Over the Easter weekend we turned the dining room into a pretend restaurant for the kids — Daddy was the chef and I played the waitress. It was a huge hit, even if it only lasted about 90 minutes. It was nice to do something different and the kids loved the role play.
First, we asked them to get dressed up as if we were actually going out. They queued in the garden on our love box, waiting to be seated by the waitress. They were wearing lovely tops from La Coqueta, a luxury children’s clothing brand specialising in Spanish styles. Isla had on a Boalena cardigan, perfect for cool spring and summer evenings, and Noah wore a soft long-sleeve polo that felt really good quality. These outfits were meant for a trip to Dubai that didn’t happen because of lockdown, so we dressed them up for our pretend restaurant instead — it was lovely to see them all smartened up.
Daddy made the menu and chose dishes he could cook quickly, because kids waiting can be stressful and we didn’t want long delays. Isla got fully into character — she called me “Sonia” from my name badge, asked politely for refills and food, and even referred to Noah as her husband, which was hilarious. Noah was more disruptive: he spent the evening mucking about and licking his spoon so I’d have to replace it — maybe trying to get his money’s worth. He’s been tired lately, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
After they’d eaten, I scribbled a quick receipt on a Paperchase list pad and made some pretend money, so they had to work out how to pay the bill. It added a bit of maths to the fun. When lockdown ends and we go out for real, we’ll definitely let them take charge in the restaurant.
It was great fun, even if my main role was standing and watching the kids eat — which made me super hungry. It took me back to my own childhood, when I used to invent menus and make my own money. I actually felt like a child again. The kids’ favourite parts were the pizza and the entertainment — I played the piano after the meal and they danced. Let me know if you try your own pretend restaurant at home.
