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

[Stitchfans]

I don't have any kids, thank God, but I do try to tune those things out. But when there is a constant, repetitive noise going on like that, it's hard for me not to notice it.

It didn't ruin our meal or anything.

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.

 

[aprilgail2]

That noise would have driven me nuts...the big thing I hate when we go out to eat are the moron parents that let their young kid play with the fork or spoon banging them over and over on their high chair, each other or the table!! Thats fine if you want to do that in your own house but why would they think other diners want to be treated to their childs "amazing musical ability"??

 

[Marseeya]

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.

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.

 

[taeja71]

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.

May god bless you with many many children

 

[Martha7]

Not a restaurant example, but as I've gotten older, I've noticed that I can't shop if there's a noisy child around. They could just be happily talking, but if it's loud, I have to move to another aisle in the supermarket. I just can't focus on what I'm doing, even with a list! I think it's the ADD in me, which must be getting worse, or else I'm losing my patience. It doesn't make me mad since they have every right to be there, but I just can't think with the noise around me. It sounds like Lindsay was much more patient than I would have been in the same situation!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I hope god doesn't curse you with conceiving. b/c that would be 21 years maybe 18 years of hell for you.

Uh, ok.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

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.

That's great. I'm so glad you love your children. But having children is not for everyone and I am one of them. No shame in that.

 

[lillygator]

I don't have any kids, thank God,

I think that says it all right there...no matter what you apparantly already have your mind made up about children.

Our OG must be different...during season it is always busy and always loud....and the noise isn't from children - it's from the retirement age on up.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I think that says it all right there...no matter what you apparantly already have your mind made up about children.

Our OG must be different...during season it is always busy and always loud....and the noise isn't from children - it's from the retirement age on up.

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?

 

[Michie]

That's great. I'm so glad you love your children. But having children is not for everyone and I am one of them. No shame in that.

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.

 

[lillygator]

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?

I wouldn't have said what I said had you not added the "thank God" to your statement. I would think a "kids" are not for me would have done it. So in that regard, adding the phrase you did seems to say what you may already have planted in your mind ~ whether subconsious or not. If the chidl is well behaved that's fine but if not....

and FWIW, you should never have to justify your not wanting or having kids...I am sorry you have run into that. Sometimes I don't think people realize what they are saying/asking....my aunt and uncle are childless by choice and they love it - they are in their 50's and have done everything they have wanted to do!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Not a restaurant example, but as I've gotten older, I've noticed that I can't shop if there's a noisy child around. They could just be happily talking, but if it's loud, I have to move to another aisle in the supermarket. I just can't focus on what I'm doing, even with a list! I think it's the ADD in me, which must be getting worse, or else I'm losing my patience. It doesn't make me mad since they have every right to be there, but I just can't think with the noise around me. It sounds like Lindsay was much more patient than I would have been in the same situation!

I think that's true with me, too. I have 4 kids of my own and a bunch of pets and am used to a lot of noise in my house, however, what used to not phase me at all noise-wise bugs me more now. I just can't concentrate as easily. As I say to myself (or to my kids) is that I can't "hear myself think". Unless my kids are being too loud, I allow them to make the normal noises (I'm talking about in our home, not in a restaurant), but I do notice that I'm not as patient as I used to be.

Guess that's another peri-menopausal thing with me? Hopefully the tag fairy doesn't write about that one, too!


In a restaurant I expect a certain amount of noise from others, depending on their age, but I think that parents should bring noisy kids out and/or bring quiet toys to play with.

BUT, the problem I see much more often are adults talking loudly, either to each other or even more often on cell phones. For every noisy child I hear, I hear 2 noisy adults (but I've never seen a noisy adult with or without a passy ).

 

[lillygator]

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?

I never even remarked on that... Most kids are loud...not all, but quite a lot....so are a lot of people ~ for varying reasons.

 

[ktink]

As a parent myself this would have bothered me as well. I try to teach my children even at the ripe old age of 2 to behave. Some parents have higher tolerance levels of their little ones and that is wonderful. But I think the mom should have realized they were eating out and to be curtious of the other diners. Now trust me, my children have thrown a fit before and in public but I addressed it and they have also tried to pull little stunts like the tong-song but I try to look out for the people around me and let them enjoy their night out. I know when DH and I are enjoying ourselves on a date w/out the kids the last thing I want is for some parent to let their child disrupt the entire restaurant.

As far as you not wanting kids, you're right that is your preference and good for you to know what you want. I have a friend who doesn't have children and didn't want them and they are perfectly happy w/ that decision.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I wouldn't have said what I said had you not added the "thank God" to your statement. I would think a "kids" are not for me would have done it. So in that regard, adding the phrase you did seems to say what you may already have planted in your mind ~ whether subconsious or not. If the chidl is well behaved that's fine but if not....

Ok. I am just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I am getting a little worried. My very adorable 21 month old is getting bad at resturants. She does not want to sit in her high chair. Friday she would not sit so I took her out to the car and straped her in her car seat (with warning and with her knowing it was a "time out".) I made sure it wasn't fun for her. She was better after. (but not great.) It really helped when the "live music" started. She cheered right up and started dancing in her seat.

Yesterday we went out, and ended up in a corner booth. We were able to keep her between us. She didn't stay in her boster seat the whole time, but stayed in the booth and wasn't disruptive for us or anyone else.

However I am worried about WDW. (in less then 2 weeks.) There is no "time out in the car." I am afarid the stroller will just be fun for her, but we could do that. Hopefully there will be enough going on that it won't be a problem. Then again I have noticed our nicest meals out where ones where the resturant was not busy. Not as much stimulation. I guess we can just go for a walk, but not as "time out," because that would be too fun and encourage bad behavior.

I think TOG the mother was most likely has mother ears and tuned out the salad tongs. Maybe she was thinking "at least he is in his chair and isn't screaming." All I can say is any dinner time with tolders isn't easy. At least my 5 year old has gotten to the point where she is normally great (unless she starts egging on the todler, then things get bad."

 

[Tigger&Belle]

At least my 5 year old has gotten to the point where she is normally great (unless she starts egging on the todler, then things get bad."

I missed the word "on" in your last sentence and had visions of Anna egging the baby. All I could think of is that I'm keeping my son away from your DD when we're at WDW! In reality Jake would think it would be great fun throwing eggs at someone, after he got over the shock of it.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I missed the word "on" in your last sentence and had visions of Anna egging the baby. All I could think of is that I'm keeping my son away from your DD when we're at WDW! In reality Jake would think it would be great fun throwing eggs at someone, after he got over the shock of it.

Really ironic consider the baby is actually allergic to eggs. We don't even have them in the house normally!

 

[TDC Nala]

and FWIW, you should never have to justify your not wanting or having kids...I am sorry you have run into that. Sometimes I don't think people realize what they are saying/asking

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.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

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.

Exactly!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!