To get pissed off at children running around in restaurants?

[CelticPixie]

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?

So only sheep do not wish to cause harm or annoyance to others
Where the fuck do you get that from?

I can be arsed, I look after my dcs 24-7 but my parenting style may be different to yours- doesn't make me lazy or a shit mum.

And the waiters may spit in your dinner.

LaQueen I have been saying the same as MsBella though ignored as it is often the norm on here to start picking on one person and not stopping

where I go, where my friends go its very family friendly children are not expected to act like adults. times are changing families eating out is quite new to the uk and it is big business were we go the relaxed atmosphere like in countries that are more accommodating to children a little more freedom that what you feel is right is what goes on that does not mean they are running about or getting in the way of staff. no one has said this is ok but I do not agree children need to act like adults when in a restaurant but at the same time ds is well aware that it is not like being at home or in a park maybe MsBella's children and herself are aware of that too

Well you're not looking after them when you allow them to wander off in restaurants or cafes, you know! Honestly you're not.

Id rather not be a sheep to things I do not believe in just because a group of people think I should?

You don't believe in keeping your children safe from easily avoidable dangers?

You don't believe in teaching your children how to behave in social situations?

and I agree with what fireside said

frudian they may not need to act like adults, and as people have said the problem is with parents not children.

If you child wants to wander about then you have to wander with them. No matter how family friendly a restaurant is a child wandering in the dining area poses dangers for the child and the waiting staff.

LaQueen... I don't need parenting lessons from you, I know how to parent my kids
How is it lazy? It just isn't and that's a FACT

Allowing small children to wander around a dining area where hot food and drink are being served is very lazy.

you're being ridiculous, having a different opinion just doesn't make someone lazy and it doesn't mean they're not a good parent. I really do not need parenting lessons from you laqueen how ridiculous

You don't know who you would blame in case of an accident? Really? While you know that in a restaurant, there are busy people constantly carrying around hot, heavy items, that they don't expect to encounter obstacles and they simply cannot see what is happening at knee-hight?

So if you let your toddler loose and they trip over him, who else would you like to blame besides yourself?

OH NO IT ISN'T

Hot food and drinks are being served in homes aswell... oh dear!
And every other country I've been to has had all the kids wandering around, even with their food and being more hectic than my dc is in restaurants, there's never been a problem! Okay they weren't fancy places because they were always nearish places I was volunteering but it doesn't make a difference, they're still all people with their DCs care in mind.

But it is lazy, and dangerous too.

I would have no problem, in a family type place especially, with a toddler wandering about or saying hello. Might get a bit annoying if I felt I had to keep up a conversation once the food came. But that's not really the point - the point is it's not fair to the staff, who have enough to do, and enough obstacles to avoid, without a roaming toddler while they carry hot food and drink - and it's not fair to the child, not to keep them safe from that.

Hazlenutt maybe id blame myself I DON'T KNOW HOW ID REACT IN ALL DISASTERS! Nobody really does. Maybe id blame nobody, id probably be too focused on the fucking disaster

That's like saying its lazy parenting to let your DCs play up trees and all that

Not at all.

There are places where it is appropriate that children wander round, exploring freely and chatting to others. Those places are gardens, playgrounds, country parks, friends' houses, toddler groups, etc.

There are places where it is not appropriate like restaurants, busy high streets and theatres.

Children need to learn socially appropriate behaviour and that it is different in different places.

My children love to explore, chat and play in appropriate places. They have learned, through our hard work, to modify their behaviour depending on the place they are in and not to assume that everyone is delighted by their presence. That has been no mean feat with DD2.

It isn't up to other people to tell me that my children are bothering them. It is up to me to ensure they don't bother people. Some people strike up conversation or are clearly enjoying interacting with them. That's great and I allow it to happen for a while, bringing it to an end before anyone can get tired of it.

Lazy parenting is not teaching your children to behave in a manner appropriate to the situation because they are having fun.

Hot food and drinks are being served in homes aswell... oh dear!

Well yes, but when I'm carrying through food to the table, I don't expect or encourage the rest of the family to criss-cross in front of me, or mill about in the doorway! That's why I usually suggest they sit down ready, and then we bring it in.

Hot food and drinks are being served in homes aswell... oh dear!

And I wouldn't let my young son run around unsupervised while food was being served at home either. Hot drinks are kept well out of reach.

id probably be too focused on the fucking disaster

A disaster which could be easily avoided by some basic common sense!

but do you know that is where MsBella is going. so you know the cafes and restaurants that she is taking her children too

for us pizza express is a place where children wonder about the school holidays this is where they make their money and this is why they accommodate families so well. if I were wanting to have a long lazy lunch with friends I would not being going there the amount of children in there would tell me straight away to go somewhere else

but I sure some thrive off going there so they can have a moan how terrible the children and parents are when next door there is another much quieter café where the food is just as good and cheaper

Exactly Gold