Surprising Parent Behavior at V&A's

[dolcezena]

Congrats to parents out there who teach their kids the importance of "public" etiquette! Our neighbours (when I was growing up) had 2 daughters very close to mine & my sister's ages, so we all often went out to dinner. My parents had a simple rule - poor behaviour = consequences. Their parents apparently didn't - I remember the older girl throwing such a temper tantrum in a Chinese food restaurant that she threw up she was crying so hard! Her parents' response - ignore her, she'll stop. I was only 10 & even I was ticked off at her AND them!

 

[shazy03]

Whilst Crackerbarrel is quite a busy resturant, we do find it nice ,as hardly any children there, and of course the shop attached is always nice to look around

 

[QueueCT]

I was surprised when I came across this thread. We will be dining at V & A's for the first time in May and will be eating in the dining room. I had just assumed that children didn't go to this restaurant. Our reservations aren't until 9:30pm so I wouldn't expect children to be there at that time of evening, but you never know. Has anyone had any experiences with children eating in the main dining room (good or bad)? I really want to have an enjoyable evening.

It's rare to see a child in the dining room at V&A. Last time we were there a family of 5 was eating with the children ranging from 10-15 years old. They were no different than any of the adults there that evening. In the few times we've been there, that was the only table we've seen with kids.

I think the bulk of this thread is around younger children (2-8 years old) who would probably be unable to handle a meal like tat.

 

[Hollymom1229]

That's a great story of responsible parenting, but I must say I would never have taken a child under the age of 10 to V&A's in the first place. Older than that would depend on their track record. I was raised in an environment where restaurant dining etiquette was stressed from an early age and I began to eat in more upscale restaurants at about age 8 when my parents felt I was ready from past behavior. On our trip to WDW in '89 we ate at Bistro de Paris. I was 11 y.o. and I'll never forget the wonderful conversation I had with the waiter about the foods, and his compliments to my parents on both my behavior and my food knowledge.

 

[northriver]

Since this thread is still active (!) I have a question.

What is the cancellation fee for V & A? I know it is $20/person at Cali Grill.

What I'm getting at is did this large party really just walk out because of a poorly behaved child? Or could it be, as a previous poster mention, they the couldn't get seated?

We have ressies at CG and hope to stay for the fireworks. If my child can't make it that long, I'll hop on the Monorail and take her "home" to the Poly with me. The rest of our group will stay and enjoy desert and fireworks - I would not expect or even allow them to miss evening entertainment because of my fussy child.

Is in fact good parenting to let a child dictate evening plans for a group of adults? It is one thing for one parent to leave with the child - quite another for an entire group to leave because a child is misbehaving. In my opinion, this giving the child too much power by letting their behavior control a large group of adults.

 

[hmp2z]

What I'm getting at is did this large party really just walk out because of a poorly behaved child? Or could it be, as a previous poster mention, they the couldn't get seated?

As I explained in a later post (I guess this wasn't clear from my first post), the group was already seated at a table. We were only able to see them because they were seated; if they'd been out in the foyer area, we wouldn't have been able to see them at all.

I do think it was a bit over the top for everyone to have to leave as a result of this one child, but I was glad that he was removed!

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[DawnM]

But you aren't saying "Your child is well behaved." You are saying, "Your child is acting up and thank you for taking your uncontrollable kid out of here so we can enjoy our dinner." Those are 2 completely different scenarios.

I would be offended too.

Dawn

Frankly, you're the first parent I've ever seen who found this at all offensive. Most parents I've seen on these boards brag about people coming up to them and telling them how well behaved their children are, because it's not really a compliment to the kids, it's to the parents - you're thanking them for doing a quality job in raising the next generation. I once complimented a mom who had four small children with her at the Electric Umbrella. Given the way she beamed when I told her how I was really impressed with her children and their good behavior, I don't think she found me condescending. You're certainly entitled to your point of view, but I think you are in the minority.

 

[Mari annie]

Hello
Our ds is 18 (today) and dd is 13 and frankly I side with all of you!
We took them everywhere with us and they always behaved, you never take a fussy/angry child out and certainly not in a situation where it's really for adults, for this reason, I had to post!

Now that our ds & dd are older we go out alot as a couple and I don't want any of that behavior going on when I want to quietly sit and "talk" to my dh, considering all the long hours he works..........we don't get to talk that much during the week......my new found freedom of being childless* of being able to go out to eat with my dh, as soon as we go into anyplace......be it fine dining or a snack shack on the water............I see any family with small whiney (brats) or loud parents, I tell the host=-hostess please sit us in some quiet corner, after all we took our kids everywhere (still do) but when we go out as a "couple" we want to enjoy this precious time.

There is NOTHING worse to me that it is so annoying than someone gorging themselves on food while their kid stands up on the chair, or is walking around or yelling "I am done", kids are tired, I mean, act like a responsible adult........you see the kid(s) are tired, pack up and go home, after all one's own dinner is ruined anyway by the carrying on, the whining, etc.

Yes, even when our kids come with us, we still ask for a quiet area so we can talk amoung ourselves. May sound arrogant, but family time or couple time is precious and I hate it being spoiled by rude strangers!!LOL One of my biggest pet peeves...............lol

Happy Dining, ya'll!!!

4/10 cannot come quick enough....... ..FL SUNSHINE!!! YES!

 

[gigi1313]

Since this thread is still active (!) I have a question.

What is the cancellation fee for V & A? I know it is $20/person at Cali Grill.

