Screaming children will not be tolerated!

[Mary•Poppins]

I am so mean sometimes!!!!

Funny you said that ... my youngest just told me that I am mean as he walked out the door for school (because I made him finish his reading that he did not do last night ... and I signed my name to the form saying he did it.) I told him that when he says this, he is giving me the best compliment because it means "I am doing my job"!

As for the post, there were two times my husband and I went out to dinner when our children were small and they couldn't behave. One of us got our food to go while the other one was in the car. After the second time, we just realized (unhappily) that our children were TOO little to go to a restaurant and sit still for that long. (Their bad behavior was really OUR fault!) So, we only went out to dinner when we had a babysitter .. which was rare ... until they were old enough to sit still.

I agree with all the other posters, if I paid for dinner, I want to enjoy it in a stress-free environment! Not with a crying child/baby near me.

 

[bgirldeb]

Funny, because when they showed this on the local news this morning, it was spun as a totally restaurant vs parent of an autistic child story. The parent of the autistic child said the sign was put up to single them out, and violates the American with Disabilities Act.

I do not have any autistic children, but I would think that like any child, if they got to the point where they were not behaving appropriately for a restaurant, they should be removed until they can behave appropriately.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

It's a shame that the restaurant felt compelled to actually post the sign. The "offended" parents should take a good, long look in the mirror.

I, too, have had a few trips to the parking lot with a crying/misbehaving child. It's not fun, but it's part of parenting. I used to keep a book in the car, so the kid could scream all he wanted to, and I would sit and read.

I also agree with the PP who recognized that her kids were too young for a sit-down restaurant meal. My youngest is 4--we stick mostly with buffets, or restaurants that serve fast. Not haute cuisine, to be sure, but it gives him a chance to try out his restaurant manners, with familiar foods and without an endless wait.

 

[BunsenH]

A few Disney restaurants could use a sign like that.

(Oh yes I did!)

 

[okeydokey]

Funny you said that ... my youngest just told me that I am mean as he walked out the door for school (because I made him finish his reading that he did not do last night ... and I signed my name to the form saying he did it.) I told him that when he says this, he is giving me the best compliment because it means "I am doing my job"!

As for the post, there were two times my husband and I went out to dinner when our children were small and they couldn't behave. One of us got our food to go while the other one was in the car. After the second time, we just realized (unhappily) that our children were TOO little to go to a restaurant and sit still for that long. (Their bad behavior was really OUR fault!) So, we only went out to dinner when we had a babysitter .. which was rare ... until they were old enough to sit still.

I agree with all the other posters, if I paid for dinner, I want to enjoy it in a stress-free environment! Not with a crying child/baby near me.

This is it exactly. I wish all parents had that attitude.

 

[golfgal]

Funny, because when they showed this on the local news this morning, it was spun as a totally restaurant vs parent of an autistic child story. The parent of the autistic child said the sign was put up to single them out, and violates the American with Disabilities Act.

I do not have any autistic children, but I would think that like any child, if they got to the point where they were not behaving appropriately for a restaurant, they should be removed until they can behave appropriately.

I am pretty sure that the ADA does not have a provision for taking kids to restaurants .

Our neighbor boy is autistic. His family LOVES to go to Disney and goes at least once/year but they have never taken him because they know he couldn't deal with it and he would be disruptive to everyone else. Yes, they feel bad but they are great parents recognizing that the trip would NOT be good for anyone involved. They have thought about doing a solo trip-one parent and him-just to see but they have not done that. If it doesn't work, they come home and haven't ruined the trip for anyone. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

 

[Kennywife]

It's a shame that the restaurant felt compelled to actually post the sign. The "offended" parents should take a good, long look in the mirror.

I, too, have had a few trips to the parking lot with a crying/misbehaving child. It's not fun, but it's part of parenting. I used to keep a book in the car, so the kid could scream all he wanted to, and I would sit and read.

I also agree with the PP who recognized that her kids were too young for a sit-down restaurant meal. My youngest is 4--we stick mostly with buffets, or restaurants that serve fast. Not haute cuisine, to be sure, but it gives him a chance to try out his restaurant manners, with familiar foods and without an endless wait.

What she said!

