I find it continuously shocking how unwelcome small children are at many stores and restaurants. Ok, so maybe "unwelcome" is being a little extreme. It may be more accurate to say that many stores and restaurants are not very accommodating to parents with small children. The carts and high chairs supplied for these children are all the same and extremely inadequate. I don't know any toddler who is unable to escape from the single strap placed around their tummy (chest?). High chairs for my peanut, until very recently, brought her about chin height to the table... as if that's going to entice her to eat. And that's just the start of my complaints about serving children in restaurants.
Besides one-size-fits-none high chairs found at restaurants, I can't believe how many eating establishments have plopped down a steaming hot, ceramic plate of food in front of my toddler. Might as well hand her that steak knife too. I realize that serving food luke warm is probably not good business at a restaurant, but perhaps they could offer to bring the child's food a little bit before the adult entrees and serve it on something a little less breakable. Sometimes I think enough to ask, but I usually feel like I'm being super high-maintenance and keep my mouth shut.
Even one establishment considered by many to be the most kid-friendly of all, falls short. On the way home from the grocery store today, feeling a little sorry for myself for being a golf widow on a beautiful August Saturday, I swung by the McDonald's drive thru. After requesting my Daily Double, I was promptly informed that on Saturdays, breakfast is served until 11am, and it was currently only 10:50. "Are you kidding me?!" I asked. "No, ma'am, we don't serve lunch for 10 more minutes." Yes, I know it was early, but my child had been awake since before 6 am. Sleepy time is fast approaching and I need food for her little belly. I am not going to sit and wait 10 minutes while my Skinny Cow melts in the trunk so you can deam it proper lunch time.
Stores are just as bad, too. Have you ever tried to open a door to a store while pushing a stroller through? You would think that establishments that thrive on the business of stay at home moms could make it just a tad easier for them to get into their establishment.
There is one store that has kid-friendly down to a science. Ikea isn't where I do a majority of my shopping, but when an Ikea trip is planned, I know it will be as pleasant as possible. Ikea offers family bathrooms fit for a queen with a comfortable chair for mothers who are nursing, sinks at low heights for our little-bits to reach, and even little play areas for tots to stay occupied while mommy takes a pit-stop. Their restaurant offers genuine kid-sized portions and even baby food and bottle warmers. Their high chairs are made for small children to sit securely. Did junior have an over-active colon and you ran out of diapers? Never fear, they even offer FREE diapers! While they aren't infallible (shopping carts are only available on the first floor, something you probably won't find out until you reach the second floor and are forced to return to the first in search of a proper cart) they do offer hope to parents that some establishments do want you to bring your child with you.
I am going to continue to shop with my little miss, mainly because I have no other options. I will grin and bear it and make sure my eye never strays long enough for her escape attempts to be successful. But I will continue to hope that one day, store owners will realize the type of torture they are inflicting on parents of small children and will take steps to make our life easier.
