(http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/02-26/restaurant-kid-copyright2.gif)
Ever notice at nice up-scale restaurants where one should expect a certain atmosphere, there are parents who tend to bring their young children who for whatever reason? You know the kind: they can't sit still or talk quietly and seem to disrupt the entire place. And it typically seems the parents of these kids aren't really paying attention to them or otherwise attempting to calm them down. I know my parents did not take acting up. If you started to act up, you were out in the car and not getting any food.
Now obviously I'm not asking for restaurants to turn away families with children. But do you think it's reasonable to have a section of the restaurant reserved for families so that the children don't potentially disrupt the other customers? Let us know what you think?
I personally think there should be a kennel of sorts for poorly trained children. Drop them off at the door and they will be watered and fed and walked and returned when you have finished dinning.
I won't take my fiance's toddler to nice places. I have also asked to be moved at nice restaurants if there is a rowdy child nearby.
If parents want society to respect their challenges of child raising, then they must show the same respect for those without children.
Plenty of restaurants designed for the family. Don't need to go to the posh places and noisy it all up for the rest of them. I do long for the day when she is old enough to sit still and enjoy a meal. Granted, I am no foodie, but I do like to have a place to go without the squeal of the younger ones. It's not their fault. It's a natural part of growing up. Parents just need to remain consistent and vigilant about teaching the child.
I think it's more than reasonable. Many of my friends do not have children (me included) and while we generally don't mind children, but I certainly do want to go to a "nice" restaurant (or any restaurant) and sit near a screaming or unruly child.
My parents spanked and when I looked as thought I MIGHT get unruly when on an outing (didn't matter where) I got the dreaded, "Do we need to go to the bathroom and have a talk?". That was code for, "If you don't stop it right now, I'm going to spank the crap out of you." Amazingly, I responded quickly and ceased all bad behavior. My friend in MD does the same thing. She is such a pleasant and soft spoken person, but when she looks at her son and says those very same words, he too stops the offending behavior and turns back into the little gentleman we know an love.
Yes I condone spanking (not beating), but I also think that if you teach your children proper behavior from the beginning, you are less likely to be one of those parents everyone hates in a restaurant. Personally, I'd like to know what Count Adolfo thinks, seeing as he has one of the best behaved children I have ever met.
This is one of the reasons why my husband and I simply don't go out anymore. No matter where we go, there are always screaming and unruly children. We live in a small town, and a lot of the "bars" double as resteraunts, so we can't even go there to escape children.
My father rarely let us get far enough to "have a talk." It was almost as though my dad could read our minds, and as soon as my brothers or I even got an idea into our heads about acting up...in any fashion, dad would say "the ring is down."
Dad's wedding ring (which he made himself) was solid gold, and rather thick on the outside of the band. Not to mention my father is a sizeable man, who doesn't know his own strength. We only had to get "tapped" on the top of the head with his ring down ONE time!
An adult section is a fine idea. In an upscale restraunt I have a hard time even considering there being children there to begin with. If they can afford to go there surely they can afford a sitter for the evening. I have been to Saint-Emilion many times and I dont ever remember seeing a child in the place. Maybe I was just lucky.
I wouldn't take anyone under the age of 5 yo any where nicer than olive garden...unless the child is super well behaved! I think its a damned shame that there are parents out there that don't care if their children act out and think that everyone should cater to their child's needs. I totally understand that sometimes kids just won't settle down and if you know you have this sort of child, why take them somewhere where its gonna cost like $30+ to feed the child who is gonna end up pitching a fit about something and not eating all of the food that you have to pay for...its much more cost effective for the family to have their kid stay with a sitter, sibling, grandma etc...
I am definitely for there being an "adult section" most places still are divided up from when they used to be smoking/nonsmoking and most places are completely non smoking...its not like they'd have to do any kind of remodel to make it work...and If I'm gonna pay $40+ for just the entree for one person, I think I've paid for a stress free environment as well...
We take our children out to very nice restaurants, and we're very lucky that our children behave well. They order their dinner from the waitstaff (one's 4 and the other is 7), are very polite, and do not scream. Thank the jebus, cause I really do enjoy letting my children have a taste of fine dining.
