes (especially when potty training) you don’t always have 2 minutes to spare to track down the waiter.
Normally it is okay and nothing happens… but for those rare times, I really think we need a card to set on the table!
I nominated you for the Awesome Blog Content Award. xx
http://pinkbutterflies-blog.com/2013/11/05/awesome-blog-content-award/
Funny place card.
Maybe, you could do it towards the end of the meal and since your stuff was cleared, you could leave. Hey, if they want to get you out of there, why should you have to pay?
I know!! I’ve been tempted a time or two! LOL. It’s funny because there were just so many times it happened to us, and it’s not like we went out to eat much!