Restaurant says NO to screaming children!

[Laura's Babies]

My kids KNEW better than to scream out in public! It was not allowed at home or in public.

I strongly resent going out for a nice quiet meal and being bombarded with loud music, loud conversation OR screaming Kids! My daughter and husband like to go to eat at a popular steak house and I find the whole thing as loud as a bar room with people talking to loud and loud music playing.. I just find it hard to eat in all that noise.. you can't even carry on a conversation!

To any parent who is offended that no one wants to listen to their kids scream, TO BAD! Why should your uncontrollable child be allowed to interfere with a restaurant full of people who planned on a nice quiet meal?

[Alysser]

http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=13107715#

"I've never seen a restaurant say, don't bring your screaming kids in here," said Ashley Heflin, who is a mom of two. "You can't help it if your kids scream."

This is like me saying "I can't help it if I can't control my dog at the dog park or in a pet store". Mikey doesn't behave well in social situations, so he stays at home. He gets plenty of walks but not to petstores, although I would eventually like to find a nice dog park, we haven't tried him at one of those.

But anyway, it's usually irresponsible parents who are the first to complain about responsible pet owners. I don't understand why you'd be offended by this sign. It's not saying you can't come in the restaurant if you have children and they're not going to kick you out if your kid started screaming, but it's not fair to subject people to a child screaming in public. I find it rude when anyone is screaming in a restaurant, not just kids. But you can certainly control your own kid, it's called taking responsibility. I suppose some people always need something to be "offended" about lol.

[Bonny]

One time I was giving a young mother with her two children a tour along with an older lady that had joined us. They were good little kids but the little boy got to noisy for the older lady & she told the mother to shut the little boy up. The older lady, little girl & I proceeded into the parlor room & the mother stayed in another room with the little boy. I ended up going between rooms & apolgizing for the older ladies actions. Both were paying guests. I thought at the end of the tour they would go there separate ways but they both ended up in the gift shop. The mother was a good mom & bought the children some books & the older lady bought some books too. I hate to say this but the older lady reminded me of a mean old prison warden. She looked like she could eat nails. With the cell phones there is nothing like hearing about the trials & tribulations of peoples lifes.

[cassiesmom]

Boy, this is a tough one. Some restaurants are just more family-friendly than others. My mom used to always have me pick out a book or a quiet toy for a diversion if she knew we were going to a place where waiting would be involved.

But adults ... I've sat next to a group of adults making loud conversation, or someone talking nonstop on a cell phone. So maybe the restaurant should consider restricting noisy adults as well as screaming children.

[phesina]

http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=13107715#


This article totally made my morning.

Mine too! I think I'm about ready to take a drive to North Carolina so I can dine in that restaurant!

[GoldenLover]

I also agree but would like to see this policy extended to grocery stores, movie theaters, and everywhere else too

Also, it would be neat if there were more "pet friendly" places. Like a grocery store where you could shop with your pet. Or a restaurant with outside seating you could put them next to you in. I think if people are allowed to bring their children everywhere, pet owners should be allowed to bring their pets. Children are usually messier, less well behaved, and louder than pets. Being a person with furry children, I would much rather go to a store that I could take my pup with me than have to leave him at home so often. Though the non-furry kid owners may not agree, he's my baby. Not saying everywhere should be that way, but it'd be cool if there were a few more places pet owners could take them. Of course, huge liability involved, so will never happen. Lawyers....

[Medusa]

I also agree but would like to see this policy extended to grocery stores, movie theaters, and everywhere else too

Ditto. When the boy was, well, a boy, I always received compliments from others about how well behaved and courteous he was. It didn't come naturally; he had to be taught to behave that way. It seems that many parents aren't bothering to take the time to teach their kids, they just seem to want them to get involved in every activity as possible to get them out of their hair. The result: self entitled kids who grow up to be self entitled adults.

[Marigold2]

I too taught my children to behave in public and they were good. If one started to cry for whatever reason, wet diaper, hunger, sick I left so as not to disturb others but mostly to just take care of my baby.
If a child has mental issues things might get a bit stickey and I would hope that people would be more understanding if a child has autism or another form of mental illness. Just because one is not so called perfect does not mean one cannot go out in public.
If I saw a child who had issues crying I would be much more understanding then a child just being a stinker and mom not doing her job.