This thread reminded me of a policy at one of the restaurants at Disney World. It drew some fire, but Disney kept it:
Victoria & Albert's restaurant offers an intimate 2-hour to 2.5-hour dining experience in an adult- oriented atmosphere. Children under the age 10 will not be served.
I know restaurants across the USA have whined and moaned that no-smoking policies would cost them business ... and then seen their business go up after smoking is banned. I'm sure they would react the same way to suggestions that some should ban young children, but I think it would help their business.
Oh, this has so long been a gripe of mine - so I won't even go into it, but will tell a small story....
A couple brought their child and thier childs BIG WHEEL into our restaurant ("high power lunch" is prolly a good explanation), and proceeded to allow the child to ride the big wheel throughout the restaurant. When I told them that I couldn't allow the child to ride his bike in the restaurant for the safety (and the comfort) of the other guests they walked to the front of the restaurant and YELLED "lets go Damien they don't WANT us here".
I thought I had killed my biz - instead when they left the entire restaurant started clapping. I actually made some good repeat customers.
I travel quite a bit on business(es) and enjoy going out to some of the best restaurants in the NYC, Chicago, Palm Beach, Boulder/Denver and Dallas areas. Not too much, but maybe once or twice a month when I'm in the area. 30 times to 1 I've seen far poorer behavior out of the "adults" in these places than any children. Maybe there's a bigger problem with Denny's or Olive Garden with kids but not very much that I've noticed at the good dining places. So, I'm all for a section for the " Actual Adults".
As far as having some restaurants being "adult only", I have no problem with that. Same goes for many venues. I have children and don't see a need to have them around all the time. Not everything is or should be for children or a family-oriented place. What I do have a problem with are the many people that have an attitude about children just in general ... on both sides of the fence.
Yes, they should have adults only sections. I wont stop with just dining establishments either. I want adults only theaters (no THOSE kind), as well. Would also like to see adults only time at water parks, six flags, and grocery stores. And I mean adults only, as in no one under 18.
I live in the burbs and we have an infestation of terrible kids and terrible parents.
My husband and I where at a "nice" resturant and we decided to wait in the BAR for our table, as we are sitting there this woman comes in with a child that is screaming loud enough to shatter glass. My hubby leans over to me and giggles "We'd like the no screaming section" I busted out laughing. The woman comes over and proceeds to cuss my husband out and then tells him he knows nothing about childrem. My poor hubby is a very shy conservitive man and he was mortified! He just stood there with his mouth hanging open. I pipe in and tell her she know's nothing about children using that language and taking them into the BAR! And I am sure my husband was talking to ME! she had the screaming kid by the arm this whole time and yep it was screaming. She huffed out of the resturant so fast! the entire bar started clapping and someone sent us drink!
Hell yes! they need a adults only section!
My children can be unruly at times. But I do not EVER take them to nice restaruants. That is just asking for disaster right there. The few times I am able to go out to a nice place with my Hubby, I dont want my time ruined because of someone's misbehaving children.
Quote from: Shandi on September 28, 2010, 04:26:07 PM
My husband and I where at a "nice" resturant and we decided to wait in the BAR for our table, as we are sitting there this woman comes in with a child that is screaming loud enough to shatter glass. My hubby leans over to me and giggles "We'd like the no screaming section" I busted out laughing. The woman comes over and proceeds to cuss my husband out and then tells him he knows nothing about childrem. My poor hubby is a very shy conservitive man and he was mortified! He just stood there with his mouth hanging open. I pipe in and tell her she know's nothing about children using that language and taking them into the BAR! And I am sure my husband was talking to ME! she had the screaming kid by the arm this whole time and yep it was screaming. She huffed out of the resturant so fast! the entire bar started clapping and someone sent us drink!
Hell yes! they need a adults only section!
I agree with the children not being allowed into bar's. There are several places children should not be brought. Even being a Mom, I wont bring my children everywhere, I wait till their at school or get a babysitter. And this latest complaint from some Mom's that bars should allow them to bring their children is ridiculous. They need to wake up and realize something.
