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Post by Gary on Apr 3, 2007 16:06:28 GMT -5
I would give that restaurant owner lots of business. He has the right idea.
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RuneDeer
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Post by RuneDeer on Apr 3, 2007 22:43:57 GMT -5
It's become an extremely volatile topic over the last 5-10 years. There's a blog in the AJC called "Momania," and the blogger, a mother of 3, is famously (or infamously) permissive...she's got that "kids will be kids, let them be their precious little selves" attitude. Well, she stepped in it big time, I think it was last September. She postulated this notion, and some of the replies were chilling. One person said, "Keep your spawn away from me. If it comes near me in a restaurant, I'll stab it with a fork." I think she (the Mom-blogger) got up to 300 comments, of which approximately 98% were squarely opposed to her, before she yanked the topic completely off. No archives, no nothin'. Her next topic was something like, where do you find the best fabric swatches, or something totally innocuous. She never referred to that topic again, and seems to be really careful about any topic that might even approach it. Obviously, there are extremes. The "pro-anarchy" side will never be popular, and the "Nazi" approach is more for people who hide behind online anonymity, IMO. But the underlying issue is parents who are either lazy, burned-out, still in rebellion against their own parents, antisocial or just in need of a good parenting class, who are enabling this lousy behavior and provoking such hostility in other adults. As for me, I will not join the ranks of parents who proudly boast of their exemplary discipline. I just happened to be blessed with a naturally mellow kid who seemed almost born an adult. If he'd been the rowdy type, I would probably have left him on someone's doorstep (or McDonald's) and slunk away. The one time I remember him getting out of control was fairly late one night when his father, grandmother and I went out to a Thai restaurant. I remember my three-year-old son standing on the banquette trying to "style" his grandmother's hair. That's really the worst it ever got. His manners remain impeccable; he even gets embarrassed with me when I walk into Panera with no makeup and mismatched clothes...
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cdojanet
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Post by cdojanet on Apr 5, 2007 11:35:30 GMT -5
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Post by Gary on Apr 5, 2007 13:00:01 GMT -5
Love the graphic MSNBC used with the story:
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Post by topspin34 on Apr 10, 2007 0:00:06 GMT -5
The one thing that wasn't mentioned is when parents allow their children to turn completely around in the booth and stare at or touch the person sitting behind them. Thats extremely annoying! I love to see a well behaved child in a restaurant. The problem is that too many ppl think that as soon as they sit down with a child they think it's time to relax and let the child go wild. Restaurant etiquitte is something that has to be taught early. My parents used to have absolutely no qualms about rendering discipline at at restaurant. I remember in the early 70's we were at a Fish Camp restaurant in NC and I was acting a damned fool. I still remember being taken to the car for a come to Jesus meeting. That was back in the day when you could spank your child and not have to worry about a visit from DCS.
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Post by caterer on Apr 10, 2007 9:22:16 GMT -5
I was eating at pf changs on friday (lunch) with some friends (all adults) and so thought of this thread. They needed to break out the heavy duty cleaning supplies for the floor when the people beside us left and I cannot count how many times the rat threw his sippy cup at our table. Now, of course my better half's children are here for spring break and they had better behave...
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Red
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Post by Red on Apr 10, 2007 11:42:58 GMT -5
I have to say that I've seen some absolute demon children in resturants. I'm lucky that Lil' Red for the most part has been well behaved, and now at the age of three will ask the waiter for "more milk please".
**glows with pride**
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Lori
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Post by Lori on Apr 13, 2007 10:46:12 GMT -5
Which restaurants have responded well when you bring your children - particularly the smaller ones? Which ones haven't? My babes are 6 and 4, and we do the "out to eat" thing quite a bit. Both have always been well behaved in public, as they are not vying for attention (per se) - I am home with them all the time. We have been to lots, and lots of places that are not "fast food", and are kid friendly... - CiCi's Pizza - City Cafe Diner (both locations are great)- Cracker Barrel - Evergreen Buffet (Hwy Fort O - it is buffet, and kids love to get their own food)- IHOP - Logans Roadhouse (tossing peanuts on the floor is cool)- Ryans Steakhouse (again, the buffet)... to name a few. As for one's that have not, I have not been a victim of finding out any as if I want to go out to a establishment that is upper scale (I often frequent Hennens and Sekisui downtown) I always arrange for a fun night in for them with a sitter.
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Post by professor on Apr 13, 2007 13:42:19 GMT -5
I have a kid that just turned 3 and that's always an adventure. He's gotten a lot better and we take him out if he's a problem.
But we've had good experiences with:
Logan's - the peanut throwing does help Chili's (downtown) Moe's
all the waiter's and waitresses there are really nice.
pretty much any buffet style place.
There's enough background noise at these places that a kid talking or making a little noise doesn't elict dagger eyes.
No upscale restaurants, that's a definate no no.
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RuneDeer
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Post by RuneDeer on Apr 13, 2007 21:28:00 GMT -5
Got a great "kid at restaurant" story...it just happened tonight. My H and I did Mickey D's at Brainerd & Moore Roads. We sat in the front at one of the bistro tables. A mother came in with two kids. One was (a boy, I think) barely walking, the other was a girl, probably pre-K age. The kids started wandering here and there while their mother ordered at the counter. We were probably 90% done with the meal when the little girl climbed up, using the metal shelf at the base of the table, and seated herself between us. First she tried to move the plastic tray and would have succeeded in knocking it to the floor, but William grabbed it. Then she raised herself up and "surveyed" the table, then gestured toward the few French fry scraps still in front of me. Ever the sucker, I gave her a couple, but extracted a "thank you" after the first one and a "please" before the second. She was cute, but I could have done without her presence. My husband kept trying to catch the mother's eye but she was very busy yakking with the guy behind the counter and, I think, another woman she had come in with. We could have walked right out the door with her daughter and she would have been oblivious. We got out of there pretty fast; we just stopped having a good time after our unexpected dining companion arrived. So much for unwinding after a long work week.
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Post by professor on Apr 18, 2007 15:05:10 GMT -5
Add Provino's to the list. We went there for dinner last night. The staff was great. A kids menu that my son could color (like a lot of places). They were friendly to him and even brought him another meatball which made his night. A really good experience. I'm not sure weekends would go as well, but last night it was great.
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TNBear
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Post by TNBear on Apr 18, 2007 20:12:25 GMT -5
Eating out was a MAJOR treat when I was young. We seldom did so unless we were on vacation till I was at least Jr. High age. Compared to the vast majority of my friends, I was raised in a very functional family. I never remember having "the talk" with my folks, but the very idea of acting out in public never occured to me. Perhaps it was due to the fact that my father could have his belt off in less time than it takes to read this sentence.
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Post by bernardjenkins on Apr 22, 2007 7:53:30 GMT -5
Coloring books and snacks are the secret! Try to go before the rush and like GP said, let them know that a trip to the restroom for a pop on the butt is in their future if they act out. Just takes one trip!! Also, do and act just like you do at home, no yelling, etc....
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Jay
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Post by Jay on Apr 22, 2007 13:37:47 GMT -5
What if you yell at home?
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RuneDeer
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Post by RuneDeer on Apr 22, 2007 14:15:04 GMT -5
What if you yell at home? Then the parents need a long time-out. (not that they ever get it... )
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