[sparks19]

Ditto. When the boy was, well, a boy, I always received compliments from others about how well behaved and courteous he was. It didn't come naturally; he had to be taught to behave that way. It seems that many parents aren't bothering to take the time to teach their kids, they just seem to want them to get involved in every activity as possible to get them out of their hair. The result: self entitled kids who grow up to be self entitled adults.

yeah same here. I'm happy and saddened at the same time lol. I'm glad that she is well behaved and people realize it but sad that this is something people would notice because it's such an oddity.

but really people stop by our table almost every time we are out to talk to hannah or to compliment her... she loves the attention though. HAHA one time this elderly couple were leaving the diner and they stopped to say hi to her and the elderly gentleman ended up singing a song for her. I can't remember what song it was... it was one of those old crooner songs. it was so sweet and hannah loved every moment of it lol

yeah I don't really understand having them in an activity every night of the week. when do they get to be kids? do homework? spend time with their friends and family? that being said... Hannah is enrolled in a dance class starting next week. one day a week for half an hour. she'll love it I think

As for the kids with disabilities... yes I would think people would be more understanding... HOWEVER autism was mentioned and in young children that can be very hard to see to the untrained eye unless it's a REALLY severe case

[kitten645]

I work at a grocery store. Unfortunately there are health codes that don't allow animals other than service dogs into most public places with food. Ie grocery & restaurants. I know in CA there are many restaurants that have outdoor seating that you can allow your pet to sit with you or on the other side of a gate right next to your table.
At my grocery, I work in a very large non-food housewares sort of area and I offer to doggie sit in my "non-food" section because it's separated by a short flight of stairs so I don't technically sell food.
It's a REALLY big store and everyday I hear kids screaming like banshees for LONG periods of time. I think the parents sometimes become desensitized to it sort of like the "mommymommymommymommymommymommy" syndrome. For those of us who don't live in that world, it is really jarring and unnerving. .

[kitten645]

PS I ALWAYS compliment parents and kids that are well behaved. It happens so rarely!

[*LabLoverKEB*]

I also agree but would like to see this policy extended to grocery stores, movie theaters, and everywhere else too

I agree!

[Catlady711]

It seems that many parents aren't bothering to take the time to teach their kids, they just seem to want them to get involved in every activity as possible to get them out of their hair. The result: self entitled kids who grow up to be self entitled adults.

Had a client like that come in today. Mom, dad, and 2 kids. The one kid (3?)was fairly quiet and reasonably behaved, stayed in mom's arms the whole time, no issues there (surprising). The other.....well lets just say I hope they never bring him again.

First thing in the door, dad has the dog who is dragging out the retractable leash all over and the guy has NO control over it. Then the p.i.t.a. kid (5?)comes in and promptly kicks off his crocks in two steps as he's walking in the door. Mom follows holding the other child and never even notices the shoes even though she darn near tripped on them coming in. The now shoeless kid is wandering all over the place, dad is being dragged around by the dog who now has the leash fully extended and tied around a chair, the mom is busy intently looking at the bulliten board while the shoes remain just inside the door for some other client to trip over or their dog to chew up.

I call them into the room, make mention that the child will have to put his shoes back on. The dad kinda drags the dog towards the room, while hollaring over his shoulder that the mom needs to get the child's shoes. Mom goes to get the shoes, then just holds on to them while going back to look at the bulliten board and the shoeless kid is still wandering around all over the place.

I say to the dad again that the kid HAS to have the shoes back on. At this point he drags the dog back to mom who is still totally oblivious to anything else going on to tell her what I said. Then she finally corrals the kid to put the shoes on while dad drags the poor dog back to the room. Eventually mom and the now shod child are in the room as well.

When we went in to examine the dog the previously barefoot child is all over the room, under foot, crawling under the lift table, banging on the walls, and screaming, which is scaring the dog we're trying to examine. The parents for the most part completely ignored this. Finally the kid must have gotten in the way enough that dad moved him back towards them more. At which point the child lets out a blood curdling scream "NO", the parents LAUGH at this!! Then the child quite plainly screams "I hate you" and KICKS his dad, HARD!

Do you think the parents lectured him, spanked him, told him to stop, told him sternly not to kick people?? NOPE The dad laughs and says (in a sweet sing song voice) "awww you don't hate me, you love me and you're just mad".

WHAT???? I can guarantee you if I had EVER kicked my mom and screamed 'I hate you', I certainly wouldn't have gotten a sing song response and a laugh!!!!

I see this too often at work. Kids kicking, and punching the parents, screaming bloody murder, and wantering all over and the parents seem totally oblivious to any of it and don't do a single thing to curb the behaviour!! Rather sickening actually.

[Marigold2]

If they can't control a 5 or 6 year old they will never be able to control a 15 year old.

[moosmom]

AMEN!!! There is a God!! I can finally have a nice QUIET meal without a bunch of cranky kids ruining it for me.