To expect my kids to behave in a restaurant?

[estobi1]

Arrrgghhh ! Little sh$%*! I have just got home from a meal (not posh restaurant) with a friend and her children and I am so cross with the way my children behaved. my two girls aged 3 & 6 were running around hitting each other and my friends two with balloons when there was no space for them to do so and depsite my atempts to get them to sit down, firm tellings off and polite requests they completely ignored me. I should have been more forceful, I should have carried through my threats to take them home but my friend seemed not to mind and even commented on how good they had all been! Arggghhhh! Modern parenting has gone mad. Needless to say they are in bed minus balloons.

Next time bring lots of toys to keep them occupied! I always arm myself with a bag full of toys if we're going somewhere that DS might find quite boring so I can chat with the grown ups while he's occupied

we often (at least once a week) eat out in restaurants. i will allow ds to wonder about a bit as long as he is not getting in the way of others. are you expecting them to behave or to act like adults? they were there with their friends and got excited is that so bad

YANBU but as you said yourself only you can make them.

I think though some do, some don't. My DS doesn't and isn't allowed but at large functions (weddings etc) when other children his age are allowed I tend to let him get up last join in. He is 6btw.

Not sure what toys work for girls but a few cars do the trick for DS. Sometimes even his DS - which I think its rude to let him play it at the table but prefer that to him running around.

Don't beat yourself up sometimes its easier to give in than spend the whole time moaning. Enjoy your peaceful evening and have a

It's difficult when other children with slightly more relaxed parents are around, I agree. I always make mine sit at the table. This is easier with the 6 year old as I cheat by bringing his DS.

Can't bear wandering children in restaurants.

3 and 6 YOs have far too much energy to contain in one little body.

Your friend sounds lovely though, I would just put it down to experience and next time Be Prepared like ihatecbeebies says.

What did you have to eat and was it nice?

believe me I had plenty of toys i bought all six of them a new magazine each and I had a bag with dominoes, colouring stuff etc. I guess I am most annoyed at my lack of control over them. I wanted them to have a nice time I am not expecting them to behave perfectly (their table manners are not great but I appreciate that the socialisation is more important) but the way they ran around the table chasing each other totally hyped was amazing. I would never have dared to behave like that as a kid. I would have had my backside smacked but nowadays you cant do that and I felt like I had no deterant. Dont get me wrong, it is not that I want to beat them but I felt powerless, I felt as though in polite company you have little more power than to say stop it and smile. My conclusion is that 6 kids aged under 6 to 2 adults was too much! I will think twice before taking them out again. Next time will try somewhere with a play area or go to the park instead- I just needed to let off steam.

PS yes glass of wine will be very nice and thank you all for your supportive advice.

We had philly steak wraps which was very very nice thank you. My friend's company was also very nice!

they are children.........restaurants are boring

when mine were that age and played up in a restaurant or even maccy ds i used to lean across the table say in a very stern voice " do you want to eat out again cos if you do stop what you are doing NOW" 7/10 times it worked at least your friend didnt get the hump

Oh and glad to see endo takes her DS' DS too. Exzonerates (sp?) me a little.

I used to take my DS1 outside if he misbehaved, even if I was partway through my meal. We'd stand in the street until I felt I could take him back in. He hated it, and was always good when we got back inside.