Renee: Bar hopping with my 9-year-old
Ever take your youngster to a bar and grill?
We live in a college town. Lots of bars..and grills. Some of these places hold some very (ahem!) interesting memories for me and my spouse from our college years. But now, they’re good places to have a burger for lunch, grab a quick dinner when there’s an event in our busy downtown, or watch a big game.
Consider our recent family outing to a blues music festival in our downtown:
“You guys do know that you’ve taken me to a bar,” Hanna says, brow furrowed, as we are seated.
We look at her, surprised. After all, we’ve walked Bourbon street in New Orleans with her. We’ve taken her to Beale Street in Memphis. We regularly drink wine at home. We have an occasional (albeit rare) beer.
We remind her they serve food. Good food. More brow furrowing: “Are you going to have a Bud Light?”
Not that kind of beer but what? Really?
More conversation yields some interesting items lurking there in the mind of said 9-year-old. Eyes narrow:
“Do those girls’ moms know that they are wearing skirts that short?” They are the waitresses. Probably. But you aren’t allowed to.
“Will people start cheering and toasting each other at the bar over there?” Only when the game is on.
Gazing around: “Is anyone drunk in here?” Not that we can see.
Lightbulb: “Did you drink here when you were in college?” Why are you asking us these things?
Emphatic: “These are things I need to know!!”
Umm….I suspect these are things she has seen on television while watching a game or 10 with us. And there they sit forming her impression of what happens in bars. I am not sure whether to be vastly amused, or proud of her, or worried. Very worried.
And as for her last question? We aren’t answering it. Yet.
