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Why Our Valentine’s Dinner Date With Our Baby Was Unforgettable
by Elena Rivera
Updated: Feb. 11, 2020
Originally Published: Feb. 7, 2020
Valentine’s Day 2019 turned out to be an extraordinary occasion for us. It marked our second year as a couple and our inaugural celebration as a family, not counting when our daughter was still in my belly, of course. As usual, we had dinner plans, but we knew things would be different this time. Our little one, Olivia, now ten months old, was joining us on our outing. Still, I was determined to indulge in a fancy sushi restaurant downtown—we weren’t going to let parenthood hold us back.
Upon entering the upscale eatery with a mix of excitement and trepidation, we were greeted by the hostess who asked if we had a reservation. Naturally, we didn’t. She reassured us it was no trouble and placed us on the waiting list. Maneuvering our enormous stroller into the cramped waiting area felt awkward, and I felt a pang of guilt for taking up so much space. Eventually, our name was called, and we were led to the bar area. The hostess inquired if this setup would work for us, and eager to avoid any further complications, we agreed.
She brought over a high chair, but immediately realized there was a problem—Olivia was seated far below us, and I knew this would complicate feeding her. Sensing the distance, she began to fuss. I tried to distract her with the menu, but my anxiety spiked as I glanced around at the well-dressed patrons savoring their meals. Just as I was about to unbuckle Olivia from her high chair, the hostess returned with a table offer. I seized the chance to accept, hoping it would ease the situation.
Next to us sat a young couple, likely a few years older, radiating love. As I glanced at the menu, I quickly noted the limited options for Olivia. Finally, we settled on a dish of grilled chicken and rice, hoping she would pick at it. As for myself, I opted for the least expensive sushi roll, conscious of our budget as we were saving for a house. After ordering, our waitress attempted to collect our menus, but Olivia clutched hers tightly. The waitress assured us it was perfectly fine to let her keep it.
When our meals arrived, Olivia was less than impressed with her dish. Rice flew everywhere, and even a drizzle of soy sauce couldn’t entice her. I felt my embarrassment rise again but focused on getting through dinner as best we could. Despite the chaos, I refused to let our Valentine’s dinner be a bust. I turned my attention to the dessert menu, feeling a splurge was warranted for the occasion. We chose tempura ice cream, and finally, Olivia found something she liked—ice cream, of course! You take the wins where you can get them.
When it was time to settle the bill, our waitress astounded us with the news that our meal had already been taken care of. Who would cover the bill for a family with a fussy baby? She pointed to the couple beside us, and we leaned over to express our heartfelt thanks. They shared that they were expecting a baby and said our family moment filled them with joy for their future. We chatted briefly, wishing them the best on their new adventure.
As they left, we realized too late that we should have asked for their contact information to stay in touch. My husband dashed outside, but they were gone. Our last hope was to ask the waitress if she could provide us with the name on the card used to pay. Fortunately, she could, and we were eager to track them down.
In this age of social media, we thought finding them would be a breeze, but our attempts to locate them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter yielded nothing. Our hearts sank, but we held onto the hope of crossing paths with them again.
To that wonderful couple, thank you for restoring my faith in humanity and reminding me to cherish these outings with our little one, tantrums and all.
For more insights on navigating parenthood, check out our other blog posts like this one here. If you’re looking for ways to boost fertility, Make A Mom offers great resources. And if you’re exploring more about pregnancy and home insemination, the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center is an excellent resource.
Summary:
Our Valentine’s Day dinner in 2019 turned into a memorable family affair with our ten-month-old daughter, Olivia. Despite the challenges of dining out with a baby, a spontaneous act of kindness from a nearby couple, who covered our bill and shared their excitement about becoming parents, made the night unforgettable. It served as a beautiful reminder of the joys of family life and the kindness of strangers.
Keyphrase: Valentine’s Day dinner with baby
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