to think that some parents are just lazy and inconsiderate?

[LentilsRMe]

We went for tea yesterday at Wagamamas.

There was a family behind us, including 2 children - about 2 and 4 maybe.

I looked round after they had left and under the table they had left food, crayons, paper and two empty juice cartons.

I was a bit that they just left without even picking this all up off the floor.

Surely I am NBU?

I always at least make an attempt to pick up after my DS (2yrs) but often get stopped by staff who come along with a broom to clean up!! But I think one should make the effort - you wouldnt do it at home, why do it when youre out? Surely that shows double standards to the kids??

just my opinion
x

I don't like Wagamamas because I think it is pretty expensive for a bowl of soup, but as a general rule I always tidy up after LO (2 yrs). I wouldn't wetwipe the floor or anything but I would pick up large items (cartons, bottles etc) or dangerous slip-inducing fruit (grapes ) and would also wipe down the high-chair.

I would pick up crayons and paper and juice cartons. It's normal for small children to drop food, not bad behaviour. I would leave a bigger tip if we had left a lot of mess though.

I'm not on about getting the cif out, don't worry - it takes 5 secs to pick up after yourself and I think not doing so just instills bad habits in children thinking it's acceptable. How do you explain where and when it is acceptable to leave it?? 'No darling, leave that there, thats what that lady over there is paid minimum wage to do'. My 3 yo would say the same to me at home if I did that, 'Pick up your carton darling' 'no mummy, thats what your paid to do' (thats if his Dad has rubbed off on him )

I think you are all assuming the 2 and four year old gaily dumped there juice cartons on the floor as two fingers up at authority! Hardly. It probably just happened. Mum gave them juice she brought with them. No probs if they were eating. Got swept off table onto floor. It happens. Mum loses will to live under steely disapproving gaze of childless folk nearby...Or the perfect parents at opposite table...

I'd run for the hills too.

And, yes, oh, no way should they be cleaning stuff on the floor.or on table or anywhere in a catering place.

I know if my 3yo drops a juice carton on the floor he picks it up himself - most of the time without being asked.

what you say is"darling, it was wrong to drop that, but that lady over there has to pick it up now and you should be more considerate" not because she is minimum wage, but because it is her job, and the establishment has to do it.

....But we don't make work for other people on purpose"

I would'nt get down on floor to pick up food but would pick up any cartons, packets, crayons etc but no way am I picking up food debris.

I also arrange the table so that any debris, other plates, cups and rubbish are piled into 1 or 2 neat stacks to make it a slight bit easier.

do some of you sweep up in hairdresser?all that hair...

I shall run upstairs and remove the conkers from his bedroom - the health and safety police are here.
It's just another example of health and saftey completly overiding common sense.

Where do you put all that crap? Its fine in your own home, but if you think its fine to pick up contaminated objects and spread germs around tables and plates and trays you are wrong. Just wrong.

No but if I dropped any rubbish I'd pick it up.

(and I do sweep it up actually, because she comes to my house and does it)

Gah! whether you like it or not them's the rules. and quite frankly , I don't want to sit down at a table which has had shit from the floor piled on it by someone else....especially if I am paying.

Health and Safety is for a reason. Cross contamination is a huge issue in catering. It might not, as a consumer be your first priority, but for any food place is is number one issue. Not because of "the rules' But because if you make your clients ill you go bust.

Your mental.

I put back in the bag/container and put it in the bin.

I would not be picking food particles from the floor ...cartons ,crayons yes..well tbh the rat-bags would pick them up themselves ..but food?

Shouldn't you be cleaning the table with disinfectant once we've left anyway??

Hm, still puzzling over the mystery 'she" who comes to your house and does "it"

Do you all get down on your hands and knees at home to pick up food? - yuk. I certainly don't, sweep and mop for me.

Seems like most people are in agreement that we all would pick up the cartons crayons etc but I think it's disgusting to pick up food debris.
I would be more horrified watching someone do this and then chuck it on the table than if they just left it to be properly cleaned up.

ok hairdresser can legitimately sweep your hair.that complies with industry norms

but some of you don't want staff sweeping under table etc for debris.as is industy norm

well if you are happy to lift other people gunk,and detritus you go right on

i for one wont scrabble about under a table. no chance

id tidy table top,try pile stuff together.yes

Clean under the table? After surviving a meal out with the Pocket Dictator? Not likely. My standing policy at restaurants is to tip well and NEVER look down at the floor as I leave!

cartons and crayons are just as good as food bits for cross contamination. This is a really good thread if it gets that message across, seriously. I know you might think its the right thing to do, but the right thing to do is to try and minimise the damage to the table, and if that fails, just let trained staff get on with it.

I do not get on all fours and chuck it on the table - my 7 mo will always tip whole crisps/rices cakes so I bend down, pick them up, but them back in the bag and put them in the bin, same with juice cartons that haven't been bought in the resturant - I take the rubbish away with me.
If there's bits of food then I'd apologise and leave a bigger tip.

Iwantachick..... you put it back in the bag.
We are talking about restaurants here - not Mcdonalds!

My god - bums and seats un all - how long do you think we'd be sat there if everytime a fork/crayon got dropped on the floor we asked for a replacement??