Being a single mom is tough. So when I decided to treat myself and my 5-year-old son, Tommy, to a nice meal at a fancy restaurant, I thought we deserved it. Little did I know that this “upscale” restaurant had an unwritten policy – they fined moms for simply being moms.

As we stepped into the restaurant, the hostess gave me that look, you know, the “Oh great, a mom with a kid” look. But I brushed it off. We sat down and Tommy was in awe of the chandeliers and the magical atmosphere. We ordered our meals and everything seemed fine, until Tommy started getting a little restless.

He was coloring on the kid’s menu, being a typical, curious 5-year-old. But then, he threw a crayon across the table. I tried to calm him down, but before I could grab him, he slipped and fell on the slippery floor. Thankfully, he was okay, but I was fuming. It was not my fault that they couldn’t keep their restaurant safe for children!

Later, when I was going through the bill, I noticed a line that made my blood boil: a “Parenting Fee.” I couldn’t believe it! They charged me for simply being a mom and not having my son sit perfectly still like a robot. I was livid and decided I wasn’t going to let this slide.

The next morning, I came up with a creative plan. I designed a sign that looked just like their promotions, offering a “20% Off Your Bill” for families with three kids or more. I laminated it and discreetly placed it in their front window.

The chaos that ensued was both satisfying and amusing. Families started pouring in, expecting the family discount. The manager and the staff were at a loss, trying to explain that there was no such promotion. The line of frustrated parents grew, demanding an explanation for the false advertising.

Hours passed, more families arrived, and the restaurant was overwhelmed. The manager ended up tearing down my sign, but the damage was done. The restaurant became a laughingstock, known as the “family-friendly place that didn’t want kids.”

Weeks later, I passed by the empty restaurant with a smile. They had learned their lesson. As Tommy asked if we would ever eat there again, I laughed and told him that some places just don’t know how to handle a little bit of fun.

With the satisfaction of teaching the restaurant a lesson, Tommy and I walked away, ready for our next adventure. Because, my dear Tommy, we can do anything we want.