Half off Tuesday dinners

Every Tuesday night (yes, we're that scheduled) we eat out as a family. Except that for the past two months, Charlie and Joseph have had soccer practice on Tuesdays. Since Cort is their assistant coach, that leaves me taking Will and Helen to dinner by myself. Hence the title of this post--not half off the price, but half off the family, and the parental supervision.

Other than ubiquitous trips to the restroom, it's really not a big deal. (They aren't old enough yet to go alone, and the other one also is not old enough to stay by him or herself while I take one, so we all have to go--after finding all the waitstaff and making sure they won't take take our dinner while we're gone.)

I don't think I took Charlie and Joe to eat by myself much when they were that age. And what I'm finding, now that I take Will and Helen, is that there are some pretty great people who work at restaurants.

Last week, the manager of Jennie's Noodle House completely saved a meltdown (brewing because Helen, not Will, got to pick the table to sit at) by leaving his post and coming over personally to bargain with the kids for good behavior in exchange for a sticker now and later, if they listened to mommy throughout dinner, a TATTOO! The little ones are still talking about the tattoo. And while I went around the corner to fill up our drinks, he sat at the table with my kids and taught them how to use chopsticks.

Will was game for the chopsticks and ate with them the entire evening

Helen trying out the chopsticks, which were a tad tricky with rice


Proud of his tattoo

And last night, even the staff at Boston Market was great! They brought out crayons and papers for coloring, hung out with the kids while I ordered at the counter, talked Helen into eating her green beans, and cheerfully cleaned everything up when she spilled her milk. I felt bad that I only had a few coins to leave as a tip, but I honestly didn't expect such great service from what is essentially a fast food restaurant.

I don't know if in this economy these restaurants are just that grateful for my business or what, but seriously--eating out with my kids has never been so easy! Score one for customer service.