James Corden on Going Out with Three Kids: “It’s Just a Nightmare”

James Corden is a dad, late-night host, and an actor and singer who can impressively belt out Hollaback Girl while driving at the same time, but there’s one task he has yet to master: taking his family out to eat.

Yeah, we can relate to that.

In a candid interview with People, the father of three — he and wife Julia Carey have daughters Charlotte, 6 months, and Carey, 3½, plus son Max, 7 — admits going to a restaurant with the whole crew is usually “not worth” all the craziness.

“It’s just a nightmare. I got back from Liverpool on Sunday, and we thought, ‘Let’s take the kids out. Let’s go for lunch.’ I mean, it’s a joke,” says Corden, 39. “We actually went to a place at the end of our road for lunch, and we looked like we were fleeing the country. We had that much stuff. It’s absurd.”

“I understand, now, why my parents just used to not do anything with us on the weekend, ’cause it’s too much hassle,” adds the star. “The bags and the stroller, and the baby here and there’s wipes everywhere, and Sudocrem, and she’s got a sore bum.”

“You’re asking for the check before you’ve sat down,” explains Corden. “You’re just shoveling pasta and butter into one of their mouths as you’re trying to eat yours. You have to leave a huge tip, because the place is covered in crayons. And it’s just not worth it.”

Yep! See also: Infographic of Time Spent in Restaurant with Toddler