OK, let's all fight about what's wrong with kids today.

[Teejay32]

I don't think we are asking for hyper kids to be shunned from society, just don't let them ruin my dinner....
If he does better at breakfast, then why drag him to dinner? If he does better after having been to the park, then why not make that a routine? I understand that not all kids can sit still through a dinner at a restaurant...why make those children suffer...why make the other patrons suffer...and why put yourself through that? One reason I am happy my son acts well in restarants is so I can eat a hot meal...something I rarely get to do at home.

It's a trial and error thing. We figured out that breakfast will work, dinners will work after energies have been expended...I saw the word "inflict" more than once here, so just in case people are wondering why a person would inflict a hyper kid on a dining establishment. Because it's a part of learned behavior.

This is in no way excusing the toddler putting food in some stranger's hair, which I just read, cuz that's just parents in total denial.

 

[darrose]

At least most adults get the chance of a fair trial for their supposed bad behavior. In court shows I see a lot of testimony being thrown out because of something called hear say.

Edited to add: Just commenting on defending the boys behavior in the other thread not restaurant behavior in this thread. LOL

 

[decaff38]

If you think how bad the children are at dinner and it makes you "Crazy" just think about what the parents lives are going to be like when they are teenagers and driving. They are choosing not to set reasonable boundries for these kids and the saddest part is that the kids will pay for the parents lack of action for a long time. Boundries define the world when you do not have the skills to handle it. I get so frusterated with kids that obviously would thrive under a bit of disapline and structure. My kids are not perfect but I am very proud of them and often hear how polite and well mannered they are when they are not with us. Love that one!!!
When people say "yoyu're so lucky,ou have good kids !" I always think , "No luck just a lot of hard work and patience."

 

[DisneyDotty]

I know it's WDW, but The CA Grill is an upscale, expensive place, not a character breakfast.

Kids need to learn proper behavior for every place they go. I do not tolerate misbehavior anywhere.
Sorry you had to put up with obnoxious behavior on the part of the kids and their parents. Perhaps the CMs should have gone around collecting 10 bucks from every family with unruly kids and handed it out to the other guests. Seriously.

 

[Caradana]

This has been an issue that uptight, holier-than-thou adults have haughtily debated for thousands of years.
There's nothing wrong with kids today. They're just more active and visible than ever, the same way that empowered women and privileged miniorities are more visible than they've ever been. Also, kids today are better nourished and generally better educated. They're just fine, and they're going to introduce innovations which will rock the world. Let's not forget that the love-beaded, mushroom-eating children who spent the early 1970s in the back of their volkswagons ... look what they've brought to the world at large circa 2006.

- Dana, who took a class under Tim Berners-Lee and heard about what a nightmare child he was in his day, 40 years ago. He barely made it through middle school due to behavior. So now, go Google his name, and see what he invented in his 30s.

 

[auntpolly]

This has been an issue that uptight, holier-than-thou adults have haughtily debated for thousands of years.

Now we're talkin'!!! So, I'm uptight and holier than thou because I don't think children should stand on their chairs, crawl on the floor, and run around my table in a restaurnant!! Hoooo boy -- gotta love it!

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Now we're talkin'!!! So, I'm uptight and holier than thou because I don't think children should stand on their chairs, crawl on the floor, and run around my table in a restaurnant!! Hoooo boy -- gotta love it!

Oh boy, now it's getting good

 

[rie'smom]

Ok.Got it. Kids sometimes act up and parents choose not to go ballistic,sooo:

1.The kids of today are horrible little brats with no hope of becoming responsible grown-ups(except the children of those who know everything about parenting).

2.If your kid does act up and you don't jump up,apologize,do a pirouette,curtsy,and pay for everyone's meal you are a deplorable human being who doesn't deserve a spot on planet earth.

 

[Caradana]

Now we're talkin'!!! So, I'm uptight and holier than thou because I don't think children should stand on their chairs, crawl on the floor, and run around my table in a restaurnant!! Hoooo boy -- gotta love it!

I think that you came upon an exceptionally brutal group. I also think that a sense of perspective might be critical here.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Ok.Got it. Kids sometimes act up and parents choose not to go ballistic,sooo:

1.The kids of today are horrible little brats with no hope of becoming responsible grown-ups(except the children of those who know everything about parenting).

2.If your kid does act up and you don't jump up,apologize,do a pirouette,curtsy,and pay for everyone's meal you are a deplorable human being who doesn't deserve a spot on planet earth.