My parents raised me the same way. I wasn't taken to fancy resturants for many years. My parents knew what I could handle and what I couldn't. I had a disability: Epilepsy and I too had meltdowns occasionally. My mother wold always remove me to calm down. A child with a disability can be taught to behave.

Anna

 

[C.Ann]

Sounds reasonable to me.. Also sounds as though they can take the child outside, calm him or her down, and then return to the restaurant..

I don't even like the television on when I'm eating - let alone screaming kids.. LOL..

 

[MiniGirl]

Funny you said that ... my youngest just told me that I am mean as he walked out the door for school (because I made him finish his reading that he did not do last night ... and I signed my name to the form saying he did it.) I told him that when he says this, he is giving me the best compliment because it means "I am doing my job"!

As for the post, there were two times my husband and I went out to dinner when our children were small and they couldn't behave. One of us got our food to go while the other one was in the car. After the second time, we just realized (unhappily) that our children were TOO little to go to a restaurant and sit still for that long. (Their bad behavior was really OUR fault!) So, we only went out to dinner when we had a babysitter .. which was rare ... until they were old enough to sit still.

I agree with all the other posters, if I paid for dinner, I want to enjoy it in a stress-free environment! Not with a crying child/baby near me.

I should note that the one time it happened to us my dd was very capable of sitting quietly and had done so many times in the past. She was just in a snit and thinking that if she misbehaved we would leave and go home -- which is what she wanted. That is why we waited in the car while the others ate. We weren't about to reward her behavior by doing exactly what it was she wanted us to do.

 

[Metsfan520]

It's a shame that the restaurant felt compelled to actually post the sign. The "offended" parents should take a good, long look in the mirror.

I, too, have had a few trips to the parking lot with a crying/misbehaving child. It's not fun, but it's part of parenting. I used to keep a book in the car, so the kid could scream all he wanted to, and I would sit and read.

I also agree with the PP who recognized that her kids were too young for a sit-down restaurant meal. My youngest is 4--we stick mostly with buffets, or restaurants that serve fast. Not haute cuisine, to be sure, but it gives him a chance to try out his restaurant manners, with familiar foods and without an endless wait.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

As a mom of 4 who eats out frequently I agree with it, however I hope the rules apply to all obnoxious guests, not just kids.
We were out at a sushi restaurant that we usually go to about once every 2 weeks. There was a bachelor party going on at the same time, why they chose this place instead of a bar or club I don't know. They were drunk, loud, and cussing like sailors. One guy dropped the F bomb every other word.
We asked our waiter to find the manager, the manager refused to speak to them because "it was a big tab for the night". DH told the manager that we spent on average $250-$300 every time we ate there (Sushi for 6, isn't cheap! LOL) Multiply by the number of times a year we eat there and it will far out weigh the tab for the night.
The party continued to stay and be loud, drinking and not eating. Finally DH had had enough and went over and politely but firmly chewed the guy out, and asked the groom to remove his buddy from the place, the whole place erupted in applause when DH finished.
They quickly paid the bill and gathered up the drunks.

 

[jen0610]

I agree with both of you.

There is at least one Mom who has an autistic child who says it's wrong. I think the restaurant owner hit the nail on the head when she said she felt badly for the woman but it's not her problem. I know that sounds cold, but you could use the same argument for movies, plays etc.

I am a whole lot more tolerant of a family that is dealing with a misbehaving child who is trying to keep their child entertained, then I am with a family that ignores their child.

I have an ADHA son, who when younger and we went out, we were armed with a bag of items to help entertain and keep him focused. We have other friends with ADD/ADHA kids who follow the same thought. And even with DD, who isn't ADHA, she always had a bag of items. It's not that hard to figure out and know what will and won't entertain your child. One of DD's fav's was a loop of string that she and I could play cats-in-a-cradle with.

What I can't tolerate are the parents who's kids are quite able to have self control, that aren't being taught that or parent who don't enforce it in public. Hello parents, why in gods name did you not bring in a small toy, book, game to help entertain your 2-6 year old. I cringe every single time I hear a parent to tell lil Johnny or Susie to stop doing X or sit still/down and the kid yells/screams at them NO or Don't tell me what to do keeps doing what they were told to stop doing, usually in a much worse fashion and the parent does nothing but sit there and tell the child that isn't very nice.

