Ugh.

I understand that kids don't have off-buttons. You can't just "make them stop." Different kids do have different temperments; I don't think I ever threw a fit in public when I was old enough to understand the word "no", but my sister. . .man. Nightmare. And we were raised by the same two people!

And when I go to certain places (family and/or fast-food restaurants, kids movies, Disneyland, malls) I expect there will be kids there. Sometimes I even enjoy watching them. Rarely, but it happens!

However. I think parents have to realize that having kids comes with some sacrafices, including NOT going to certain places with the kids (eg. nice restaurants, most movies, many cafes and bookstores, etc.). And unless you are at Chuck-E-Cheese, the kids don't get to run around and make noise as a way of "keeping them busy." If they can't sit and be quiet, and that's what is required at that sort of establishment, then you need to either not go there or accept that sometimes you will have to leave early, meaning that you spent money on something you won't get to enjoy. Sorry, but what's fair: you don't get to enjoy a meal you paid for because of YOUR kids, or I don't get to enjoy a meal I paid for because of YOUR kids?

Example: I went to a fairly nice restaurant last night with my husband. We're talking cloth napkins, candlelight, and $18 entrees, but no dress code or valet parking. Follow me? Now, this place has a large dining room with booth seating, and then a smaller, more romantic room closed off from the dining room. The smaller room is prettier and quieter. When you come in, they ask you where you want to sit. So we go to sit in that room, and what do you know, there are two little kids running in circles around the fountain in the middle!

DAMMIT! Why would you take your kids into the pretty room? There was plenty of space in the dining room. Answer: the parents didn't give a fuck about anybody else, THEY wanted to sit in the pretty room. Sorry, you decided to breed, you don't get to sit in pretty rooms for 12 or 15 years. That's your problem. Don't make it mine.

AND, repeat after me: employees are NOT BABYSITTERS. Working reception at a vet hospital, parents made us deal with their bratty kids constantly. They would make noise, freak out the animals, make a mess of the lobby, and parents acted like it was our job to watch the kids while they were in appointments and clean up after they left. Fuck that! If your sick dog pukes, fine, I'll clean it up. This is a business for sick dogs. But if your sick kid pukes, clean it up your own damn self.


I can be sympathetic when kids are being noisy/cranky in public and parents are stuck and are trying to deal with it (public transportation is a good example), but in situations where parents are basically being selfish and inconsiderate. . .grrr. . .

psychodelicide said:

Yes, there are many ways to get kids to settle down and behave... some kids just won't behave. What works for one child may not work for the next and so on. But, there are those children that, no matter what you try, simply will not listen.

My friend's boy is a perfect example of this. His other children are very well-mannered, him and his wife are together and have raised their children in the same manner... this little boy of his, who is a complete terror, simply won't listen to anyone - his parents, the teachers, etc. He takes the punishment, what ever it is, and it means nothing to him. He knows that there isn't anything that anyone can do to him really, other than spanking, taking away this or that, or being sent to his room, etc.. In fact, he told the teacher that the other day, I guess when sent to the office. He told them that there wasn't anything that anyone could do to make him do his work. His parents are at wits end.

I dunno... my whole thing is the reaction as if it isn't difficult at all to bring up a child who is well-behaved. Thankfully, I didn't have much of a problem with my two, but I see it happen and feel horrible for parents who are trying and it's simply not working. It's not always easy, like you said, but it can't always be corrected, and by no fault of the parents.

Telling a child to stop "or else", doesn't always work and you can't always leave your child at home.

(Pretty kitty, by the way, on the other thread)

Your feelings are very understandable and believe me, I don't take my kid to every restaurant (I'm not stupid). However, Red Robin IS a very family themed restaurant....Helicopters hanging from the ceiling, crayons, play area. So, even if I was there without my son and I saw another kid acting up there, I would not be upset about it. You can't expect to go to that type of restaurant and NOT encounter kids.


I realize that everyone has their own opinions on the matter and how they would handle the situation.

Smooches;)

MsMisha319 said:

Oh, I agree, Red Robin is a family restaurant. I think, at ANY restaurant, that there are times when the best thing is to pack up and leave, but if I go to Red Robin, I expect kids. Don't they even have a kids menu? I don't remember, I don't go there often.

