Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more

My, my, my... how things have changed! Bundle is now 7 weeks old, can you believe it?!?!? DH and I have made it 7 weeks without killing or maiming the kid - I think that is news to celebrate!  

I don't think it's news though that Bundle's parents love food and love the opportunity to go eat out when they can get it.  In her 7 little weeks, Bundle has been to:
           - Grand Lux after taking her holiday pictures, 
           - Sushi Sasa, Izakaya Den, and Sushi Katsu - hey sushi was on the off-limits list 
              for mom for 9 MONTHS, and therefore dad couldn't have any so they've been 
              a little deprived and had to make up for it - hey, I didn't ask DH to give up 
              booze, the least he could do was not torture me by eating sushi
           - The 9th Door for tapas
           - Super Star Asian Kitchen for dim sum 
           - a quick bite before the art museum at Katie Mullen's Irish Pub 
           - and... Benihana's - with Papa and Nana

Yep, this kid gets around, foodie in the making!  

She's also been to the Denver Art Museum to see the "Becoming Van Gogh" exhibit during which she was very alert, than ate (loudly, this kid makes sucking noises like there is NO tomorrow and her food is going out of style) and to top it off didn't bother to burp - she belched, drunk Barney from The Simpsons style.  Patrons around us couldn't help but laugh!

Anyway, back to the point.  DH and I have taken notice of the reactions from other patrons and employees at all of these food establishments towards our Bundle and which places are kid friendly (meaning they have a changing table, we don't care about a kid's menu), and only one of them fit that bill.  Before you UGH and sigh loudly in exasperation, please know that Bundle has been well behaved at each and everyone of those places, never losing her cool (until we are getting ready to leave and stuff her back in the car seat and even then she isn't loud) and sometimes sleeping through most or all of the meal.  The thing is, now is the perfect time to take her because she is pretty easy and doesn't need much entertaining and easily falls asleep.  Also, DH and I are of the philosophy that going out to dinner is one of the most fundamental social educations a child can receive.  Sitting and having dinner at a public establishment is a force for civilization.  The sooner Bundle feels that force, the better she'll adjust.  Lastly, how are we ever going to teach her how to properly behave in restaurants if we aren't allowed to take her?

Although so far we haven't had any restaurant employees balk when they see her, other patrons certainly take notice.  They fit into one of the following:
a- could care less and don't even seem to notice (we used to fall into this category)
b- love seeing her and desperately want to hold her
c- balk - big time - act like their evening has been ruined by having a sleeping baby sit next to or near to them.  Let me just say that the people who fall into this category get on my freaking nerves!

Since we used to fall into the A category, we have certainly been in for a rude awakening, and guess what? We are not in Kansas any more.  DH and I are not used to getting dirty looks on a regular basis (okay, so I am but I'm normally the cause and am well aware of what I'm doing to deserve them), repeatedly during the course of a meal while at the same time getting these adoring, doe-eyed looks - mostly these are directed at DH when he is doing his daddy duty and simply holding Bundle.

I remember being taken out to eat by my grandparents often, some of those places were "family-friendly" and some were not.  My grandmother also insisted on taking us a few times a year to a very fancy place for tea and we would receive "going out to eat" manner lessons at those teas as well, from how to politely address the server, to which fork to use or how to sit at a table.  Never a dirty look from anyone.  It may be that these events took place in Costa Rica, where children are seen and heard, and people don't have a problem with it.  Kids are a part of life and are therefore expected to show up, well, everywhere.  Although I thought I was over the "culture clash" phase of living in the US, having a baby is bringing all sorts of issues up to the surface, hmmmm..... this might be fodder for another blog post, but I digress.

Have you had this happen to you if you have kids?  If you don't have kids, how do you feel about having them dine out and why?  Would really like to hear some thoughts on this so please share!