How do you react to OTHER people's tantruming/screaming kids in restaurants? (cartoon, parents)
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We try to give the parents some slack. However, there was one young man at Jikos restaurant in DisneyWorld that we could hardly tollerate. He threw his food at his mom because he did not like it, screamed, got up from the table and wandered over to the other tables trying to snatch peoples food. The parents were sponges and just sat there looking frustrated. The grandpa (bless his heart) finally grabbed the little monster and hauled him outside. People actually applauded. He was about 7 or so.
I take out my baton and handcuffs and tell the parents that if they dont settle the brat down i am going to arrest THEM for distubing the peace! Usually works!
Just think kids will be kids and thank goodness it's not yours, lol
I was at a family style restaurant and a dad was with two boys maybe between the ages of 6 and 10. They were having a blow your straw cover around the restaurant contest that eventually included a table behind theirs of two more kids and their parents. The waitress weaved between straw covers being blown about to tend to the rest of us. After giving the hairy eyeball to both sets of parents, asking the waitress to do something (this was after my husband got a straw cover blown into his face), we finally left. We told the hostess that we wanted to cancel our order (that was actually ready to be served) and we would pay for our sodas and be on our way. I have never been back.
My cousin was telling me when he was on vacation in DisneyWorld last year, there was a couple on their bus with a kid who was throwing a fit about something. My cousin is a big guy, so kids sometimes find him a little intimidating. He was sitting next to the family, looks at the kid and says, "Dude, you're in Disney. What can you possibly have to cry about?" He wasn't mean about it (he has a 2 year old of his own)-just provided enough comic relief to get the other passengers to laugh and ease the tension for the parents. I think the kid stopped crying too-BONUS.
I've never been anywhere that was dreadful though. I see lots of kids doing things I don't allow mine to do (getting up and down from the table for no reason, etc) but have never seen anything REALLY bad.
I usually give the parents the look if they aren't doing anything about it. If they are honestly trying to control the situation I'll tell them "Hang in there" or a sympathetic look.
If they kids are out of their seats and come by my table I'll say "You better behave" or something like that.
With three young kids, I have been there, so I never give them the hairy eyeball. Instead I hope and that the parents will remove the kid, because that is the right thing to do out of respect for the other diners.
I didn't take my kids out to restaurants much when they were of tantrum age, but I can remember one time when I did have to leave and take my food home. What can you do, it happens.
Just think kids will be kids and thank goodness it's not yours, lol
I can honestly say that we must be very lucky because we've never had that problem yet. Hubby and I are both in our mid 40's and have a large family. We've never been accused of having bad kids either, in fact, most of the time people come up to us while we're eating and commend that our kids are well-behaved. Our kids are not angels, but let me say this, if our kids would start acting like the kids described in the above posts, it would be dealt with by taking them out of the restaurant, into the restroom or outside and talking about what is going on, and talking about repercussions (usually a priviledge being taken away, even if it's a cartoon, etc.) if they don't shape up. Also, like another poster above said, there are periods of times in a child's life, that are more prone to tantrums than other times, and certain factors will contribute to tantrums.
I've found that there are reasons why kids are "bad" or "misbehaving". It can be something as simple as the child being hungry or tired. There are parents that take their kids out to dinner very late. Kids cannot wait until 8:00 p.m. to eat; they should be going to bed at this time, not getting their dinner at 8 or after 8:00 p.m. I realize that there are times that the family is on vacation, etc., which interferes with the child's normal routine. In that case, some finger foods need to be brought along while the child is waiting for dinner, and the child needs to have taken a nap earlier in the afternoon if dinner is to be at 8:00 p.m. or later. Young children need things to entertain them while they're waiting for dinner. Young kids and kids in general want to be talked with, have someone that is interested in talking with them, not parents who are on their fourth or fifth adult drink totally enveloped in one another while the child entertains himself by blowing straws at people or running around the restaurant. In my opinion, as a parent of 24+ years, when you see bad kids, or rather, "misbehaving" kids, rest assured that the problem begins with the parents.
I can honestly say that we must be very lucky because we've never had that problem yet. Hubby and I are both in our mid 40's and have a large family. We've never been accused of having bad kids either, in fact, most of the time people come up to us while we're eating and commend that our kids are well-behaved.
I hope that's in our future! LOL. We took our 2 year old to Friday's last night. Had the waitress bring the highchair, but my daughter is in that "I do" phase and wanted to sit at the table in a regular chair. My husband was dead set against it, but it was pretty empty so I said, let's give her a chance. I told her if she threw anything or got out of her chair she was going right into the high chair (and I would have done it). She was so good, I couldn't believe it. Maybe it was the continuous prayer going on in my head, "Please Jesus keep her butt in that seat. Please let her behave. Please Please Please."
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