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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Children running around restaurant WWYD?

244 replies

AutisticLegoLover · 07/08/2023 13:13

Please could you tell me what you'd do in this situation:

In a hotel restaurant at breakfast there were two young children about age 4 running around and screeching. It wasn't clear where the parents/adults were that they were with. They were eating while running in front of guests who were carrying hot drinks and food from the breakfast buffet and going up to other tables and carrying on their screeching.

What would you do in this situation?

OP posts:
Tibbb · 07/08/2023 19:58

@LemonPeonies how would you know if someone had deliberately poured drinks or food over your feral brat? Accidents do happen.

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 19:58

@Spencerfloral getting in between? But not defending them in any way? Yeah makes a lot of sense.

Gcsunnyside23 · 07/08/2023 19:58

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 19:50

@Gcsunnyside23 It would be quite obvious if someone stuck a foot out to trip them or or deliberately poured something over them. It wouldn't take many brain cells to determine that.

Would it though? As a child shouldnt be that close to someone to be in that situation so if they are then the parents arent obviously watching them as they are running riot they wouldn't know if it was on purpose or not

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:00

The parents in this situation if you read the OP, weren't watching them at all so you're arguing with the wrong person for a start.

Mmhmmn · 07/08/2023 20:00

AutisticLegoLover · 07/08/2023 14:21

I'd chosen a quiet spot due to being autistic. After about 5-10 minutes if this I asked a member of staff to deal with the situation. He went over to the children and told them to be quiet because that lady has complained and pointed to me. The children paid no attention to him but the mum finally clocked that staff had spoken to her children and again the member of staff pointed me out and said I'd complained. She went over to the children and asked if they were doing what they'd been told off for and they said they être just taking so she cane over and had a go at me telling me I shouldn't stay in a hotel if I didn't want children there. I was there with my own child so a bit bizarre. She went on about how children need love and understanding and that she'd rather have kids like hers rather than kids that were afraid to speak Hmm ds was sitting quietly trying not to have a meltdown due to the noise.
I spoke to the manager who basically said there's nothing they could do even though it was a safety hazard them running around and said if they got scolded it's the parents' problem. He offered to segregate me from the rest of the guests as though I was the problem.
When the family left the quiet was bliss and it was obvious how much noise they'd all been making.
It's nice to read that others wouldn't have tolerated it.

Don't worry about it. She's a shit parent and person who lets her children tear around and spoil everyone else's breakfast time. If there's a next time, just point that out. No one pays (typically) exorbitant hotel costs to have to listen to other peoples' brats screeching and running around. Ridiculous. She should have been embarrassed rather than having a go at you.

Claretmum · 07/08/2023 20:01

We were in a hotel last week and the same happened. They were literally the only children there so it stood out even more.
Eventually a waiter lost his head and absolutely screamed at them (it was in Portuguese therefore I couldn't say what) but I've never seen two kids sit down as fast.

Parents just carried on oblivious.

Imagine in the UK, the parents would probably be up.in arms!

Claretmum · 07/08/2023 20:02

Mmhmmn · 07/08/2023 20:00

Don't worry about it. She's a shit parent and person who lets her children tear around and spoil everyone else's breakfast time. If there's a next time, just point that out. No one pays (typically) exorbitant hotel costs to have to listen to other peoples' brats screeching and running around. Ridiculous. She should have been embarrassed rather than having a go at you.

She sounds like an utter hound.

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 07/08/2023 20:02

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 19:48

@fuckityfuckityfuckfuck everyone has had to stop their child running around at one point or did yours come out without the normal want to run occasionally? And me chasing them in the past means I'm stopping them do it. This post is about parents not even acknowledging the kids doing it...

I make sure they are sat between adults so they can't get up. Talk to them, engage them in conversation so they're not bored. Don't need screens. Maybe colouring or something. If they need to get up then an adult goes with them to take them outside for 5 mins.

