Wow I must be an awful parent...

firedancer1028

I got my first unsolicited advice from a stranger yesterday.  I guess I should be happy I made it almost 3 years!

We went out to dinner with my family yesterday to celebrate BIL and DH's birthdays.  DD no longer sits in a high chair or booster and just kneels at the table to eat.  When she's in a booster, her knees hit the table and she can't be pushed in far enough to eat comfortably.  So in the middle of our dinner, DD is sitting there eating (being pretty well-behaved for a toddler I should add!) and an old woman comes up to our table on her way out and tells me "you know they have booster seats over there, you can get her one." 

photo_nut

She probably didn't know. DD can't sit in a booster, but she is a little low in a regular seat. A lot of people tell us about the booster seat. I even had one waitress come by and ask if she needed a high chair! I guess people still put 3 year olds in high chairs??  DD is very good eating out and we actually have people comment asking how we do it, which I don't know how to respond because she just likes going out to eat.

kelleymark82606

I was going to say maybe she thought you didn't know they had booster chairs and she obviously didn't know that your DD didn't normally use one.  I'd go on the she was trying to be helpful not give you advice, but I wasn't there to see how she acted.

I have had waitresses ask me if I wanted anything for my child...that is only 3 mo old.  So people just don't know sometimes.

 I would be more offended if your daughter had soda or something and the lady said you should be giving her milk.

firedancer1028

Obviously I don't expect that this complete stranger know my child's eating habits/preferences.  I was just venting that she said anything at all, because I'm a MYOB kind of person, especially when it comes to parenting. 

I guess I should mention that the highchairs and boosters were literally RIGHT behind me, I couldn't have sat in my chair without noticing them.  Any my nephew was sitting right next to me in a high chair, so again obviously we were aware that they were available.  This lady actually leaned in between me and DD while we were in the middle of the meal to comment.  That's what ticked me off.  I'm SURE she was just trying to help, but again, I know what I'm doing, so MYOB.

weezie825

Sorry this lady bugged you.  I am sure she meant well, but it would still irritate me too!

If you are interested, at walmart today I got a pop open take-along booster seat for $10. It actually looks more like one of those cushions you take when you are going to sit on bleachers.  It has a strap that you put around the back of a chair.     

anonsouthernbell

That would irritate me too esp since she interrupted your dinner to tell you that.  (Hopefully though she was just trying to be helpful).

schnef1226

Do not go to the Bob Evans in Aberdeen!!! There is one waitress there who is the parenting police!  We rarely go but when we do it's with my parents when they are in town for breakfast and we always seem to get her.  She makes me feel like the Mother of the Year with her comments about what my DD is doing... 

daisyterp

I know the feeling- I don't use a shopping cart cover, and I had an old lady scold me in the Giant once telling me I should get one.  Really old lady?  I doubt they had those things back in the 50's when you were raising your kids!  Ironic thing was I was in the Giant picking up a prescription for antibiotics as it was DD's first ear infection!

As far as the woman who interrupted your dinner- how old was she?  I know some of the older generation get their pants in a twist about kids sitting "properly" while eating.