I wouldn't mind it, but there are children of all ages, so the saying goes. Nimue and I went out to a small upper-mid-scale restaurant one evening and were seated by the hostess away from the noisy bar area. In the "quiet" main dining area, only one table was occupied (6 or 7 patrons), and we were a couple tables away from them.
After just a few minutes, we asked to be moved to the bar area because we were unable to have a conversation. One of the other table's patrons was talking so loud, we could not hear each other! It wasn't that he had to talk loud, he was just a blow-hard braggart with a big mouth. Even though it was actually louder in the bar area—at least 30 people—it was more like white noise where you couldn't make out a conversation. Our waitress was very apologetic. What made matters worse, the table were guests of the owner.
It doesn't have to be kids that are rude. Many of them have better manners than the adults. Another pet peeve: cell phones in the restaurant. If I ever open a restaurant, it will be shielded so that cell phones do not work!
I think it has to depend on the size of the restaurant. Our restaurant has 15 tables and seats 40 people. There is no way we could have a separate area for adults without children and another one for adults with children.
Having said that, although our restaurant is casual, it is very upscale in the dining experience, no children's menu even, and with any family who has taken their children in, we have never had one problem in the 11 years we've been open.
I think children should be served in all restaurants. They're delicious barbequed. ::)
:D
In all seriousness, it does depend what age we are talking about. Babies and toddlers...or any child who is apt to wail, do not belong in anything other than a casual family restaurant. Children old enough to sit at table and eat with the adults are a delight when they have been taught proper table manners. I have no problem with this and don't think they need be put in another room, but I do think it would be nice if there were a family hour to include the younger set and then from...say... 8:30 on it is 10 and up.
I agree there are plenty of adults who don't know how to share a dining experience. I have always said dining should be a required course in highschool whereby good manners and good tipping habits are taught.
Restaurants that need "adult only" sections aren't usually in the fine dining oeuvre.
And those that are, usually have children that rise to the occasion. It depends on the clientele...and it's up to the parents to realize when a child needs to be removed for other patrons' comfort. I've been on both sides of this issue. Sometimes a child will be able to handle it, other times not. Parents are the ones who need to take matters in hand and remove a child when necessary.
I remember when i was like 5 my aunt took us to a really nice restaurant and we got the stare down from just about everyone when we walked in and a believe a table did ask to move away from us. We didnt even make a peep the entire time we were there and kept in our seats. When we were getting ready to leave the manager came over and thanked us for being so quite i think it pretty much baffled them lol.
Unfortunately not everyone educates their children on being aware of the feelings of those around them and i think adult only restaurants are a great idea. I dont really see the point in taking a kid to a nice place when theyre going to be forced into ordering something they dont want, that they wont eat and that you'll have to pay a good chunk of change for. The experience? Kids dont want that they want Chuckecheese.
I don't think it should be limited to an adults only section, I'd like to see an adults only restaurant. No one under 15 served. But bars? I don't know. I spent many a happy hour with my Dad in a bar when I was 5 or so. Got my first pocketknife and learned to play pool in one before I started the 1st grade. But, (showing my age) kids were better behaved back then because going out was such a rare treat.
Keeper, I have to ask this... What time was happy hour? I used to go to bars with my Mom when I was younger. But I was much better behaved than children today. But after a certain time, children of any age were not permitted. And I do agree upon that, only if the children can and know how to behave.
I do my best to teach my children manners and how to act properly out in public. I continuously get compliments on how nice and well behaved they are compared to other children. But I still think that certain times and places children should not be allowed.
LadyShadow, in those days, there wasn't any such thing as a happy hour that I recall. Like Keeper, I used to go with my Dad while he sipped a couple brews after work. There was also no such thing as acting up. It was a privilege to sit at the bar with my Dad...I'd have a soda. I would give anything to be able to sit at a bar with my Dad again. Those were wonderful memories.
I live in the burbs. Totally infested with terrible parents and hoardes of even worse children. My wife and I eat and fine dining/upscale places a few times a month, usually do not see many children in these places. However, simply paying less for dinner at a casual dining establishment doesnt mean one should have to be subjected to terrible little monsters. Take that crap to places like pizza buffets and fast food joints.
