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?

I think the idea is, you say no to restaurant wandering the first time. And then the second, and then all the other times after that until they no longer ask and they magically sit at the table and behave themselves. Some take longer to grasp it (daughter of mine, I’m looking at you) and some will just happily take no for an answer and play with their hot wheels.

I'd be embarrassed if someone had to step in and do that.

If my DD gets ants in her pants and wants to move around, I take her to an outside area where she won't disrupt other people. If there isn't an outside area I keep her occupied at the table with things to do.

I have actually seen a server go flying with a load of food when he tripped over a small child who was toddling by himself around a pub.

She should not be watching a screen in a restaurant without earphones and neither should she be wandering about potentially disturbing other people and putting herself at risk when there is hot food being carried. Contain her to your table and ENGAGE with her, or don't bring her.
This sort of of thing isn't 'cute' or 'sweet'.

Extremely uncomfortable in my heart.. Strewth.

As someone who has a scar on my arm as a result of a parent letting a child wander around catering service area, YABU.
I was serving at a wedding, carrying very hot plates while parents let their children run around. Once "bumped" into me from behind causing me to fall and slice my arm on the red hot, now broken plate.

Just stop

Grow up and get your kid under control, OP.

The woman helped you out by letting your kid know how to behave appropriately in a restaurant. That's the village everyone asks for. Just chill it's fine and next time she's playing up in a restaurant you can remind her of this and that people don't like it when kids run about in restaurants.

Nobody appreciates it, they’re just too polite to make a comment. You’re letting your child be a pain in the arse, why do you find basic parenting so difficult?

Not cute. Irritating as fuck. You are the only one who finds your child captivating. Everyone else just wants to enjoy their meal.

Lazy parenting too, letting the kid wander about rather than enforcing manners and consideration for others. I'd have have marched her back over to your table with a sharp word.

This kind of thing really annoys me.

As for being 'upset in your heart', get a grip.

It sounds like the lady was trying to stop your kid from potentially running out the door, or maybe getting scalded by hot food.

Some people don't really know how to talk to children. But equally you should be visibly parenting a child in what is ultimately an adult environment with risks to match.

Accidents can happen in an instant with children running about. You sound you would be the first person to complain if she got hurt.

Your child shouldn't be wandering around the restaurant. If there was an accident and said child was injured or someone wandered off with her how would you feel?? As previous posters have said take something to distract her while you are waiting . A puzzle, book, colouring books.....but please don't let her wander around. Its bloody dangerous

It's parents like this that are making the adults only hotel industry boom!

Was the 50 year old pointy fingered pointery pointer wearing a Margaret Thatcher dress by any wild chance?

I'm struggling to see this as anything other than rage bait. You are unbelievable.

I'm with the other customers. Your DD should not have been wandering around the restaurant.

Please don’t listen to the people on this thread OP! Restaurants don’t have an age restrictions, our society is becoming less tolerant, especially of young children! I would try and forget it. Don’t let it stop you going out!

Oh for fucks sake. Not another one.

Was it like this?

Of course they don’t, no one is saying they do.

What everyone is saying is that bored children shouldn’t be wandering around restaurants

*Edit - ahhh you’re the stomping around in the flowerbed parent. Figures. No, people are quite rightly not tolerant of this behaviour. Parent!! Everyone else manages to!

Congratulations - you are THAT parent. Keep your kid under control. Most of us order fast, eat fast and leave when kids are young and we keep them at our tables and quiet. If you can't do that you shouldn't eat out anywhere other than McDonalds until you can.

It's got sweet FA to do with tolerance and everything to do with health and safety.

I think you'll find that some people don't 'appreciate it' when your daughter walks around. People are at a restaurant to have a nice meal and be with the people they're with, they don't want to be watching your daughter and making conversation with her.
I'd be really cross - it's always been a bugbear of mine that people think their kids are so cute that everybody wants to see them!
I never net my son do it so why should I put up with your kid wandering around?!
It's weird that you think she should be able to do that and nobody will mind.

I think there is always the one kare&@ who likes to hate children . But do t waste time thinking about it . There is always a few .

Why should there be tolerance for young children running around restaurants? It's dangerous.