JUDGEMENTAL looks & comments - Why does this even need to happen??

Judgemental looks, comments -  Why does this even need to happen??

Last night my husband and I took the kids out for dinner, just a local quick and easy pizza place. There I found myself sitting down feeling judged by an older couple, you know the typical head shaking and whispering to each other as they clearly disapproved of what was occurring at our table… this was because the kids had their iPads (not that I need to justify it, but they had been at the football all day, and a first birthday – this was the first time they had ‘screen time ‘that day).. I could feel exactly what the dirty looks were saying to me, I could feel the looks of disgust that my husband and I were actually having a conversation whilst the three kids were entertained with ‘devices’ … They were sitting down, quietly behaving, the youngest laughing happily as she was watching her favourite thing at the moment – puppies! They were happy, and we were happy… but yes, the ‘back in our day’ looks of disapproval was happening - but why?

Times have changed as we all know… but Sure, I get it – we can interact with them, ask how their day was, and enjoy each other’s company – but I can tell you that lasts all of 5 minutes, and then I just want to enjoy my food, and have an adult conversation… with them happy!

I have also had this kind of judgement when my children don’t eat everything that’s on their plates, If my child is full, they are full – I am not going to force feed them, Restaurant servings are HUGE and usually they have ordered nuggets and chips, and quite frankly if they don’t eat all their chips – I get to have some! It is not an issue….

As parents, we are all trying to do our best, raise happy, healthy, well behaved and well-mannered children that grow up to be respected women and men. I honestly don’t believe that iPad at a restaurant, or allowing them to have desert if they didn’t consume everything is really detrimental to this… whatever happened to supporting one another rather than judging?