Here is one example of the dozen or more I have. I was at PF Changs, typical casual mid range Chinese place. We had finished eating and had our leftovers and fortune cookies sitting on the table and where talking and finishing up our drinks. Well, this little 6 or 7 year old brat runs over from the table next to ours, grabs the cookie and before I could say anything tore open the package and shoved it in his mouth. I was dumbfounded and of course "super parents" did nothing but laugh and say "aw, how cute". Not even an apology.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on September 29, 2010, 08:57:57 AM
LadyShadow, in those days, there wasn't any such thing as a happy hour that I recall. Like Keeper, I used to go with my Dad while he sipped a couple brews after work. There was also no such thing as acting up. It was a privilege to sit at the bar with my Dad...I'd have a soda. I would give anything to be able to sit at a bar with my Dad again. Those were wonderful memories.
After my Dad was widowed, I remember sitting in the VFW with my sister while he tended bar (and yes, have a beer with his friends while he worked). We would have shirley temples, some beer nuts and draw pictures. It was just one of those neutral childhood memories, like going to the laundramat with your aunt.
When we were in a pub in Scotland last year, the barmaid had her kids sitting at the bar and drawing (video games conspicuously absent). The locals came in, ruffled the kids' hair, then sat down and ordered their drinks. You won't see that int th U.S. anymore...
OK, I'm back from that little trip down memory lane. Thanks Merlin and Keeper.^_^
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I was raised to believe that children behaving badly in public is a direct reflection on the parents. However, society today offers excuses for everything. The kid is excitable? Obviously ADD. Rude? We as fellow adults should admire little guy/girls' spunk. And the blanket excuse.......They're
just kids. Well, my dog is just a dog, but I won't take him places I know he is going to have issues with or be tempted to misbehave in. People would ask me (and rightly so) why I brought him, and very possibly question his (and my) lack of training and good sense.
So, because parents these days feel entitled to drag their kids to places that are not particularly kid friendly, and then ignore the fact that the kids are frustrated, bored and creating an uproar to the detriment of the rest of the world, I vote YES to segregated restaurants.
I'm old and cantankerous.
Quote from: Rowen MacD on September 30, 2010, 10:13:01 AM
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on September 29, 2010, 08:57:57 AM
LadyShadow, in those days, there wasn't any such thing as a happy hour that I recall. Like Keeper, I used to go with my Dad while he sipped a couple brews after work. There was also no such thing as acting up. It was a privilege to sit at the bar with my Dad...I'd have a soda. I would give anything to be able to sit at a bar with my Dad again. Those were wonderful memories.
After my Dad was widowed, I remember sitting in the VFW with my sister while he tended bar (and yes, have a beer with his friends while he worked). We would have shirley temples, some beer nuts and draw pictures. It was just one of those neutral childhood memories, like going to the laundramat with your aunt.
When we were in a pub in Scotland last year, the barmaid had her kids sitting at the bar and drawing (video games conspicuously absent). The locals came in, ruffled the kids' hair, then sat down and ordered their drinks. You won't see that int th U.S. anymore...
OK, I'm back from that little trip down memory lane. Thanks Merlin and Keeper.^_^
Which is extremely understandable because children of the time new how to behave and parents did not allow much of what happens today to happen.
Quote
I was raised to believe that children behaving badly in public is a direct reflection on the parents. However, society today offers excuses for everything. The kid is excitable? Obviously ADD. Rude? We as fellow adults should admire little guy/girls' spunk. And the blanket excuse.......They're just kids.
Well, my dog is just a dog, but I won't take him places I know he is going to have issues with or be tempted to misbehave in. People would ask me (and rightly so) why I brought him, and very possibly question his (and my) lack of training and good sense.
So, because parents these days feel entitled to drag their kids to places that are not particularly kid friendly, and then ignore the fact that the kids are frustrated, bored and creating an uproar to the detriment of the rest of the world, I vote YES to segregated restaurants.
I'm old and cantankerous.
