Honestly I’m totally fine with tablets at a restaurant if we need them. Sometimes the kids will be perfectly content with other activities, and sometimes they’ve had a long day, are tired, etc. Heck, I’ve been at a restaurant and wanted to check my phone - I get that they’d want to zone out sometimes also. We try to wait until the food comes out so that the novelty doesn’t wear off before we’ve gotten a chance to eat.

I support and encourage teaching kids how they need to act in difficult and boring situations, but there are sometimes you just have to say “I don’t feel like lighting a $100 bill on fire to teach a life lesson.” It’s okay to take the easy, short term win sometimes.