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AIBU?

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Original poster

To get pissed off at children running around in restaurants?

999 replies

CelticPixie · 07/04/2013 20:29

We went out for lunch today and there was a large group sat behind us. It was obviously a family celebration with parents, grandparents, kids etc. A little boy from the group who must have been around two was running around our part of the restaurant screaming and shouting and getting under the feet of waiting staff carrying hot food etc. He also kept approaching people at other tables and kept asking them if they were having their dinner and what they were having. At no point did his parents do anything to stop him and they just kept on smiling at him, but it was obvious that he was getting on everyone else's nerves.

Its a family friendly place and there were lots of other small children in there but he was the only one running about and being a nuisance. I will NOT allow my DDs to run about and disrupt others people's meals and it pisses me off that other people have so little consideration for anyone but themselves. If mine wants to go to the loo one of us takes them, if they are bored we take them out to the play area. It's really not hard is it?

OP posts:
LaQueen · 09/04/2013 15:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StateofConfusion · 09/04/2013 15:25

yanbu really annoys me, i also hate when children hang over the back of booths into ours and stare... i will not tolerate my children doing it at all.

MsBella · 09/04/2013 15:26

Brdgrl you don't know me and you don't know how caring I actually am

brdgrl · 09/04/2013 15:26

You keep saying you are a good mother, but I guarantee that everyone who has had the misfortune of dining with you and your badly behaved children thinks you are a bad mother.
Truth.

Peaceandfuckinglovw you don't know my children so you can't assume they're badly behaved.

Uh, what? You have described bad behaviour. That is sort of the point.

PeaceandFUCKINGLove · 09/04/2013 15:27

"Peaceandfuckinglovw you don't know my children so you can't assume they're badly behaved"

You have described them enough to make it obvious that they are badly behaved. It is not their fault of course, they can't help having a mother who doesn't teach them how they should behave.

5eggstremelychocaletymadeggs · 09/04/2013 15:27

Imagine this conversation with your teenage child...."i know those scars on your face make you feel.uncomfortable and self conscious but when you were a toddler you didnt like to sit in the highchair so i let you wander round the restaraunt and then the waitress tripped over you spilling hot soup"

Teenager "why did you let me wander around in a restaraunt where people are carrying hot food/drinks, surely you knew it was dangerous?"

"well yes darling i guess so but i didnt want to have to leave and not finish my meal..."

I am sure a child would love that to.be the reason they were permanently scarred
..just because their parent couldnt be arsed to stop them wandering around in a restaraunt.

morethanpotatoprints · 09/04/2013 15:27

Sorry to be controversial here, but if a cute little kid came to our table in a restaurant my family would talk to him/her and smile at their mother. it takes a village to raise a child.
Ok I don't go as far as to say let the kids rule but its ok to wander about a bit and stretch your legs surely.
I would never let mine run around but a few paces isn't going to hurt anyone.
Unfortunately, society does not see the role of raising children and making allowances the same as in the past. Everyone is selfish and not bothered in welcoming other people and being sociable to children.

arabesque · 09/04/2013 15:27

Nobody could be as obtuse regarding their children's behaviour or their own 'parenting' skills as MsBella is pretending to be. Definitely a wind up.

PeaceandFUCKINGLove · 09/04/2013 15:28

"So I'm 'thick' ffor having a different parenting style? Blah blah blah heard it all before."

Did you stamp your foot when you typed that?

Grin
MsBella · 09/04/2013 15:28

bad behaviour IN YOUR OPINION! We all have different opinions! If its causing no harm I don't see a problem

MsBella · 09/04/2013 15:29

Peaceandfuckinglove grow up mate

anklebitersmum · 09/04/2013 15:29

Bald does not a hairstyle constitute.

SauvignonBlanche · 09/04/2013 15:30

but wandering around a bit or chatting to someone? I fail to see a problem, I've always got my eye on them, nobodys ever complained

I've a scar on my arm from burning myself when working as a waitress and I was banged into by a waiter who had stopped suddenly as a child had gone in front of him.

You can see an adult in your way but you can't always see a small child. I'm assuming you only allow this to happen in places that don't sell hot food and drinks? Hmm

I'm going out for a meal tomorrow night, any spoilt brat that wanders over my way for a chat will be given short shift. Wink

brdgrl · 09/04/2013 15:30

Fair enough, I don't know you - but you would have to be a very different person in real life to offset the impression you are making here. You really, truly, don't seem to care about the rest of society. Your whole attitude - as demonstrated on this thread which is all I am going on - is that your children should get what they want and do as they want, and to hell with those around you.

Like I said, I hope this is a wind-up, because that sounds awful.

exoticfruits · 09/04/2013 15:30

From now on I am never being polite about badly behaved children in restuarants again. I will be complaining to the staff and asking the children to stop disturbing our meal

I am also going to stop being so polite and get the management to ask the offending parents to restrain their DC.
If this thread does nothing else it should make MsBella and others realise that when we are being quiet we are merely polite we do not like it.
It is so unfair for the poor children-everyone finds them a pleasure if they have been taught how to behave and yet lazy parenting makes them an irritation to everyone.

LaQueen · 09/04/2013 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

5eggstremelychocaletymadeggs · 09/04/2013 15:30

fanjo distraction is a parenting tactic i use so i would recognise that. I try very hard to be aware and not judge tbh.

But i thnk a parent who sits chatting and eating whilst their child wanders round a restaraunt annoying other customers and essentially putting them and others in danger re spills of hot food is foolish to be polite.

YouTheCat · 09/04/2013 15:30

Bella, I think the point is, it could cause harm - harm to your kids because they've had hot food spilt on them. Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it can't or won't.

TomArchersSausage · 09/04/2013 15:30

Carry on then.

Jolly goodGrin.

Floggingmolly · 09/04/2013 15:31

Well actually a lot of people do love it when a dc talks to them, fact Hmm
Bella is clearly expressing the viewpoint of the gobshites who do this in restaurants and elsewhere; they simply will not be swayed from the belief that every complete stranger they encounter in whatever situation, finds their little brats darlings as adorable as they do.
They're never going to get it either, sadly.

exoticfruits · 09/04/2013 15:32

bad behaviour IN YOUR OPINION! We all have different opinions! If its causing no harm I don't see a problem

It is a problem to the poor children. I have never had a difference of opinion about badly behaved children-everyone thinks the same except the fond parents.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 09/04/2013 15:32

5eggs,,oh I could NEVER let DD wander around, we actually have to keep one hand on her as she will bolt off and take other people's food/cutlery or just go up to the counter and take crisps and sweets..what fun she is in a cafe(although getting better) Grin

MsBella · 09/04/2013 15:32

What a load of shit. If someone doesn't share your parenting style it means they are a bad mum and thick..
Great!

LaQueen · 09/04/2013 15:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouTheCat · 09/04/2013 15:34

So I'm 'thick' ffor having a different parenting style? Blah blah blah heard it all before

If you've heard it all before, do you not consider that some people might actually have a point? There is hardly one single person agreeing with you on this.