This exact thing causes a problem between my sister and myself. My children, yes unruly at times, behave better in public than her 1 child does. She has even been told that her child is a handful, among other things and wanted to complain because the woman was being honest. If there is a place that is not kid friendly and the children are well behaved, then I think it is perfectly find for them to be there. But in most cases, as you stated, children do not mind or behave and parents today expect everyone else to just deal with it. IMHO that is wrong and rude of those parents, and they need to learn a thing or two about being a parent.
Somewhat OT, but ... there's a local chain of movie theatres - Alamo Draft House - that is an 18 and up establishment. No children under the age of 18 unless accompanied by an adult. No children under the age of 6 except for special "baby days". I LOVE THIS PLACE. They serve beer/ale/cider and hot snacks/meals. Yeah, sometimes adults act up. But management puts the whomp on that right away. It's an absolute pleasure to spend my money at this place.
The Old Salty's Restaurant in Carolina Beach, NC, has instituted a NO screaming children policy. And if I lived there, I would be frequenting this place.
Quote from: Taffy Saltwater on September 30, 2010, 11:45:45 AM
The Old Salty's Restaurant in Carolina Beach, NC, has instituted a NO screaming children policy. And if I lived there, I would be frequenting this place.
*Making note to dine at Old Salty's*
You will LOL at the reviews:
http://wilmington.cape.fear.diningguide.com/data/d100193.htm
I am beginning to think this place is completely anti-family...danged tired of it honestly.
Go to Perkins at 5 p.m., shut up and deal with the kids!
Go to Perkins at 1 a.m., shut up and deal with the drunks!
I will say I did not bring my young ones to any "adult" restaurants when they were at an age prone to "breakdowns". A tad bit more considerate I dare say than those idiots who bring their loud and boorish friends and spouses out to eat. Bad behavior is bad behavior, regardless of age. Perhaps the question would be better phrased "Should an individual consider the comfort of those around them when dining"?
I apologize if I sounded "anti-family". I am certainly not, nor did I get that feeling from the other posts. That being said, I completely agree the sentiment is anyone disturbing other diners should be asked to leave.
Not far from my place in vegas, was another more upscale dining establishment. I cannot remember verbatim but they had a large sign stating that the comfort of all their patrons was of their utmost concern. If anyone in your party disturbed other customers, the entire party would be asked to leave and would be responsible for their entire bill. Again, I don't remember exactly how they phrased it - but essentially it was "be you a drunk or be you a screaming child".
I think the difference here is that in the current climate management has no problem kicking out a drunk, but hesitate to ask parents to quell or remove a poorly behaved child.
Quote from: mehan on September 30, 2010, 12:47:07 PM
I apologize if I sounded "anti-family". I am certainly not, nor did I get that feeling from the other posts. That being said, I completely agree the sentiment is anyone disturbing other diners should be asked to leave.
..
Alone this thread/post is not "anti-family"...It is the numerous "families don't spend money/kids suck" posts accross multiple threads. Believe me, I see some little brat screaming while mom and dad ignore it and I want to stuff a sock in their mouths too. It just seems as likely to be some twit with a "Wenches Want Me" t-shirt causing a disturbance. :)
Perkins is a good example, I expect so see lots of kids in cheap low end places like that, they cater to the family crowd. I do not expect to nor should I have to "shut up and deal with kids" someplace I will be spending over 100$ for my wife and I to enjoy a nice quiet meal. I am tired of having someones little brat screaming, running around wild, or standing up peaking over the back of the booth while their oblivious parents sit there and do nothing.
Off topic, I am from Ireland, used to go to pubs with my grandfather all the time, during the day/afternoon, never at night. A local pub there is less of bar and more of a community center.
Quote from: crashbot on September 30, 2010, 01:02:25 PM
Perkins is a good example, I expect so see lots of kids in cheap low end places like that, they cater to the family crowd. I do not expect to nor should I have to "shut up and deal with kids" someplace I will be spending over 100$ for my wife and I to enjoy a nice quiet meal. I am tired of having someones little brat screaming, running around wild, or standing up peaking over the back of the booth while their oblivious parents sit there and do nothing.
Total agreement, here. And my wife has a little 30 month old brat. We don't take her anywhere except family places. Does it cramp our lifestyle? Yup. But that's the choice we make for having a family! Good post!
