AIBU to expect parents to control children even in the likes of Pizza Express

[Jewels234]

I know it's more of a family restaurant, but there are children all around me going mental. Screaming, having tantrums, standing on chairs. It's horrendous.

I am probably being unreasonable being here in the first place, but I love a leg gera salad.

I have seen/heard loud, anti-social, aggressive discipline which I find harder to be around as it's humiliating for the child and makes everyone feel uneasy- believe me, that cuts across all social classes and I have been known to leave places if that kind of adult is present!

Does your niece have children? before I had DC I used to think I'd never let my child shriek out like that or talk loudly but frankly I didn't have a clue. Equally, some parents don't stress out about Mary Poppins manners as they want them to be accepted for what they are- children! Constantly curtailing their natural curiosity and age appropriate behaviour is not good for their self confidence.

I have been told on many occasions how much of a horrendous child I was...to the point that I was screaming so loudly and for so long that people called the police because they thought I was being hurt ( I wasn't). For that reason, my parents never took me out to restaurants. Surely if people have tough children you just have to make do with eating in/getting takeaway? It's not a right to go and eat out.

I don't expect children to be silent or anything like it but if "natural curiosity" involves getting down from their chairs and running round the restaurant I certainly expect parents to do something about it.

LMAO at natural curiosity. why am I not surprised that you've come out with that Goldenbear*

Most people don't have 'tough' children they just don't prioritise the same things that you do and no doubt have a completely different perspective on what constitutes needing to take a child home.

What 1,2,3 some 4 year olds sit in classrooms all day?

It is a right to go and eat out. If people want to.

Hence restaurants have open door policies

So basically parents of "tough" children should become more isolated? Nice plan.

No children shouldn't be running around, but beyond that some people just need to learn to have a bit more patience and be a bit less judgemental.

I love the wee Oscar and jocasta comment. Bet you'd be raging if someone took poss out of working class parents like that.

What's wrong with the term, 'natural curiosity', it explains a lot of young children's behaviour.

As I said mine have not got down and wondered around but I have a 'starer' and she will stare out of curiosity at people behind us, in front of us, next to us- if it's that awful canteen style seating arrangement, particularly if they are 'loud' children- ironically! I'm not going to take her home for it!

Or even pIss. Prudish phone.

Families with children with challenging behaviour have the same right to be out in public as everyone else.

Dd will also blurt out a stream of consciousness to the waiter/waitress, is that allowed? It is not against the law to go out with DC that are not robots!

I thought it was quite posh although I do frequent zizzi and like it.

I mean you don't mean Pizza Hut do you??

Yabu to go to pizza express, as the leggera salad no longer has butternut squash in. This is a sad thing.

"Natural curiosity"< eyeroll> is fine in a park, field or wood.
It is not fine in a busy restaurant where other people are hoping to enjoy a meal or where there are hot plates, drinks and food.
Manners are a basic thing and make your DC lives easier as they are pleasant for others to be around, welcome at events etc.

Surely Goldenbear you would discourage your child from staring? And what would you do if she did attempt to leave the table to explore?
Your children are NT aren't they?

I'm inclined to think that parents of NT children who don't enforce any boundaries make life bloody difficult for parents of children with disabilities.
And those parents are struggling hard enough as it is without risking any more judgement from the public.

goldenbear I like it when young children do that staring thing-children get all embarrassed too quickly as they grow up and loose that openness. Also, staring is developmentally a really good sign that a child is developing normally.

I live up North where PE is still considered posh so never have had any issues there or indeed in any restaurant. Well except for with my nieces who live in down south, they were nightmares when they were younger and BIL and SIL didn't discipline them at all.

My own kids are perfectly behaved (obviously ), but agree with the PP who said if you are seen to discipline them you get more sympathy. DD1 once let out an ear splitting scream in a small cafe (she was only 2), everyone turned round to look , I leant in close, held her hand and said to her very calmly 'if you don't stop we will go straight home', she stopped and I had an old lady come up later and say how well behaved she was. Of course I'd have left if DD1 hadn't behaved.

I'm inclined to think that parents of NT children who don't enforce any boundaries make life bloody difficult for parents of children with disabilities.
And those parents are struggling hard enough as it is without risking any more judgement from the public.

^ Agreed.

Also agreed.

yabu eating in that rip off shit hole