Yes, at age 2 1/2, the boys are physically capable of sitting still for up to half an hour (especially if in a high chair and provided with either crayons and paper [Jonah] or stimulating one-on-one conversation [Benjamin]). And they are generally well-behaved. But it consumes 90% of my attention and therefore is not terribly enjoyable because I would like to be able to converse with other people at the table and/or concentrate on my own meal. In just a few years they will entertain themselves much better and I won’t have to gulp down my food.

In the meantime, the general rule is that if my meal will cost more than about $15, my boys are not invited to the party. I eat out with them at casual cafes/restaurants a couple of times a week – it’s good for all of us to get out of the house and learn how to behave in public eating establishments. Plus they generally eat more when we’re out. (Not that we’re still obsessed with fattening them up, ahem.) And I think there’s also that fear of a Massive Reflux Episode still lurking in my subconscious… been there, done that at places like Fuddruckers and the food bar at Target.

So we’ll have a few years of eating out with some degree of sanity, but then – for financial reasons - we’ll have to go back to eating at home more once they reach middle school – have you seen how much teenage boys eat??!!

[This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by Burger King Corp.]