Also:
I think it is offensive that we are expected to tolerate families, but families should not have to tolerate (or be considerate of) the rest of us. I am not advocating total segregation. Nor am I going to argue the minutiae of good toddlers vs bad adults. We all know those possibilities.
Quote from: Becky10 on September 28, 2010, 11:50:17 PM
The experience? Kids dont want that they want Chuckecheese.
I blame places like ChuckeCheese for unruley kids. With restraunts that are more amusement park than restraunt people train their kids to be loud and to run around.
That said I do not take the kids to nice places. Even in mid range places the kids know that if they get out of hand we leave. However any standard rule about who gets to go is simply wrong. It makes kids second class citizens. Might as well so no elderly or no people with a certain hair color. Judge kids like everyone else by the individual. Make it a noise control rule.
Anyone loud or disruptive gets booted.
Pardon my lack of grammar. For some reason the only punctuation that works on my keyboard is the period.
Quote from: William_MacKean on September 30, 2010, 01:42:24 PM
I think it is offensive that we are expected to tolerate families, but families should not have to tolerate (or be considerate of) the rest of us.
+1
I totally agree.
I don't care where people take their kids, I would just prefer to have a child free section in any mid level and up eating establishment. I am not saying they shouldnt be allowed in , I just dont want to sit next to them. I can count on my hand the times I have had issues with unruly adults, but pretty much every time I go out to eat I am dealing with unruly children.
Quote from: Hoowil on September 30, 2010, 07:32:11 PM
Quote from: Becky10 on September 28, 2010, 11:50:17 PM
The experience? Kids dont want that they want Chuckecheese.
I blame places like ChuckeCheese for unruley kids. With restraunts that are more amusement park than restraunt people train their kids to be loud and to run around.
That said I do not take the kids to nice places. Even in mid range places the kids know that if they get out of hand we leave. However any standard rule about who gets to go is simply wrong. It makes kids second class citizens. Might as well so no elderly or no people with a certain hair color. Judge kids like everyone else by the individual. Make it a noise control rule. Anyone loud or disruptive gets booted.
Pardon my lack of grammar. For some reason the only punctuation that works on my keyboard is the period.
Just to toss this out ahead cause text doesnt read emotion well. I am not anti-kids.
I never thought of ChuckeCheese like that but it makes a lot of sense. Personally going there as a kid was like torture.
If grandpas were running around the room yelling, hiding under tables and being a pain I would be all onboard for a no old people section! ;)
I havent met you or your kids but from your posts I have no doubt in my mind that you guys are a respectful great family. If more families like yours were out there this thread wouldn't exist.
For management it
can be easier to tell an adult that they need to pipe down where as many parents will not stand for someone else "parenting" ( I got chewed out by crazy mom for scolding her daughter who was punching me) . As an adult you know you're responsible for your own actions as a kid there isn't such a sense of that.
There's a difference between select adult only restaurants and ALL restaurants being adults only. A local restaurant has the "library" which is a room off to the side that usually just has just couples in it. I get how the idea of a restaurant banning children can be upsetting to parents and it really bugs me that parents who are doing a great job and teaching their kids manners are stereotyped because of an irresponsible group.
I am the youngest person on this site and this is coming from a closer generations view point.
I got left home a few time when the 'dults went out cause my parents assumed I would be troublesome(mind you i hardly speak or move now, I
never spoke then) I came to realize very quickly as a kid that I
was a second class citizen. Just kind of was the pecking order to me and i never had that big of an issue with it.
Heck I am turning 19 and having people discriminate cause of your age is worse now! You know how many stores will follow you around waiting for you to steal? I've gotten druggy comments just cause i was laughing (mind you again I am like the most to-myself, nearly invisible person) everyone is constantly waiting for you to do some stupid "teenage" thing. I think i'd rather be banned from restaurants quite honestly.
Holy moley I am a parathesis addict and i wrote a ton cause i have nothing else to do. Pardon the rambling. :-[
Quote from: Hoowil on September 30, 2010, 07:32:11 PM
Quote from: Becky10 on September 28, 2010, 11:50:17 PM
The experience? Kids dont want that they want Chuckecheese.
