Cafe culture

No this is not yet another blog reviewing cafes in Melbourne. Like the dad I referred to in my post yesterday I receive a lot of smiles from staff and patrons when I take one of my children to a cafe. These smiles disappear almost as rapidly when my child either starts running around or crying/ yelling at the top of their voice and I very quickly become a “bad” dad or a dad that is simply filling in until the real parent takes over. I tend to avoid places like the Cherry Hill Tavern and don’t duck off to the pokies whilst my child enjoys the “play area”. And for some reason the McCafe doesn’t appeal either so that means I need my child to sit on a seat and behave. I should point out that before my child hit 1 year-old I thought a baby cino was the most pretentious thing in the world.

I have subsequently found out the following things:
1. A baby cino buys you more time and you may get to read one or two pages of the paper.

2. A muffin buys you even more time and may get to read a whole section of the paper.

3. If eating and drinking creates a mess at home with a high chair, special suction bowl, plastic cup, bib, plastic spoon, facewasher then it is going to be much worse in a cafe.

4. The greater the number of items on a table the greater the chance you will burn yourself or the child with coffee.

5. Sometimes you just have to pay for what you ordered and walk out.

6. Other kids of a similar age increase the degree of difficulty.

7. Not unlike if you are with an adult you need to talk to your child.

So why bother? Well I feel like after pushing a swing (yesterday) or looking at animals an adult activity would be nice. And if I let my daughter run off a bit of steam in a park before, or there is a promise of fun after then she is far more relaxed in the cafe.