My mom and I went out to an Italian restaurant and were seated in a booth and ordered our pizza when in walks a loud hoard of two families with children. We looked at each other and rolled our eyes.
They sat the families right across from us at tables. Right away the kids were yelling and being bratty. The restaurant was full so we couldn't ask to be seated somewhere else.
I was talking as loud as I could to my mom and she couldn't hear me over the boisterous kids.
We both had enough and asked our waitress to box our pizza to go. We went back to my house to eat in peace and quiet.
My siblings and I were never, ever allowed to act like little animals in public. That includes restaurants, grocery store, department store, etc. It simply wasn't allowed.
I'm amazed that the rotten behavior of some children won't even faze some parents one bit.
My parents constantly entertained guests for my father's bank up and down the state of California, so from the time I was born I went with them and was expected to behave at all times. I can recall one time when my parents were meeting with a maitre-d getting a menu together and I apparently got bored and started to get down out of my seat and climb around.
Dad warned me once.
When I didn't listen, he swiftly picked me up and took me to the door of the restaurant and sat me in a chair and told me to stay put. You didn't ignore my father and survive, trust me. For another hour and a half, I didn't budge an inch.
My children at age 5 and 3 can already be taken anywhere. They obey the first time they are asked to. We have never had bedtime arguments and they say "Yes Ma'am" and "Yes sir" automatically.....not to say that they don't have their moments. But from the moment they were born they knew what was expected of them and they rise to the level that is expected. Children have a funny way of doing that.
There are always exceptions to that -- when they are sick, off schedule, no nap, etc....-- then you do not subject them to situations in which they are expected to behave like angels and you certainly do not subject others to the consequences of their misbehavior. You learn as a parent to leave a restaurant or a gathering or whatever....because it is the decent thing to do....you do not subject others to whatever problem your children are having.
Sounds to me like a lot of parents do not understand that there are, frankly, times when children can be inconvenient -- they get sick....they get off schedule or out of sorts or they miss a nap....and rather than forcing the situation, you just leave and take care of the problem at home. There will always be another time to go to the restaurant or another gathering or whatever.
My boys behave well because I am conscious of whatever may be going wrong and I adjust....and because they have quickly learned that there is no alternative for them but to behave. We are going to have a baby in March -- a girl -- and she will also be expected to behave as well. The boys are already practicing telling her our catch-phrase..."First time obey..."