Here's the run down.

SD13 wore a visibly new dress. Still a little revealing in my opinion (strappy and very short, particularly considering she hasnt been taught how to sit properly while wearing a dress/skirt) but she did at least invest in some sort of strapless bra so we didnt have to see the rainbow array of her bras.

Fiance shockingly made her leave her phone in the car and she didnt put up a fight about it. Perhaps he had some sort of talk with her on the way over to get me. Good thing too because i could tell she was bored during the speeches and i know the temptation would have been too great for her. Looking around i saw no one with phones out so im hoping SD noticed and perhaps that resonated with her.

SD oddly chose to sit on the other side of the boss - so he was the rose between us two thorns. LOL! So she wasnt directly next to me but she behaved so i wouldnt have cared. But she did well and actually engaged in a bit of conversation with the boss.

The dining portion of the night went unbelievably well. She was in awe of the restaurant (we are 99.9% certain this was her first time dining anywhere with white table cloths and stemware). She seemed a bit put off at the kids menu at first, but fiance explained to her that the kids menu isnt for a certain age, but rather a certain appetite. She then relayed how her mother took her out to a nice restaurant (the cheesecake factory, LOL) and she ordered something and ate two bites and her mom said "im never taking you here again". She shared a very large salad with her dad which they nicely split onto two plates for them. She then got her kid meal and ate half the potatoes and two bites of chicken (so even the kid meal was too much!). She used her utensils except for when she went on a fishing expedition for bits of cheese within the caesar salad.

I told her in the car on the way home that she did well at the restaurant because for her she did. If she would simply behave properly like this ALL THE TIME then she would be able to do so much more with us and we'd all have a better time. I just dont get if its for attention, if its lazy, if its jerking her dad around, if its hatred for me or all of the above.

My fiance was so happy last night and we ended up having a good time. I hope in some ways he was able to realize that by setting a few basic rules and expectations and following through makes everything better for everyone.