"Give him back his passy before he makes a scene!"

[Robinrs]

I think they do. They understand very well. They don't understand why anyone would not want to get with the program, since it's such a time-honored and generally extraordinarily rewarding program, and they'd like insight. They don't stop to think that another person's life choice really isn't their business. Sometimes it isn't a choice, and that's even less of their business.

aMEN!!

Man, have I learned my lesson about explaining myself to total strangers on a board who know nothing about me. Lindsey, right on to you and your choice. I wanted to be a mother all my life but totally understand when others choose not to. I expect the same respect for my life choices from others, too. Sometimes you have to just say "nevermind" and step back. You'll join the rest of us who will NEVER start a thread to become a target, again.

God bless,

Robinrs

 

[katerkat]

My point was he made the teeny mousy whine and the mother gets mad at the teen and says he will make a scene. Like he hadn't seranaded us for 25 minutes with those #$%#$%^& salad tongs.

My point was, take away his bink (without his approval) and within minutes you'll be wishing for the 25 minutes of salad tongs. My baby starts out with a whine, too, and you don't want to be around the full-fledged tantrum.

We've been lucky so far. Our biggest problem is him throwing food. Thank goodness that so far it's only been to the floor, not at people.

 

[hentob]

edited.

 

[KAMLEM]

Every parent here feels the same way.

But everybody deserves the right to enjoy a peaceful meal without undue racket from anybody's little darlings.

I love my kids so much that I do my best to turn them into nice and polite members of society. I don't allow them to get away with the nonsense that Lindsay had to put up with.

Ditto!!

 

[Mermaid02]

I block out all kids in public...even my own.

Don't you mean ESPECIALLY my own- Kids? What kids? Those aren't my kids. I've never seen those kids before in my life. I don't know why they keep calling me "Mom"... cut it out- Hey, somebody wanna come get your kids???

 

[DVC Sadie]

Funny. I thank God EVERY DAY for my two daughters. They are my world.
If anything happened to one of them I would die. I would truely miss the noise they make.

Unfortunately, no you won't die, you just wish you could.

Lindsay, glad you still had a nice meal but I wish it could have been a lot more enjoyabe. Don't you just love all of the musical genuis's or prodigy's you get to meet while having dinner?

 

[chobie]

The Olive Garden? Where's a vomit smilie when you need one?

 

[TwinTinks]

I have a "mama-brain"
Mama-brain is the ability to block out any annoying, irritating noises made by energetic children.
In a restaraunt, unless a child is in my space, running around, ect, I really don't let what goes on at another table bother me.

 

[Marseeya]

I think they do. They understand very well. They don't understand why anyone would not want to get with the program, since it's such a time-honored and generally extraordinarily rewarding program, and they'd like insight. They don't stop to think that another person's life choice really isn't their business. Sometimes it isn't a choice, and that's even less of their business.

Misery loves company is all.

 

[Nancy]

Really??? I'm just the opposite! I don't know what you'd call it, but I can't block out ANYthing kid related, especially if they're fussy or noisy. Kid noises just go through me like an electric shock and my mama instincts kick in and make me want to take care of them, whether they're mine or not.

I wish I could block that out.

Me too! I can't block out any noises made by kids. I wish I could.

 

[Nancy]

That's a very presumptuous thing to say. Many times I will remark to my husband or whoever what a cute/adorable kid so and so is that walks by. I don't automatically expect bad behavior whenever a child is around. Give me a little more credit than that. I hadn't even noticed Junior was even in the restaurant until the tong-song began.

As I stated above, and have in the past, my husband and I don't want kids. We don't want children and we don't want to be parents. It's a personal decision that I have had to justify many times. I truly don't see the problem with that. Why is so awful that I commented on a kid being loud and disturbing the restaurant? Did anyone even notice that I said I laughed when the mom made her comment, when I just as easily could have said something rude to this woman instead?

Being a parent is NOT for everyone and if that is your choice (since it is still a choice last time I checked) then no one else should be judging. I always knew I wanted children, but I know plenty who don't want them. Just because the parts are there doesn't mean you have to use them!

And I have kids, but I have no patience for parents that let their little darlings do whatever they want becuase they are afraid to hurt their little feelings.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Just because the parts are there doesn't mean you have to use them!

I will have to remember that one!!

Just FYI, I made up a "jingle" about yesterday:

Let me hear those tongs
Baby
Those tong-ta-tong-tong-tongs
I like it when the beat goes
Baby make your salad go!!!!
With those tong-ta-tong-tong-tongs



Think summer of '99 or so

 

[goofygirl]

The Olive Garden? Where's a vomit smilie when you need one?

Let me guess: you are Italian?

I know so many Italians who think Olive Garden is evil- because it's not "real" Italian food!


re: Kids in restaurants- there are a few exceptions out there, but in general, kids in restaurants are pretty annoying.

 

[Planogirl]

I adored my son when he was little and I like other young kids. However, I can't stand it when kids make a racket in restaurants and stores. A rhythmic noise such as what you're describing is particularly annoying.

Having kids doesn't make the misbehaving little darlings any easier to put up with, at least not for me!

 

[Stacey2grls]

I love my kids to death, but my youngest was a cryer. She cryed all the time. From morning until night. She was a cryer. Did I mentioned she cried all the time? Now that she is older, when I hear an infant crying, I have flashbacks!!! My tolerance level when it comes to children crying is not what it should be.

We all have different levels of tolerance. The tongs probaby would not have bothered me. Now I would not have let one of my kids do that, but somebody's cell ringing constantly would have.

Oh my I had the same experience. My youngest daughter cried constantly, I basically couldn't take her anywhere, something would set her off. To this day, and she just turned 6, and thank goodness no longer cries, I get "flashblacks" when I hear a child crying, it puts me in a cold sweat! Now, what really bothers me is when a child is making all kinds of noise in a restaurant, and the parents try to "tune it out". They want to have their good time, and don't even bother reprimanding their kid.

 

[momrek06]

I am the same way. My Mamma ears seem to make everything a child does LOUDER.

ME TOO!! Last time we were out just DH & I and a family next to us was overly loud, the waiter came to OUR table to take our order and the waiter kept rolling his eyes at the noise from the youngster, at which point I suggested to him, if he could suggest to the family that they were a tad bit loud. I thought it would be better coming from the waiter than everyone in the whole place staring at them and being bothered through the whole meal.

It worked out beautifully.

 

[DisneyPhD]

ME TOO!! Last time we were out just DH & I and a family next to us was overly loud, the waiter came to OUR table to take our order and the waiter kept rolling his eyes at the noise from the youngster, at which point I suggested to him, if he could suggest to the family that they were a tad bit loud. I thought it would be better coming from the waiter than everyone in the whole place staring at them and being bothered through the whole meal.

It worked out beautifully.

True, but then he is putting his tip at risk. Maybe the host or hostess????

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have no tolerance for naughty children, worthless parents, or noise like banging tongs. I can't tune things like that out.

But I must say I showed an amazing amount of restraint yesterday at Sam's. A lady went by pushing a cart with a kid in the back. That kid was at least 6 if not older and had a pacifier in his mouth. I REALLY wanted to reach out and snatch it. But I settled for turning to DS & DH and saying "Ever seen a 6 year old with a pacifier? Now you have!" All he needed was a pair of tongs!

 

[taeja71]

The Olive Garden? Where's a vomit smilie when you need one?

oh there's one, but not on THIS blog.

 

[momrek06]

All he needed was a pair of tongs!