If taking your kids out to eat fills you with dread, you’re definitely not alone. Even Jessica Harper, a well-known actress, finds dining out with her little ones to be a source of anxiety. In a candid interview with E! News, Harper shared her struggles with taking her 10-month-old son, Leo, to restaurants. “It’s still quite nerve-wracking for me,” she confessed. “With him being so young, I’m still figuring out how to handle these outings in a calm and graceful manner. It’s a bit terrifying.”
While Harper likely frequents more upscale establishments than the typical family diner, the challenges of dining out with children remain universal. “You arrive at the restaurant, trying to ensure that the other diners aren’t disturbed while you’re filled with anxiety and rushing to finish your meal—you really don’t enjoy it at all,” she noted.
Most parents can surely relate to the chaos of scavenging for misplaced crayons and coloring books while attempting to enjoy a lukewarm meal and a diluted beverage. This very experience inspired Harper to launch her own family-friendly restaurant in Los Angeles, aptly named Kiddo’s Kitchen. The establishment is designed to create a relaxed environment for parents, featuring safe play areas and natural ingredients. As Harper explained, “Our goal is to make families feel at ease, knowing that their kids are playing with safe toys and that we avoid harmful chemicals. We’ve put a lot of thought into creating a welcoming space for families because it’s important to us too.”
For those of us who may not have access to Harper’s upscale dining venue, it’s comforting to know that even a celebrity with considerable resources faces similar challenges when dining out with a child. In fact, her decision to open a restaurant speaks volumes about the reality of mealtimes with kids.
Ultimately, the only way for children to learn how to behave in restaurants is through experience. They must continue to go out, make mistakes, and have parents guide them along the way. Over time, it gets easier, and the fears of spilled drinks and overturned high chairs fade. As a mother of a well-behaved five-year-old, I can assure you that it does improve. Hang in there, Jessica—you won’t be stuck with cold steak forever!
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In summary, Jessica Harper’s candid reflections on dining out with children resonate with many parents who face similar struggles. Her initiative to create a family-friendly restaurant highlights the real-life challenges of balancing parenting with social outings.