Kids in restaurants...

[Katy]

I don't have a problem with kids in restaurants......My issues would be with parents who don't make their kids behave, but not with the kids being there.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Well now why didn't I think to say it like that?

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Forget smoking and non-smoking sections. Restaurants should have children/no children sections. While SOME children are well behaved and little angels, the bulk of them out there are little hellions.
Don't get me started on airplanes. After a 10 hour flight with a screaming toddler, there just aren't enough clean words to speak of it...

(And I agree that it usually is not the faut of the child. Many, many, MANY parents these days aren't actually parenting their little beasts. Children have to be taught to behave. It doesn't just come naturally.)

I know there are some restaurants around here that don't allow children in at all.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
A nice restaurant is any restaurant where the waiter or waitress takes my order and delivers the food to my table. A very nice restaurant is one where my food is brought to the table and they don't serve pizza or pancakes. A fancy restaurant is the expensive dimly lit type where rebelcowboysnb wants to be fed by a super model.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:

Just somehow funnier when someone else says it....

 

[Camelot Farms]

A 'nice' restaurant doesnt have ketchup on the table.

 

[Cara]

To me a nice restaurant doesn't have pictures on the menu or a cashier

 

[dappertophatter]

feral children

Great, now I have pizza all over my desk!! Fabulous.

I don't have a problem with kids in restaurants......My issues would be with parents who don't make their kids behave, but not with the kids being there.

Ditto. I LOVE seeing well-behaved kids.​

 

[sekinkead]

My kids wouldn't dream of misbehaving in a restaurant. Of course they are 10 and 12 now. We had to leave a few times when they were younger, I even left a grocery cart half full once because my daughter started to throw a fit. But, she learned I wouldn't take it. It starts at home, period. I had my kids when I was 18 and 20, and I can't tell you how many compliments I have gotten on their behavior. It can be done by anyone you just have to be willing to teach them good manners.

When my daughter was 2 or 3 she was a little stubborn (wonder where she gets it). We would be sitting at the dinner table at home and she would say "I want milk" I would ask "what do you say?" If she didn't say please she didn't get any milk. We would go a whole meal without her having milk because she refused to say please. Needless to say after a while she learned her manners or she did without and got punished.

My son is now 12 and there are time when I have to go back and get him because he is holding the door for everyone. Now I don't mind but after a while I am ready to leave. I guess thats a good problem to have though

My kids have even been annoyed in a restaurant when other peoples kids are running around screaming, throwing things, and being heathens. Its funny when you raise good kids and they point out others misbehavior.

 

[seismic wonder2]

Here's my story about kids in restaurants.
Normally I CAN'T STAND IT. but in this case...

I was at a very nice place, Not the Four Seasons---but not Denney's either. It's in a more "business executive" area of San Diego...

\\Anyway we were just being served the salads when a couple with a 7yr old(i guess) was seated in the next table. I rolled my eyes and the wife gave me the "stink eye" for being mean.

I was pleasantly surprised the kid just sat there playing quietly with his Matchbox car and talking with his parents.
The waitress came, they ordered, the boy said yesmaam, no maam, please and thankyou, and even ordered his own food (with advice from the parents).

When their food came the boy asked, "May I say grace mom?" I dropped my fork and almost choked on my steak.
He did his thing, NOT "thorugh the teeth, over the gums, look out belly here it comes!" either... It was nice.
By that time we were finished, and paid. I was almost out the door and made a decision.

I went back, got the manager, and paid their bill. On the paid bill I wrote. "Thankyou for having such a well behaved young man! It was a pleasure dining at the next table."

I had almost made it back to my car when the guy came running up wanting to know WHY I did that?


I told him that I wanted his kid to know that people notice how well behaved he is, and that being good gets you more attention than being a pain. I told him I'm not a very nice person and if kids are obnoxious, I won't hesitate for a second to loudly DEMAND the manager either re-seat them to a different area Or if they were there first, Demand that I be re-seated away from the noise.
I told him the he and his wife raised a good kid, and when he grows up HE will raise good kids. I want his family to know that being a good person has rewards, even if it's just dinner from a stranger.
Shook his hand got in my car and left. He was still in the parkinglot as I drove by to the freeway.