Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our 70s.
We have friends who are in their 40s, with two kids (6 and 4). We have gone out to lunches with the four of them, and it’s always been a bad experience. The kids tear through the restaurant and scream. It’s becoming very embarrassing.
The next time they invite us, we don’t want to be in a restaurant again. We don’t want to go to their place because the wife is a hoarder and there is only one room we can sit in — and besides, the kids still run and scream in their own home. They can come to our place, but they still tear around.
What do we do or say the next time they invite us for lunch? — Tired of Chaos
Dear Tired: The energy of young kids is unmatched, so it’s understandable that you’re frustrated.
Next time your friends invite you to lunch, why not suggest a place with ample outdoor space so the kids can run around? Some restaurants offer outdoor areas with lawns and sometimes even a playground. Or perhaps you could organize a picnic in a park, so the children can get all their energy out without disrupting the adults.
Another option is to invite them over to your house and, provided the parents are OK with it, put on a movie for the kids, complete with popcorn and blankets.
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“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].
