I saw someone pointing fingers at my DD

[TheMaryClaire]

Hi Mums! I just want to get this off my chest and maybe get some advice from you all.

My daughter and I went to this restaurant (i don't want to mention the name) over the weekend and had some dinner there. Of course, as a child, my DD has a really short attention span, so after watching some videos, she started wandering around the restaurant hall and waving at all the people coming in.

Some people appreciate it and smile at her, so I just let her move around. Suddenly, a lady (around 50 yo) started stopping her and pointing a finger at her, saying that she should not be running around the restaurant.

While I know that she's right, I feel that it's not appropriate to point your fingers at someone else's child. I just apologise to her and walk away with my daughter in tow but I feel extremely uncomfortable in my heart.

What do you think?

It is absolutely not appropriate for your child to be wandering around a restaurant! You’re lucky far worse didn’t happen, a glass could have been knocked over, hot plates could have been spilled, someone carrying plates could have tripped. If your child can’t sit through a meal in a restaurant then you shouldn’t be taking them to restaurants. That lady did what YOU should have been doing as her parent, you neglected to do so, so somebody else had to.

How will her attention span or tolerance for sitting still ever increase if she's stuck in front of a screen and allowed to wander?

Restaurants are not places for kids to be roaming, for their own safety if not for any consideration for fellow diners.

Bring some colouring in, small games like cards or Dobble, sticker books etc next time.

If you parented your child properly other people wouldn’t need to do it for you. Then there would be no pointing.

Problem solved.

Honestly!

Poor parenting from you.

It isn't safe to let small children wander around in a restaurant where people are serving hot food and drinks.
Take something for her to do at the table while you wait for your meal. Notebooks, crayons, games to play at the table or play something like I Spy with colours but don't let her wander around
I don't think pointing at a child is a terrible thing the woman may have been concerned for her safety or for that of someone else who may not have noticed your child

It pisses me off no end when people think everyone should be fawning over their child when they are doing something they shouldn't be.

It isn't cute, it's irritating for the customers and staff.

Thankfully someone pointing got you to parent your child and it wasn't serving staff falling over her with a hot drink or similar.

Our 4 year old grandchild will happily sits for a meal in a restaurant.

It’s dangerous for kids to wander around in that environment and annoying for other customers.

how old is your child?

We normally bring colouring or books etc with us to a restaurant and that keeps DC seated and occupied

This.

It was unecessary to point at her, though (she should have been pointing at you ….!

Absolutely nobody was enjoying it! They were just smiling at your kid politely because that's what society dictates. If you show disapproval towards children, especially as a woman, you'll get burnt at the stake.

@Yogabearmous
Think so too.

Is anyone else sick and tired of the posts that seem blatantly made up?
I’m fucking tired of this place right now.

you should not be allowing your DC to wander around a restaurant. It's completely inappropriate. Staff are carrying drinks and hot food which could be dangerous.

And no one really thinks your kid is cute waving at them. they are just too polite to tell you she is annoying and being a nuisance to everyone else

People don't go out to restaurants to watch other people;s kids wandering round making a nuisance of themselves. either control your kid properly or avoid restaurants till she's older

I thought we were no longer allowed to point out possible trolls or story tellers?

#teampointinglady
👆

I’ve reported it. Absolutely sick and tired of the shit on here right now.

Why were you not controlling your child OP? Why do you thinks it’s acceptable that she annoys people? I can guarantee the few that smiled at her, were actually annoyed and being polite. YABVVVVVU.

Scoot and share the popcorn. This is a good one. Will sit next to you

so after watching some videos, she started wandering around the restaurant hall and waving at all the people coming in

1. Hopefully the Sounders off on the video’s, or your DD was wearing headphones?
2. You are being extremely unreasonable allowing your DD to wander around the restaurant interacting with people. You may think this is fine. No one else (other than fellow CF parents) will think this is fine, most tolerate it, but you got someone who called you on it. Good for them. It’s not a playground, if your DD can’t stay seated for the duration, get takeaway and eat at home until they can. Yes, I’ve had kids, and yes, this is what parents who don’t wish to piss people in restaurants off do with their kids until they can sit through the entire meal (quietly).

You’re not. The poster should have just reported the thread and not commented 🤷‍♀️

How about actually parenting your child? this includes teaching them to sit at the table and have some manners and consideration for other people, hate parents like you