I don't think anyone implied anything quite that harsh And I also think there is a difference between "acting up" and being out of control and obnoxious. My parents considered talking back "acting up." It's a matter of opinion. But if a child is throwing things at other guests, running around the restaurant, yelling loudly, etc. then something should be done. If a parent chooses to ignore that behavior THAT is when it becomes a problem.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Ok.Got it. Kids sometimes act up and parents choose not to go ballistic,sooo:

1.The kids of today are horrible little brats with no hope of becoming responsible grown-ups(except the children of those who know everything about parenting).

2.If your kid does act up and you don't jump up,apologize,do a pirouette,curtsy,and pay for everyone's meal you are a deplorable human being who doesn't deserve a spot on planet earth.

Uh--no. I don't think anyone believes this. We're just asking parents to be aware of their kid's behavior--to monitor it and see that the kid is behaving appropriately. I think the problem today is that some parents don't know what appropriate behavior is.
Miss Manners, where are you?

 

[rie'smom]

Uh--no. I don't think anyone believes this. We're just asking parents to be aware of their kid's behavior--to monitor it and see that the kid is behaving appropriately. I think the problem today is that some parents don't know what appropriate behavior is.
Miss Manners, where are you?

She's proably reading this thread and

 

[auntpolly]

Ok.Got it. Kids sometimes act up and parents choose not to go ballistic,sooo:

1.The kids of today are horrible little brats with no hope of becoming responsible grown-ups(except the children of those who know everything about parenting).

2.If your kid does act up and you don't jump up,apologize,do a pirouette,curtsy,and pay for everyone's meal you are a deplorable human being who doesn't deserve a spot on planet earth.

I wouldn't say they don't deserve a spot on planet earth -- don't exagerate, now! But I would say they are lazy parents who don't care about anyone's happiness but their own. And that if they aren't willing to try to discipline their kids at this age, my oh my wait until they are teenagers -- that'll be fun!

 

[wasabi girl]

Man! I love you guys! I am in restaurants every day (literally)...and the kids, with parents who want to enjoy their own dinner and forget they even have kids, are increasing in number every day. The children who are well behaved are always complimented, as are their parents, because they have become so rare. I really think that parents are tired, stressed and maybe more selfish than they used to be...everyone thinks only about their rights rather than their responsibilities, they forget that the two go hand in hand. If the parents don't know this their children certainly won't. And it shows.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

And that if they aren't willing to try to discipline their kids at this age, my oh my wait until they are teenagers -- that'll be fun!

Have you ever seen My Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV? Perfect example of that. Kids that were indulged and allowed to get away with whatever behavior they wanted all their lives and then when the parent tries to be firm with them in any way, the kid doesn't take them seriously at all. I'm not saying this is the norm, but it does happen frequently

 

[Caradana]

Have you ever seen My Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV? Perfect example of that. Kids that were indulged and allowed to get away with whatever behavior they wanted all their lives and then when the parent tries to be firm with them in any way, the kid doesn't take them seriously at all. I'm not saying this is the norm, but it does happen frequently

Those girls are from major, major money. MAJOR. That is a rarified set of society with its own set of issues. (not that we all wouldn't like to have those issues ourselves.)

 

[auntpolly]

Have you ever seen My Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV? Perfect example of that.

You mean that show and the sweet sixteen parties that people are spending what they would for a wedding? That show makes my stomach hurt! I can't even watch it!!!!!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Have you ever seen My Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV?

That show scares the bejeeezus out of me.
My daughter and I watch it together--it's a huge lesson on how not to parent.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Those girls are from major, major money. MAJOR. That is a rarified set of society with its own set of issues. (not that we all wouldn't like to have those issues ourselves.)

True, but it seems to me that it doesn't matter whether you have money or not. My point was that if a parent lets their kid get away with whatever they want they will probably stay that way. My cousin is a good example of that. My aunt and uncle never set any limits for her, let her do whatever she wanted, etc. and then are positively baffled when she doesn't take them seriously on the rare occasion they actually try to disipline her And it started from when she was a kid. They would let her run around restaurants, bothering other patrons, yell and scream as loudly as she pleased, throw things, etc. so she knew she could get away with it. Kids are smart. They try to test their boundaries and if you let them get away with it, they'll continue to do so. My cousin may have grown up in age (she's 17 now) but she's still a pain to be around

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

--it's a huge lesson on how not to parent.

Ain't that the truth