Children In Restaurants & Irresponsible Parents........... (play, son, 2 year old, safety)

[SouthBound3]

I could not agree more - but there are two problems here:

1) Most parents are under the assumption that the entire WORLD is AS ENAMORED with their offspring as THEY are (DOPEY PARENT ALERT: INCORRECT ASSUMPTION!!).
2) Most people are inconsiderate of others because they were raised by parents who were inconsiderate, classless, and ill mannered themselves (you can't teach what you don't know).

As a parent of a 3 year old myself - I can tell you that we follow a simple rule when selecting a place to eat out that was shared with me a long time ago:

The AVERAGE price of an entree at the restaurant you are taking a child should NOT be MORE than 2x your child's age.

At the least - following the above rule insures that the occasional behavioral problems that are to be expected from small children are not interrupting a $30 or $50 meal of fellow patrons.

If my daughter were to have behavioral problems while out - I would simply escort her out and give her a chance to calm down. If that failed, I'd simply have my wife have the server make two doggy-bags out of our meals and exit the establishment.

[DeadPool1998]

Originally Posted by crv1010

Memo to parents with kids. If you take your kids to restaurants, its your responsibility to ensure that they don't disturb other people who are trying to enjoy their meal!

If you can't do that because you lack basic parenting skills or you don't care that your kids behavior is disturbing others then stick to McDonalds or Burger King or do take out!

There is nothing in this thread that relates to Long Island.

[sabredrew]

Originally Posted by TheBucks

I could not agree more - but there are two problems here:

1) Most parents are under the assumption that the entire WORLD is AS ENAMORED with their offspring as THEY are (DOPEY PARENT ALERT: INCORRECT ASSUMPTION!!).
2) Most people are inconsiderate of others because they were raised by parents who were inconsiderate, classless, and ill mannered themselves (you can't teach what you don't know).

As a parent of a 3 year old myself - I can tell you that we follow a simple rule when selecting a place to eat out that was shared with me a long time ago:

The AVERAGE price of an entree at the restaurant you are taking a child should NOT be MORE than 2x your child's age.

At the least - following the above rule insures that the occasional behavioral problems that are to be expected from small children are not interrupting a $30 or $50 meal of fellow patrons.

If my daughter were to have behavioral problems while out - I would simply escort her out and give her a chance to calm down. If that failed, I'd simply have my wife have the server make two doggy-bags out of our meals and exit the establishment.

Best post I've read all week!

[phx85339]

Originally Posted by TheBucks

I could not agree more - but there are two problems here:

1) Most parents are under the assumption that the entire WORLD is AS ENAMORED with their offspring as THEY are (DOPEY PARENT ALERT: INCORRECT ASSUMPTION!!).
2) Most people are inconsiderate of others because they were raised by parents who were inconsiderate, classless, and ill mannered themselves (you can't teach what you don't know).

As a parent of a 3 year old myself - I can tell you that we follow a simple rule when selecting a place to eat out that was shared with me a long time ago:

The AVERAGE price of an entree at the restaurant you are taking a child should NOT be MORE than 2x your child's age.

At the least - following the above rule insures that the occasional behavioral problems that are to be expected from small children are not interrupting a $30 or $50 meal of fellow patrons.

If my daughter were to have behavioral problems while out - I would simply escort her out and give her a chance to calm down. If that failed, I'd simply have my wife have the server make two doggy-bags out of our meals and exit the establishment.

appluse to parenting skills......

[nassau2suffolk]

Originally Posted by TheBucks

I could not agree more - but there are two problems here:

1) Most parents are under the assumption that the entire WORLD is AS ENAMORED with their offspring as THEY are (DOPEY PARENT ALERT: INCORRECT ASSUMPTION!!).
2) Most people are inconsiderate of others because they were raised by parents who were inconsiderate, classless, and ill mannered themselves (you can't teach what you don't know).

As a parent of a 3 year old myself - I can tell you that we follow a simple rule when selecting a place to eat out that was shared with me a long time ago:

The AVERAGE price of an entree at the restaurant you are taking a child should NOT be MORE than 2x your child's age.

At the least - following the above rule insures that the occasional behavioral problems that are to be expected from small children are not interrupting a $30 or $50 meal of fellow patrons.

If my daughter were to have behavioral problems while out - I would simply escort her out and give her a chance to calm down. If that failed, I'd simply have my wife have the server make two doggy-bags out of our meals and exit the establishment.

I like the part about the average price. We usually check to see if there is a childrens menu available. If not, we don't go with our child.

[mambwe]

I was at Ruth's Chris in Garden City for Valentines Day one year and the couple next to had a ~5 year old. The parents were eating steak and their children was eating a happy meal that they brought for him. It didn't really affect my meal other than the shock/surprise that someone one would do that. I was surprised the restaurant allowed it. It was super tacky.

[VA Yankee]

Well put! When my kids were young they new if they got wild we would visit the rest room, they knew what that meant. I also dislike when someone has a baby with them and chooses to let it cry disturbing everyone in the place. Step out to the lobby area so you can calm the child down and get back to enjoying your meal.

On another note we have all seen the same type of behavior(s) in movie theaters, supermarkets etc.

[scottzilla]

Ah, I get it. You people are anti-social, yet want to mingle with the "Normals". "I want to go out and be left alone".
I suggest you all seek regular counseling. In time, you will become socialized and less of a burden on the general public.

[OhBeeHave]

Memo to parents with kids. If you take your kids to restaurants, its your responsibility to ensure that they don't disturb other people who are trying to enjoy their meal!

Originally Posted by mgt04

Doesn't matter...Red Lobster/Outback, fast food, etc. I agree with the OP. So many parents let their kids run loose and do whatever they want. The kids run the household not the parents. Why can't parents just be more responsible and keep control of their kids? I know there are those of you out there that say the kids will outgrow that phase but the problem with that is they grow up then thinking everything they've done is ok with no consequences. And hence the cycle goes on and grows...much to the demise of America where these kids grow up thinking they are entitled to a job just because they have a college degree.

Where did the OP state the kids ran loose?

I believe the OP did not give enough information as to the type of restaurant and his/her perception of child transgressions.

If it was a Red Lobster/Outback place those places are noisy. If the child were in his/her seat but was singing out or talking loud, it's no great shake.

If it were Chez Fancy and the child could not sit still and maintain a quiet, indoor voice -- wrong.
If the child were tossing food in any establishment -- wrong.
If the child were screaming in ANY establishment -- wrong.
If the child were up and out of his/her seat in anyplace other than McDonalds/fast food -- wrong.

[jamie1219]

How about flying? I've encountered so many flights where parents are unable to stop their kids from kicking the back of my chair...or 1 flight where the child sang the whole time.