BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Poorly Behaved Kids in Public

A few thoughts...
1. Breastfeeding is natural. But so is pooping, I don't think just b/c something is a human bodily function, we all need to witness it.

2. Have you all seen the recent Golden Corral ads that tout their choc fountain? Yeah... my hubby and I predicted that it would be a KID MAGNET. Even in a much nicer restaurant last night, I saw unattended children just standing around a choc fountain eating right there with their grubby little hands. I had to grab two plates and say "you guys get what you want then go back to your table." No parents to be seen, the kids looked truly shocked to be directed but did actually do what I said.

3. If I'm in a restaurant with disruptive children, I ask to be reseated. Or we leave without paying the bill. Period. We usually get reseated with no problems. If more of us did this, I think restaurants would be a bit more vocal about parents controlling their kids. We all know those of us minus kids are better tippers! :-D

PS: I will be enjoying *sleeping in* tomorrow morning (Christmas)!

I face this frequently with both of my kids. How to resolve this?

Teach them 'respect'. That is respect for other ppl. Teach them to sit quietly when in public. No yelling. No screaming. No running around. Teach them to entertain themselves by looking at books, coloring, or quietly playing games.
It really shouldn't be that difficult. Kids learn very quickly..if they are taught. If they don't behave in public, don't take them out in public. Period.

cp

Yikes, this has been an ongoing issue with me and one that I no longer discuss with a lot of folks.

It is like some parents feel you are OBLIGATED to put up with their brats while you are out dining and trying to have a relaxing time.

Bottom line, I don't get mad with the kids anymore - they are only doing what their parents let them do.

But I do restrict where I go now as at age 53, with one child, girl age 25 - I REFUSE to spend my hard earned cash in places that let parents spoil the experience patrons went for.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate kids - but we as adults DESERVE to be able to have some "adult" time...

All the BEST for 2012!

this is a great topic to bring up. I have had to deal with stuff like this too and am very frustrated by it. sometimes when going out to eat, I wonder on the ride there if I will be able to have a good meal or spend $50 to eat with screaming/crying toddlers at the table next to me. I too, usually say something or ask to be moved and then I look like the bad-guy.

my question is (child-free and parents please feel free to weigh in) what is the best way to address the issue? what phrasing can I use to express the disruption without setting the parents on the defense?

I don't feel this is an out of line thing to do. I am not eating at dennys over here. I am paying for a NICE meal with drinks and at those prices I dont feel I should have to listen to a baby/toddler cry or run around my table. I normally try to address the parents directly and not get management involved.

Bottom line, I feel, it is up to the management of where you are to deal with this issue if they want you to return.

Too many times, folks get shot at or beat up for trying to discuss this issue.

Nope, not interested in losing my life or being harmed. If I see that the disruption was not dealt with, I do not return there.

It is a shame that everyone else has to suffer because of the selfishness and ignorance of some parents. And it is not just in restaurants that bad behavior occurs....it can be department stores, grocery stores, hair salons, you name it. You can't go out in public without seeing some form of poor parenting.

And how do you address it? Darned if I know. We will always be the "bad guy" for bringing up the issue.

I have it here at the office until I told my boss that I was not hired to provide "babysitting" services to his clients.

It was like, he would "play" with them, get them all hyped up and then walk away.

EXCUSE ME - you started the "playing" so guess what - you are now stuck with the "playmate"(lol).

A lot of establishments now tell folks that they need to visit without children under the age of 18 in two. Sad that it had to come to this, but people are over the chaos and damage that is sometimes done.

The only part I hate about this - there are some kids with parents who do discipline them. But guess what, they have to suffer alongside the ones that don't.

Very true. There are good parents out there and good kids....even if it does seem like the minority to the rest of us. But yes, these people suffer for it too. They have to put up with someone else's badly behaved kids while their own good kids look on.

Not only that, they cannot take their kids with them to say a job interview when they cannot find a sitter. I am now 53, only child 25 - but I could take her anyway when she was young. At age 2, she learn't who was parent and who was child(lol). To this day, we laugh about it. It sure was not funny when she showed out in the store at age 2. Was the FIRST and last time when I got finished with her butt. Yes, back then, you did not have folks calling 911 on you(lol).