Midterm Break, Day 5 Part 2 Happy Hour

As we often do on Friday afternoons into evenings, the family packed up in the car and went to Zaccio's for Happy Hour.  The girls get the chance to coat themselves like sugar donuts in sand and seawater and the parents have as many cocktails, beers, or glasses of wine as they can before time is up.  Tonight we went to celebrate our friend Chris's birthday and a huge group of us, 15 in all, with what seemed like 100 children with all that chatter and glass clinking and running around, sat down for dinner.  We had a truly great time until Virginie ate her hot dog and French fries and got energized like we'd never seen before.  She ran all over that restaurant and back to me and all over and back to me.  She didn't make too much noise, no violent outbursts or screams, but I was not able to sit down to eat or drink or share adult conversations. 

I was never one of those people who got angry with people who brought their children out to eat in family style restaurants.  The truth is, they will never learn if you don't show them how and family or casual style restaurants are the right place to do so.  After all my years at the front podium in upscale restaurants in Manhattan as maitre d', however, I will tell you that those places, no matter how early in the evening, are just not appropriate.  I love kids.  I respect that people want to eat good food, have a certain experience.  I support that.  Get a sitter.  I don't think Didier ever thought he would be eating at places like Zaccio's or even considering a TGIFridays on the island, but it works for the wees and any place with French fries, plastic cups, and lots of paper napkins works for us.

We have been blessed to find this group of people whom we genuinely like to spend time with and who have children the same age as Lily and/or close in age to Virginie.  I suppose having to relocate to Barbados without children would be nightmarish unless you mean to party all the time or surf or sit on the beach.  Now while I imagine that many people think that's what they want to do, try it 365 days a year.  Everything in moderation.  We have made more friends through relationships the girls have formed that we could have on our own and I am so grateful.  Thank you, little darlings and Happy Birthday, Chris.


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