Should children be put in a special section of restaurants?

[mykpart]

Frankly, I tend not to notice children making noise or misbehaving in restaurants - probably because I raised two boys and I learned to tune a lot of that stuff out. But my current hubby, whom I married after my sons were grown, never was a parent. He can't tolerate children in restaurants, church, movie theaters, etc. And I got to thinking, why can't restaurants have a children's section, since they have smoking and non-smoking sections? And in cities where they have passed non-smoking ordinances for all restaurants, why couldn't they use the section formerly occupied by smokers? Is anyone else disturbed by other people's children?

[XemaSab]

1. .

[deadparrot]

2. I'll see your one :popcorn:

:popcorn:

And raise you two.

:popcorn::popcorn:

[XemaSab]

4. Earlier this evening I made the popcorn my sig line

It's the first time I've ever posted a totally blank response to a post.

:woohoo:

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[mykpart]

3. Is that a yes?

[REP]

5. Dammit, I Already Filled One Bingo Card on the Baby-Holding Thread!

Here comes another one! Of courswe children shouldn't be expected to behave in public; it'll damage their self-esteem and besides you were a child once too, Hitler.

[mykpart]

7. Exactly! So shouldn't they have their own section

in which to feed themselves and misbehave? Why should they ruin the digestion of perfectly lovely adults?

[REP]

10. That Section is Called M-a-c-D-o-n-a-l-d-s

Or Chuck E Cheese.

Or the trunk of the car.

[leftofthedial]

6. no, but all the children's dishes should be put in one part of the menu

Kids a la mode
Leg of child with mint sauce
Children and noodle soup

all in one section.

[mykpart]

8. roflmao! Wasn't it W.C. Fields,

who, when he was asked why he didn't like children, replies, "I do like children. I like them fried."

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. Damned skippy

And there should be another section for kids who smoke.

[KitchenWitch]

17. Don't forget the section for kids who nurse their own children

:popcorn:

[NMMNG]

11. This calls for the jumbo size

[kedrys]

12. I think so

I have no idea what passes for parenting with some people nowadays. I wouldn't even occur to me or my sister to carry on cranky in public, *ever*, and my parents didn't take us places until we were like 3 or 4.

I've had to refrain from getting up in restaurants and telling some people that their kids are not cute, they're not adorable, they are most certainly NOT the center of the universe, and they're pissing on my day by running around noisy and coming to my table to stare at me. On the rare occasions things were so out of control I *had* to say something, the parents acted like spoiled brats, or like I was some demon from hell for not liking their kids. Sigh.

Full disclosure: I have no kids and don't particularly like them, except for children of friends and relatives, all of whom appear to be very well-behaved regardless of their age.

[Benfea]

13. That's nothing

Long ago I used to wait tables at a family restaurant in an upper middle class suburb. I often encountered little brats who already learned how to "talk down to the help." It was everything I could do to keep from strangling the little snots.

[gollygee]

14. Most hostesses try to group families together

which I think is a good idea. However, I don't like the idea of forcing people with children to be in a different section. It isn't just children who can make noise in restaurants. If people were annoyed by having to sit around senior citizens who are losing hearing and have to talk loud, no one would suggest the senior citizens be forced to sit away from everyone else.

[KitchenWitch]

15. This is a replay of an old flamewar...just so you know!

I personally think, no. Certainly there are restaurants that I would not take my kids to, because of ambience and types of food. However, I have taught my children to behave impeccably when we are out, so not to bother other people. My daughter (4) sits like a lady, talks quietly, and does not disrupt anything. If she did, we would be out the door in less than a flash, because I will not put up with unruly behavior in a restaurant (or any other public place) with her. My 15 year old son was the same way. We would leave before the behavior would bother anyone else.

That is just my family though.

[bleedingheart]

20. I am with you...

in fact I have taken my children to fine restaurants (not where children are normally found)...and I have been complimented by other guests regarding my children's behavior and manners.

When my children were young I would leave a restaurant before letting them get out of hand and they learned very early that there was a price to pay for poor behavior.

[KitchenWitch]

Exactly

If you do not set limits and follow through with enforcing them, then your children will be unruly. I have, very rarely, brought the kids to a fine dining place, but they knew ahead of time that it was a special occasion and that they were not to step out of line.

[Fox Mulder]

16. I would love that...

but that's because I don't like children. They irritate the hell out of me.

:hide:

[bleedingheart]

18. Here we go again....can someone pass me some popcorn...?

[fight4my3sons]

19. We only go to "family" restaurants.

I don't think it is fair to our kids or to the other diners to take them to any other type of restaurant. (they are 20 months (twins) and three) If we want to go out to a nice place we leave the kids home. However, if I am at Friendly's or a fast food restaurant I think that my kids have every right to be there. They are not allowed to run around or stand up in their seats or anything like that. If any of them start to cry or scream (like a temper tantrum we will remove that child from the restaurant until he has calmed down). My kids know that good behavior is expected of them and we often get compliments on their behavior when we are out. I make sure to bring coloring books and crayons, and some little things for them to play with and they stay occupied. I do breathe a sigh of relief when we are seated by another family though. My stepfather hated being near kids in resturants, even when I was a kid with him.

[Orsino]

21. Specifically, the large green receptacle out back.

But more seriously, no. I just expect the occasional shriek from small children. I don't recall its ever escalating to full-on tantrums, for which the remedy would seem to be glaring or shushing until the adult takes the hint, and the kid, outside.

[Evergreen Emerald]

22. I think they should behave or leave

If they cannot act appropriately they should not be there. I took my daughter to a movie recently. Behind us was a man and his young daughter. She talked loudly throughout the movie disrupting anyone within earshot (and alot of us were).

It was not her fault. She was not taught the difference between talking on the playground and talking in a theatre. We had an "inside voice" and a "theatre voice" when my daughter was younger.

The same with restaurants. Recently we were out without children, at a nice restaurant, and a child was crying at a table and throwing food and talking loudly. It should not be acceptable. Either behave or leave.

[LostinVA]

23. You are a very evil poster!

[mikeytherat]

24. In the kitchen. Hey, it's free labor!

Yeah. I'm Oliver Twisted.

mikey_the_rat

[Crazy Dave]

25. Leave them home and get a babysitter!

And turn those f__king cell phones off too.
:popcorn:

[Skittles]

26. I am only disturbed by undisciplined children

unfortunately, there are many

[BigMcLargehuge]

27. locked

I'm sorry, but our "flamewars" section is booked solid.



Big McLargehuge
DU Moderator