It makes kids second class citizens. Might as well so no elderly or no people with a certain hair color. Judge kids like everyone else by the individual. Make it a noise control rule. Anyone loud or disruptive gets booted.
Kids ARE second class citizens. They can not vote, drink, even marry or join the military (without parental approval). If elderly people acted the way many kids do in a restaurant, they would be asked to leave very quickly. But for some reason some management is afraid to step in when a child is involved, I guess for not wanting to alienate the parents. I would agree to treating the kids equal to adults but it goes both ways.
One time my brother and I were in Coulters BBQ. At the next table there was a little one about 2 screaming his head off and the parents were totally oblivious to it. (Or intentionally ignoring it.) My brother said "God I wish they would shut that kid up" to me. The father overheard this, took offense and wanted to take my brother "outside to settle it". The manager then raced over, gave the parents a free lunch and coupons for next time and apologized to them, saying nothing at all to us. When the family finally left, my brother got applause from the remaining customers.
If I screamed like that kid, I would possibly be arrested for disturbing the peace. I would definately be asked to leave.
I am extreme, but I think children should be limited to McDonalds, etc. until they can act civilized. About 18 or so...
Thats pretty much that case there. If you dare have the audacity to ask these people to notch down their childs terrible behavior you are deemed family hating monster and driven from the town. Meanwhile, they are free to ruin evenone elses good time and seem to feel entitled to do so simply because they have children.
I have had people comment on my kids, although very rarely negatively. The only time I took any offence was on an airplane where the guy in front of us complained that my daughter (then 18 months old) started 'squirming too much for him to feel comfortable' on a 5 hour flight. Hell, that long in one of those seats and I start to squirm. And it wasn't even as if she was being loud or disruptive, just not sitting still in her seat.
As to anyone being treated like a leper for complaining, honestly, if somebody reacts that strongly, either they were already pissed off, or you came over aggresively, or both. If you wait till you're pissed, and approach me in a threatening manner, I will get defensive. Doesn't matter if its about the kids or what I ordered. Granted, my wife and I do not let our kids stay if they are being what we consider is too loud (well before most people would probably complain).
As a manager of a cafe, I know that places do take complaints very seriously, if they are brought up appropraitely. I would never reward somebody for doing something that bothered the rest of my clientelle.
In the same thought, I have had threats from groups of adults when camping and the kids and wife are unable to sleep because they are being loud. I've had a hotel tell me that if I come on a weekend that I should just expect partiers to be in the building and bring earplugs if I want quite. Again, I say, don't assume kids will be loud, but make it so anyone who is making it hard on everyone else is just as liable for their actions.
Should restaurants have an adult only section? H3ll yes!
I have a child who is 14 now, and she is kind and good natured. When she was younger, there was no way I would drag her into a restaurant. She was just awful to bring places. So I either found a sitter, or stayed home. Too many parents now-a-days lack the common sense to figure that out.
She is still a pill sometimes, and I have just learned to tell her that she has five seconds to start behaving, or we are leaving, and oh, you lost a privilege too. (having to stay home from Fest is a good incentive... ;) )
I am also not above being a huge pill to her when she has something she wants to do/somewhere she wants to go just so she gets a dose of her own medicine.
I went to lunch in an almost empty restaurant with my friend. We were both LOVING that we didn't have to bring our girls with, and we could enjoy a nice quiet lunch without any whining etc.
The hostess seats a family with a cranky toddler next to us. I told the waitress that she had to move us asap.
As I am getting older, I have less and less patience for bratty kids and their clueless parents.
The most egregious example I've ever dealt with was back in the '80's my bf & I made reservations for New Year's Eve at a nice French restaurant. For the two of us it was $250 + drinks + tax + tip. Seating was about 11 p.m. and sure enough we're seated next to a couple with a very young infant who was raising cain. It was not the baby's fault. And of course since it was New Year's Eve and the restaurant was packed, we couldn't be moved. And you know I had hired a babysitter for my child. It was a complete waste of money.
That was inexcusable. I cannot believe that the parents would take a baby out to a late-night restaurant! Since they ruined your dinner, they should have paid for it.