My kids got to be very familiar with bathrooms in several restraunts. They were removed from the dinning area and talked to. One time DS was super excited about getting to the hockey game and at dinner he kept talking loudly. After twice telling him to use his indoor voice, instead of giving him a 3rd reminder I looked at him and told him lets go have a talk and started to get up. At this, he said I sorry mommy, turned to the table behind us and told them he was sorry and that he was gonna really try to mind his p's and q's better, so that he would get to wear his halloween costume in the parade on the ice. Only once did one of us ever have to completely remove ourselves from the restraunt. Found out afterwards that he had a double ear infection that was causing him to act the way he did, but at the time his actions were not acceptable to staying where he was and he and I went for a walk in the parking lot.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am in with the

AMEN!!!!

It seems that several public places that we have been lately, there is a little 'shreiker'.

I am a parent.
I LOVE kids.
I am very adamant about calling out 'parent-bashers'.

So if this is how I feel about loud yelling 'shrieking' kids...
That says a LOT.

 

[sunnyday123]

I'm with Jennasis; I'd eat there every night. I don't/didn't tolerate that from my kid, and I sure won't be subjected to someone else's kid acting like a fool and the parents not addressing it.

They aren't "expressing themselves" they are misbehaving, tired or bored. Handle it.

There was a restaurant we went too often when DD was infant-toddler, and I refused to go on family night because of the amount of unruly kids there.

 

[phorsenuf]

I am a mom, and managed to keep my kid from screaming while in public places OR LEAVING IF SHE COULDN'T. There's no reason that parents need to "ignore" behavior like this hoping it'll go away, and I see nothing wrong with someone putting up a sign like this. Well actually, I do see something wrong with it. It shouldn't even be necessary to put up the sign; it should be common sense to remove a screaming child from a public place where other people are trying to live their lives.

And in regards to the autistic children; I can totally relate, however autistic children are certainly NOT constant screamers (I should know, I worked for several years among 20-30 autistic preschoolers!) and they can be worked with and controlled or taken out of the situation, if their parents care enough to.

IMHO, of course. YMMV.

Thank you for saying that! Having an autistic child is not an excuse for bad parenting. There is no reason why a screaming autistic child should not be treated as a non-autistic screaming child.
I hate when I see that used as an excuse around here.

 

[tinatark]

We had the best experience ever at Morton's in Atlanta a few years ago - our friend's little girl, just a year old, was melting down - we told the maitre'd we wouldn't be able to stay because we didn't want to subject the other diners to her behavior - they asked us to stay, and put us in a private dining room! We closed the doors - she ended up being okay, since she could move around some, fell asleep before we were done eating!

Of course, that was Morton's of Chicago, and a party of 8 - letting us go away would have been losing a $300+ meal, and the room was available.

It was an awesome meal, great service!

 

[Pigeon]

Funny, because when they showed this on the local news this morning, it was spun as a totally restaurant vs parent of an autistic child story. The parent of the autistic child said the sign was put up to single them out, and violates the American with Disabilities Act.

Gee, my kids don't have any disabilities, yet they were known to scream on occasion as small children.

 

[worm761]

DS has ADHD and autism (though he is on the higher end of the spectrum). I have to agree with the restaurant. There were many times when he was younger and the ADHD wasn't under control (or diagnosed) that we had to leave many places. Grocery stores and restaurants were the top two. I cannot stand when people use the 'my child has a disability' card as an excuse for not parenting.

As for the bag of tricks to take with you....sometimes a parent just can't win. DS takes his DS and iPod everywhere with him. He plays them quietly while we are waiting for our food. I cannot stand the sound coming from these games so the rule is the sound can only be on in his bedroom so he is not disturbing other people at other tables. Yet I have been informed that it is rude of me to allow him to play games at the table. Now, he does not do this at home but he doesn't have to wait at the table while I cook his food either.

 

[Wishing on a star]

A one or two year old baby... understandable, but STILL not right to subject everyone else....

Any child 3 or over.... No way, no how, no excuse....

I firmly believe that shreikers are shreikers because they are allowed.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yet I have been informed that it is rude of me to allow him to play games at the table.

If your child is not actively disturbing other people, the only thing that is RUDE are the people who feel so eager to pass such judgement...

I would pay them NO mind, and do what meets your son's needs.