Mea Culpa

I did it.

I took the kids out for fast food.

We ate out.

And I knew in my heart we would beforehand.

See, we went to see the trainers at my "exercise class" who had said they were dressing up and wanted to see the kiddos. So, we went and, well, afterwards the kids asked what else we were going to do as I knew they would and if we could trick-or-treat at a restaurant.

So we went out for lunch at Duchess.

And it was okay and they were happy, even though they didn't eat much and it wasn't particularly good (but at least it has a veggie burger, unlike McDs).

But it messed up our 2 1/2 weeks without eating out.

Oh, well, consumer spending. I'm trying to save us from a deeper recession.

Yeah, that's it. I was being patriotic.

Just in Time

"Friendly's is a restaurant," she said.
"With ice cream," he added. "And Bertucci's."
"And Ruby Tuesday's."
"Is Dunkin' Donuts a restaurant?"

Oh, goodness, we quit eating out just in time.

Okay, not quit, just slowed the pace some. Yep, it's been a week and a day since we started our fast from restaurants for awhile. I think I went to Starbuck's twice, which I had exempted from the restrictions, but otherwise, we didn't eat out or take out. We figured, given our usual habits, we would have most likely eaten out Saturday after the festival, Sunday after church, and gotten take out last night when I was mad that dinner wasn't good. Saved us probably $100 and untold calories and fat grams.

We're trying for week #2. And so on, until they can name more homecooked meals than restaurants!!

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And a quick tv update: still television-less downstairs, which has occasioned all kinds of incredulity and teasing from friends and family. It reminds me of my vegetarianism: people suddenly become very defensive about their own habits (just like I used to pre-veg days, or now, when confronted with attachment parents or homeschoolers). You're okay, I'm okay. No judgment, no worries.

In fact, we're watching tv right now. Everyday. For rest time, for about an hour, in the middle of the day. Crazy, non-educational, commercial stuff like, well, right now, Dora. Other favorites: "Caillou" and "Fireman Sam." My favorite is "Miss Spider," so we always watch it last. I finish whatever I'm doing on the computer or the like, crawl up on the big bed, and put on "Miss Spider"--"be good to bugs"--and they know the end of rest time is coming.

But the tv-less-ness has revolutionized our evenings. We talk more, eat better, do more. But still can't manage to get to sleep earlier. Guess tv wasn't the root of all evil after all.

Time for "Miss Spider" . . . .

No-Restaurant Week

And it begins.

Starting today, we are not eating out.

But there is a small alteration to our originally-declared plans: Starbucks is exempt. I just can't give it up right now, if only because I love sipping a latte after my physical therapy workout while reading my latest book (still The Ladies by Doris Grumbach, about the two ladies of Llangollen) during preschool hours.

Otherwise, we are not eating out. No stops at restaurants after preschool, no take-out on week nights, no dining after church on Sunday. We're cooking at home.

Which means I need to go to the grocery store.

And buy a few more cookbooks! Which I can read at Starbucks . . .

A Mommy's Dilemma

No, nothing like Sophie's Choice, so perhaps nothing to get worked up about.

But with two sick kids at home--first, DD with the stomach flu, and now both with head colds--I am faced with what I think is a fairly common suburban dilemma.

That's right: Target, McDonald's, or television?