RugglesB · 07/08/2023 20:15

The number of people who are suggesting assaulting a 4 year old as a solution is really rather worrying on this thread.

Since when is it ok to tip hot food or drinks over someone or trip them while running? Both are dangerous and criminal if done intentionally. You'd have to be a brave soul to risk physical retaliation from the parents. It's not the kids fault they have ignorant parents. The best you can do is complain to the management.

SistersNotCisters · 07/08/2023 20:17

WunWun · 07/08/2023 15:15

I'm all honestly I would probably have shouted "Will you stop it!" In a full on rage at them and then given the mum a piece of my mind when she complained.

Then I'd probably go up and cry in my hotel room and wish I'd just left it.

I could have written that. It sounds like something I would do.

MaMaMeeAah · 07/08/2023 20:21

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 19:57

@MaMaMeeAah I doubt anyone with martial arts training would attack a child actually so I'm not scared.

Nah they'd go for you @LemonPeonies , if you you threaten people with your kick boxing skills don't be surprised if they're more qualified and skilled than you are
You sound vile tbh and I'd ban you from my club with that attitude

Trying to sound 'ard 😂

Dymaxion · 07/08/2023 20:21

I remember going camping once with a group of friends and their children. We walked to the local pub one evening to get some food and as we all walked in through the door, the landlord said ' ah you have children with you, in this pub they sit at the table and eat, they do not make too much noise or run around, if they can't manage that, you can all leave now' . We all promised to behave and went and sat down. The next group through the door tried to argue the toss and were barred for eternity !
The landlord explained to me when I went to the bar, that whilst they generally used to welcome children/families, they had had quite a few incidents recently and he didn't want his locals upset again, because they kept the place going out of season.

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:27

@MaMaMeeAah I'm not sure what you're finding difficult to understand. I didn't threaten anyone, I said I'd challenge an adult attacking a child.

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:28

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LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:31

And the amount of adults on here arguing with me knowing in the real world my opinion would be the most common, disagreeing with adults essentially attacking children. Shows what gutless keyboard warriors you all are, not in a hells chance would have the guts to challenge an adult though.

MaMaMeeAah · 07/08/2023 20:35

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:27

@MaMaMeeAah I'm not sure what you're finding difficult to understand. I didn't threaten anyone, I said I'd challenge an adult attacking a child.

Challenge them with your kick boxing skills and people losing their teeth you mean? why mention it ?
Listen lovey you are not hard
You sound like a saddo who thinks that would intimidate people
Parents who let their children cause havoc should be told to leave
The end

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:37

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Tibbb · 07/08/2023 20:40

Tibbb · 07/08/2023 19:58

@LemonPeonies how would you know if someone had deliberately poured drinks or food over your feral brat? Accidents do happen.

@LemonPeonies Grin

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:41

Oh and if you can read, I only mentioned it because a pp literally goaded me asking questions about things which weren't even the main points of my response, typical of MN. Full of bored people hiding behind their keyboard.

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:43

@Tibbb I've answered 5 times now that my child isn't allowed to run around 😁

MaMaMeeAah · 07/08/2023 20:50

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I would never hurt a child but I expect parents to parent
If you came over to me to tell me about your kick boxing skills I can assure you you'd come off worse if i needed to protect myself so I'd advise you never to use that as an opening line as a threat
It's not in the spirit but of course you'd know that if you actually did kick boxing
>Yawn<

Tibbb · 07/08/2023 20:50

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:43

@Tibbb I've answered 5 times now that my child isn't allowed to run around 😁

But you still haven't answered my question about how you would know if drinks or food had been deliberately poured onto your child.

kitsuneghost · 07/08/2023 20:51

Accidentally drop my breakfast on them

LemonPeonies · 07/08/2023 20:59

@MaMaMeeAah when did I say I go round telling people? I answered a question in the context of an adult hurting a child. And what makes you certain your skills are better than mine? Now who's trying to show off? It's laughable 😅