What I'm getting at is did this large party really just walk out because of a poorly behaved child? Or could it be, as a previous poster mention, they the couldn't get seated?

We have ressies at CG and hope to stay for the fireworks. If my child can't make it that long, I'll hop on the Monorail and take her "home" to the Poly with me. The rest of our group will stay and enjoy desert and fireworks - I would not expect or even allow them to miss evening entertainment because of my fussy child.

Is in fact good parenting to let a child dictate evening plans for a group of adults? It is one thing for one parent to leave with the child - quite another for an entire group to leave because a child is misbehaving. In my opinion, this giving the child too much power by letting their behavior control a large group of adults.

FINALLY!! someone that agrees w/me!!

 

[kennancat]

What is the cancellation fee for V & A? I know it is $20/person at Cali Grill.

I believe you are charged the full price of your meal. Obviously, they don't guess at whether or not you would have ordered the wine pairings or any of the additional cost items

 

[kennancat]

But you aren't saying "Your child is well behaved." You are saying, "Your child is acting up and thank you for taking your uncontrollable kid out of here so we can enjoy our dinner." Those are 2 completely different scenarios.

I would be offended too.

Dawn

Where did I say "Your child is acting up and thank you for taking your uncontrollable kid out of here so we can enjoy our dinner." ??? I believe my exact words to that woman were, "wow, your kids are so well behaved". I'm at a bit of a loss to understand how you interpreted my post that way.

 

[DawnM]

I am sorry. I didn't read that well before I posted.

Actually, I think I raise my children to be well behaved, but honestly, they have their moments! They do well at restaraunts usually, but occasionally they get tired, etc....

Dawn

Where did I say "Your child is acting up and thank you for taking your uncontrollable kid out of here so we can enjoy our dinner." ??? I believe my exact words to that woman were, "wow, your kids are so well behaved". I'm at a bit of a loss to understand how you interpreted my post that way.

 

[kennancat]

I am sorry. I didn't read that well before I posted.

Thank you - I do appreciate that you came back to clear that up.

 

[sdbirdsong]

How times have changed. When I was a child, if we were LUCKY enough to be taken out to a restaurant, we were to be seen and not heard. We did not get out of our chairs without permission, we did not run around, and we did not raise our voices. Any misbehavior, and we got sent out to the car and it didn't matter if we had eaten yet. Having seen how parents let their children act and the parents are either ignoring the misbehavior or escalating it, I long for the Good Ole Days.

 

[dolcezena]

How times have changed.

I don't think times have changed, people's ideas of what appropriate/expected behaviour they have for their children. My parents raised me with expectations of proper ways to behave - and as is evidenced by the beginning of this thread, others do too! The truly sad thing is that they're now the exception, not the norm.

 

[Hixski]

Hello
Our ds is 18 (today) and dd is 13 and frankly I side with all of you!
We took them everywhere with us and they always behaved, you never take a fussy/angry child out and certainly not in a situation where it's really for adults, for this reason, I had to post!

Now that our ds & dd are older we go out alot as a couple and I don't want any of that behavior going on when I want to quietly sit and "talk" to my dh, considering all the long hours he works..........we don't get to talk that much during the week......my new found freedom of being childless* of being able to go out to eat with my dh, as soon as we go into anyplace......be it fine dining or a snack shack on the water............I see any family with small whiney (brats) or loud parents, I tell the host=-hostess please sit us in some quiet corner, after all we took our kids everywhere (still do) but when we go out as a "couple" we want to enjoy this precious time.

There is NOTHING worse to me that it is so annoying than someone gorging themselves on food while their kid stands up on the chair, or is walking around or yelling "I am done", kids are tired, I mean, act like a responsible adult........you see the kid(s) are tired, pack up and go home, after all one's own dinner is ruined anyway by the carrying on, the whining, etc.

Yes, even when our kids come with us, we still ask for a quiet area so we can talk amoung ourselves. May sound arrogant, but family time or couple time is precious and I hate it being spoiled by rude strangers!!LOL One of my biggest pet peeves...............lol

Happy Dining, ya'll!!!

4/10 cannot come quick enough....... ..FL SUNSHINE!!! YES!

Everyone deserves to have some peace and quiet while dining. We know some people whose boys are the rowdy type at a restaurant. They don't mind inflicting them on everyone else...but if they have date night they want peace and quiet. That makes me crazy. We have been told more than once that we don't get an opinion since we don't have children. It doesn't matter that we are in our mid forties and tired of children behaving badly. It almost seems like people are telling you since you haven't paid your dues you don't get the same rights. I would be curious what other childfree folks think. (And parents too).

 

[sdbirdsong]

Everyone deserves to have some peace and quiet while dining. We know some people whose boys are the rowdy type at a restaurant. They don't mind inflicting them on everyone else...but if they have date night they want peace and quiet. That makes me crazy. We have been told more than once that we don't get an opinion since we don't have children. It doesn't matter that we are in our mid forties and tired of children behaving badly. It almost seems like people are telling you since you haven't paid your dues you don't get the same rights. I would be curious what other childfree folks think. (And parents too).

Well I'm child-free and I definetly want to be free of rowdy behavior when I'm at a sit-down restaurant. Nothing infuriates me more than parents who let their children act like they're at Chucky Cheese ( my version of hell on earth) when at a restaurant. I see too many parents who just ignore that Little Timmy is behaving like a heathen and disturbing everyone around them. Some parents seem to think they have the right to inflict their misbehaving children on everyone around them. Whatever happen to teaching manners and respect for others. I definely not seeing it from many children these days.