Okay, I didn't want to say this, 'cause of the "sensitive" people in here, but first off, I don't think you should keep your kids at home because of some beavioral issues. Despite what some of you believe, you CAN make your kids behave!!!!! Spare the rod.....get out that damn strap!!!!! For God's sake, tap that ass!!! You don't have to BEAT the kids, you don't have to strangle them, but get out a belt and TAP THAT ASS!!!!! It's just that simple!! Ghaaaaat-dayum!!!!!

kiss85 said:

i'm sorry, and i don't want to start any flame fest here, but this truly makes me sad. there's enough violence in this world.

irresistibleb1tch said:

There's not enough violence if they are still misbehaving

irresistibleb1tch said:

There's not enough violence if they are still misbehaving

JasmineFire said:

I hope you're joking.

AND, repeat after me: employees are NOT BABYSITTERS. Working reception at a vet hospital, parents made us deal with their bratty kids constantly. They would make noise, freak out the animals, make a mess of the lobby, and parents acted like it was our job to watch the kids while they were in appointments and clean up after they left. Fuck that! If your sick dog pukes, fine, I'll clean it up. This is a business for sick dogs. But if your sick kid pukes, clean it up your own damn self.

tackam said:

tell me about it. i refuse to deal with children at work if they are having tantrums. If they are well mannered and interested in their pet's health then that's fine. i atually enjoy those children. but if they are acting like terrors then i just ignore them and talk over the racket. If someone asks if they can leave their child in the waiting room i say no because "it gets very busy out here and i can;t keep an eye on them all the time."

So yesterday me, my son and my boyfriend decide to have dinner at Red Robins (restaurant chain here in Detroit). My son, Erick, was in rare form.....He bit into the balloon that the hostess gave him within 30 seconds...Throwing french fries and crayons all over the floor...screaming! It was pretty horrible. Anyway, one of the men sitting at the bar was the host of a local talk radio show! My boyfriend hears this guy on the radio this morning talking about how horrible this little boy was a Red Robins last night How embarrassing, right?


In Erick's defense, he was tired and he had already eaten

Before I had my son, I was one of those people who would give dirty looks to parents with unruly kids....especially in restaurants.....but now that I'm one of them..... Oh well, deal with it!




The next time your lil ones acts up .... just remember how blessed you are that they are healthy ...there's many a parent to a child with disabilities that would love to have that problem..... then give that baby a hug they all go through stages and while it's frustrating....time passes too quickly.... you'll soon look back and miss this age As for those around you...they've either been through it, or will go through it.... it's part of life. Just kiss the baby and thank God for the blessing

Smooches;)

sag10 said:

i'm sayin'. get him the hell outta there. I truly believe that they should make restaurants with children and no-children sections. The children's section can all kinds of things that'll keep a kid occupied and should be surrounded by soundproof glass. the no-children section can be like a normal restaurant.

irresistibleb1tch said:

You are so wonderful.

I never laid a hands on my kids and they are well behaved. There are other methods of discipline and communication. Seriously, If I hit my 3 year old son I know what he would do, and that is go around hitting kids at creche.

I think parents smack kids to make themslves feel better. It is usually done in bad temper.

irresistibleb1tch said:

You are so wonderful.

I never laid a hands on my kids and they are well behaved. There are other methods of discipline and communication. Seriously, If I hit my 3 year old son I know what he would do, and that is go around hitting kids at creche.

I think parents smack kids to make themslves feel better. It is usually done in bad temper.

bkw said:

Well, I was spanked as a kid when I did wrong, and I didn't go around hitting people, because I was taught that hitting others is wrong. When my parents smacked me, it wasn't for them to "feel better" or "in bad temper", it was because I had done something wrong.

I think this is an issue that all of us will never agree on. Everyone has different views on whether to spank or not to spank, stemming from our personal views and/or how we were raised as children.

I used to think that spanking was abuse, no matter what, but I do know people who have used it effectively as a last resort or to break a cycle of brattiness previously unlike the child.

I see alot of theorizing here by people who dont have kids.

As a parent of two young ones I can tell you that the only time i have ever felt like spanking my kids (which I havn't and wont) is when i have lost my cool. Every kid I have ever seen spanked has had it done by an angry parent.