Dining out on a Friday evening with my husband and our little one can be quite the adventure. As we enjoy our steaks and discuss our dream vacation, our 2-year-old, Mia, sits contentedly in her chair, wearing headphones while engrossed in her tablet. Admittedly, she’s relatively well-behaved for her age. Occasionally, we enlist a babysitter for some adult time, but often we bring her along to family-friendly spots.
For two years, I’ve been toting around a massive bag filled with everything a parent might need to handle the chaos of dining out: wipes for messes, bibs, and spare outfits for our little messy eater, along with a plethora of quiet toys—crayons, coloring books, stickers, dolls, dinosaur figures, toy keys, and even a pretend phone. It’s like I’m carrying the essence of Mary Poppins in a bag! Sometimes, I feel like I need to ask the hostess for an extra chair just for our supplies.
Despite the extensive array of distractions, I’ve learned that my child’s attention span is limited. Toddlerhood is not known for its extended focus, and by the time our food arrives, Mia has transformed from a sweet little angel into a miniature tornado, ready to wreak havoc. The choices become either to take her outside for a breather, entertain her with condiments, or let her unleash chaos while I attempt to enjoy a warm meal—something that rarely happens. More often than not, I end up with a cold meal that I forget in the car.
After countless purchases of toys that failed to keep her entertained, I finally gave in and bought her a learning tablet. I budgeted for this screen-time solution, realizing that at the end of the day, I just want to savor my meal and have a conversation with my husband. I know there’s a lot of talk about the dangers of screen time, and I often feel guilty about it. However, Mia doesn’t spend her days glued to a screen. She views my iPad as a way to connect with her grandparents, singing “Twinkle Twinkle” to them at her whim. The reality is, a few minutes of educational content isn’t going to turn her into a mindless zombie; it allows me to enjoy a warm meal surrounded by adults and finish a thought with my partner.
Now, dining out has changed for the better. The additional chair for my bag is no longer necessary; we can sit and talk more easily. When Mia begins to squirm, and our usual distractions fail, the tablet makes its appearance. To her, it’s a magical device that appears only during our restaurant visits, providing about thirty minutes of peaceful play while we finish our meal.
Yet, I often hear disapproving comments from others about children and their electronics. “Why can’t parents engage with their kids and teach them how to behave at the table?” they ask. But let me tell you, from morning until bedtime, I engage with Mia. We teach her to sit appropriately at the table, both at home and in public. But let’s face it—she’s a toddler, and these things don’t always go according to plan.
In those two hours in a public space, I need her to behave so we can all enjoy our meals. If you saw us for a brief moment and judged us without understanding the context, it’s a bit unfair. If you think even a small amount of screen time is detrimental, maybe it’s time to rethink your stance.
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In summary, my journey as a parent has taught me the importance of balance. While screen time can be a contentious subject, it’s about finding what works for our family and ensuring that we can enjoy our meals together, even in the midst of toddler chaos.