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Health & Fitness

Restaurant Flirting

I have coined a new term for the phenomenon that takes place at a restaurant.

Little girls may begin flirting at tender age of 3-4 with their precious eyelashes and infectious smiles. Little boys can engage in the act as well with an oh-so-sweet smirk at a teacher or a mother’s friend, melting the heart of anyone with their coyness.  These gestures are innocent and well intended.  It’s when a female or male is older that things can get confusing and flirting takes on a whole other meaning.  Unless you consider my situation.

 I am not ashamed to admit I’ve flirted prior to meeting my husband.  Of course, when my husband and I began dating, my flirtatious actions with other men ceased (and rightly so).  We have been married 12 wonderful years and have been blessed with a special bond. He too no longer flirts with other women…except for those times when we’re at a restaurant.  It’s the oddest thing.  When our server is a female, my husband becomes another person in my presence and will proceed to “restaurant flirt” in the oddest way.  He’ll inquire about portion sizes and strike up a conversation flashing his wonderful smile.  I sit there and endure the moment, literally rolling my eyes at him.  I am extremely comfortable in our relationship.  I’ve never thought, “oh no, he’s leaving me for this young waitress.”  It’s all harmless.  The reason I am so confident is that I’m used to this behavior.  In fact, my father does the same thing.  Growing up, when my parents took us out to eat my dad would always be “extra” nice to the female servers and strike up more than regular conversation with them.  My sisters and I would be so embarrassed that he did that.  I would see mom roll her eyes and never understood why she was so calm about the interaction between dad and the attractive young server.  Of course I get it now.  There’s complete trust and it’s something that makes our dad (and my husband) feel good.

I started thinking about this and realized lots of men I know “restaurant flirt” once they reach a certain age.  My father-in-law (ever the charmer) lights up when the female waitress stops by the table.  My husband’s uncle even more so when the female waitress stops by to check on us.  It’s almost like a gene embedded in them that says, “This is the only chance you get! You better go for it!  She can’t stop you!”

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 I don’t worry about my son developing this habit just yet, as when the female server comes over, he won’t even make eye contact with her. He’s all business , he wants to order his food and wants it there in less than 5 minutes.  I think the boy is too young to understand the flirting going on between the waitress and his father.  I know my husband is just trying to make our dinner together a pleasant one and there’s nothing wrong with being “nice” as he calls it with the wait staff.  However…I wonder what would happen if the roles were reversed and I decided to “restaurant flirt” with our server whose male.  How would my husband feel about that?

 Could it be that the male company I’ve been with was simply trying to get the best experience from their server (whether it be male or female) and I‘m just reading too much into this?  Somehow I don’t think I’m the only one who’s observed this phenomenon I term “restaurant flirting.”  I gather it’s a past time that will continue for generations amongst our male counterparts.  I hope my future daughter-in-law can get past it too.

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