(Temporary) Serenity

I need to report, in the spirit of honesty, that the last few visits to restaurants have been down right enjoyable.  Our little spitfire has been sugar and sweetness lately.  Now, we traded in wine bars for a hick *restaurant* (I use the term loosely here) and for a local Vietnamese restaurant.  Needless to say, she stayed in her seat and was just a little charmer.

These must be the moments my mother fondly remembers when she has that weird amnesia about all the crazy stuff we did as kids.  She has this selective memory that has allowed her to separate out these lovely parenting moments from those more challenging ones.  I think I understand....I feel that way today!  My brain is optimistic once again - I think those days of crazy restaurant behavior are well behind us (after just two positive experiences) and I am smug once again.

I think we'll take our daughter to an art opening Friday night.  

Trying to Pretend Wine Bars are Still Fun

Hmmpf. Well, I'm annoyed. Prior to having my daughter, I secretly cringed when parents told me in voices dripping with a condescending, all knowing tone, "Oh, you won't be going to those fancy restaurants once you have children." Whatever. Punks. I was beyond confident that I wouldn't succumb to that horrible parenting disease that makes you suddenly have intense adverse reactions to doing anything remotely resembling adult fun.

Here we are, two and a half years post those blissful, quiet, wine-filled childless years. I have stubbornly dragged my daughter to posh wine bars, sushi joints, fancy-schmancy restaurants, trips out of the country, and trips to the art museum. I must say, for the most part she does very well and actually enjoys these things (I swear I'm not just saying that to make myself feel less selfish).

I'm afraid we may have recently reached a turning point.