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?

And what about these whole other countries where the kids are free, are all those parents wrong?

In those other countries it is the norm that children know how to behave and if they don't they are taken out.

I have never been to another country where children are left to roam free. Infact as a few people have commented up thread by experiences are that when overseas children are generally much better behaved when eating out than a lot in this country.

Youthecat not the countries I've volunteered in, not at all. The kids were all wandering around with food and being more hectic than my ds, it wasn't a problem for anyone. Just because this is england I don't see why we can't accept that kind of way a bit more

LaQueen, I send dp and my grown up dd out of the kitchen when I'm dishing up because they tend to hover due to hunger.

MsBella You seem to not understand cultural and social norms at all.

yes children in Italy and spain sit at the table quietly colouring in while their parents have a quiet chat over a meal

I do agree that in Italy children do know how to behave in a restaurant but it is never quiet and I have often seen children playing around after the meal is over 4 hours later different attitudes to the uk towards children

I didn't let my toddlers play near the oven when I was serving up, should I have let them explore?

But I don't want to accept that way. I don't want to sit in a restaurant cringing every time a toddler is nearly fallen over (and I have seen that happening, as the parents sat, oblivious, polishing off their wine whilst their 2 year old ran about).

And I also don't want to witness a small child being scalded as I eat either.

I live in France. I eat out a lot. Might be different in a specifically children-oriented places, but in normal restaurants, I have never seen toddlers wandering around unsupervised.

This is just silly. I went to a restaurant last week with a group of friends and their 5/6 yo children, and some younger siblings. There is a play area set out within the eating area itself. Safe to say therefore, that this place is child friendly.

Some of the children knew how to behave safely and appropriately as waiters were bringing hot food out very quickly through blind double doors. Others did not, and were running about like wild things pissing plenty of people off(who also had children with them). Myself and a couple of the the other parents were policing those children so they didn't trip the staff up!

I also told a couple of my friends to get off their arses and deal with their children.

How can you say, MsBella, that teaching children to act certain ways in certain situations is wrong (I'm paraphrasing)?

Peppermint I don't remember saying or implying that

But that's the result of what you're saying. Let children run free and damn the consequences?

I don't think that these 'social norms' and shit should be forced onto a fucking toddler though, they'll have enough of that shit when they get older

Well, I don't think wandering children should be forced onto other diners.

Well then don't take your child out to eat until you deem them old enough to understand the need to behave in a restaurant. Don't force your desire to give your child freedom on the poor staff and other diners.

Well ffs youthecat that will only last maybe a few minutes wheras what I reffered to can last a lifetime.. which ones more important
What a crock of shit

My children get plenty of freedom, whenever and wherever possible. I agree, I hate some of the social norms coming so soon (immediately they are born, mostly) into a child's life, but really, you're pressing the point so far that it makes your argument a nonsense.

the scars from the scalds from hot drinks will last for life to but thats ok aslong as he has had his freedom.

Ms Bella, it is your job as a parent to prepare you children for what the world will expect from them when they are older.

I assume you put them in a car seat, to keep them safe. That is now thankfully a social norm. but if given the chance most children would prefer not to be strapped in..

I'm pressing it because I feel fucking strongly about it!

And I only go to restaurants when the older dcs want a birthday treat at a restaurant
BY THE WAY, my older dcs have turned out lovely even without me forcing your types of views onto them

So what if, say there are 12 families in a restaurant, each with a toddler, and they all allow their toddler to have a little explore? Can't you see how much chaos and danger that would cause?

But you're saying why should you have to conform? What if no one did?