Posted on 08/15/2006 6:24:16 AM PDT by steve-b
For Cindy Nooney's 3-year-old twin boys, playing with the Thomas the Train set at their local bookstore in Southern California is a major thrill. Jack and Sam push Thomas, Arthur and friends down the track, they run around the table, jump up and down — and, of course, they squeeeaal.
Nooney expects as much in the children's section of the store. But on a recent afternoon, she was surprised by an employee who confronted her, calling her darling Jack a tyrant.
"He was a little loud but this is a children's section," says Nooney. "They run a noisy, cavernous bookstore but they don’t want kids to make any noise? It just seems ridiculous and leads me to believe that they don't want kids, they want silent kids."
The bookstore is not the only place that likes quiet, controlled children — and isn't afraid to say so. Across the nation, there are signs of a low-burning uprising against children supposedly behaving badly in public.
Eateries from California to Massachusetts have posted signs on doors and menus saying "We love children, especially when they are tucked in chairs and well behaved" or "Kids must use indoor voices." In North Carolina an online petition was started last year to establish child-free restaurants — the petition loosely compared dining with children to dining with cigarette smoke....
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
That's why they invented bars.
>>So, obviously - I don't get out much.
My attitude is that my son also "needs to get out" some day (I hope) he will need to know as much as he can about society, because he will choose to join it. (Hey if you don't have a dream...) Anyway back to sitters, he does stay home sometimes (Like when we are going to somewhere not kid appropriate), but I don't have family that can help out (Wheelchair bound mom, etc)
Here, in Florida, that's a very fine line. Bars and Restaurants have so intermingled that it's difficult to ascertain just where the Bars end and where the Restaurants begin.........
"Hmmmm. 'Destroy another foetus now, We don't like children anyhow' -- Leonard Cohen. "
Outstanding insight. Also indicates another reason why adoption isn't considered a very viable alternative to abortion given the pathetic whining about crumb crunchers on this thread.
I've seen my share of bad parenting in public, but folks kids are going to be kids, and its true that kids and parents are being nanny-stated into a corner in most cases, especially in dining options.
If you want kids to learn how to eat in public places, then they need to be taken to restaurants where people other than kids eat.
The comments about being 'forced' into using upscale eateries to 'avoid children' is the very best one on this thread. I've got McDonalds and Red Robin here in Western Washington as options.
Chuckie Cheese is an option if you want to suffer the horrible food and the fact that they are there to play the games anyway. Beyond that, what? Where else can I go that I won't run into some uppity idiot shooting me dirty looks because my kids are happy about what they just colored on their placemat?
People, keep in mind that if we stop having kids, you baby-boomers especially are going to be making some interesting choices between dog food and home heating bills, since the libs don't want to fix either medicare or social security. 75% of people about the age of 50 have saved less than $5,000 toward retirement.
As far as I'm concerned, if my three year old is going to be keeping you in depends and reruns of American Idol in some home somewhere, you can take the occasional squeal and ram it home uncomfortably.
Next time you hear a three year old screaming somewhere in your serene pageantry of epicurean rapture, just satisfy yourself with the words of Humbert Humphrey, "They don't know it yet, but we're going to tax the hell out of them."
Revenge, a dish served cold, like ice cream, right?
I have quite a few friends who are paying alot of money to try and have children. They are good, educated couples with big homes and growing older as they they can't have kids. I feel so bad for them, because they would make such wonderful parents. I guess they could adopt. but, by now, they've put out alot of money.
You're officially my hero! :)
>>She remarked that the children were precious and enjoyable
Thank you, all my children are precious to me, as well.
You won't have an argument from me there - my parents believed in the reasonable application of force to guide children's behavior, and so did my wife and I. Spankings were rare for my kids, but rarely forgotten.
Oh yes, listen, those of us who have raised kids have experienced first hand how individual they really are, it's remarkable. I'm speaking in generalities, in averages. I see way too much misbehaviour, spoiled behavior if you will, that brings me to this conclusion.
I'm not saying that a "swat" is always the answer either, I believe that much of the problem is the lack of consistency within the family. We need two parents agreeing on methodology, not at odds with each other; one trying to be "big buddy" and the other acting as disciplinarian is a disaster. Parental authority is not supported any more, the kids are in charge although they never made a car payment, paid the water, gas and electric bills, fixed meals, go to work, etc., etc but yet they know everything, what a crock.
A FReeper above spoke of seeing just as many, if not more, adults behaving badly and I got to thinking about that. He's/she's right I believe, certainly it's more obvious. This is no doubt part of the problem as well. Over all, there's a huge lack of family cohesion, doing things as a family, manners, language, it's abominable but all is not lost!
Well, I pray you find the answer for your son, I really do, I think many of us have experienced the same, it's not easy, that's for sure.
It's liberal-think to say that someone's misbehaving children are "someone else's" fault/problem--in this case, the manager's, or perhaps you're saying it's my fault for wanting to shop for a book in peace. I say it's the parents' fault, and their behavior is a direct reflection on them.
As for me, it's not that big a deal. I can shop elsewhere, and I do.
Sounds divine. The old timey crying rooms worked out well for everyone, and it's something they should consider for today's theaters. And maybe a "phonebooth" room for those who insist on talking on the cellphone throughout the movie? ;)
By the way, My son has a best friend (for 6 of his 9 years) who's older brother is autistic. His mother is always worried about him. She still does not even tell her other children (14 and 9 yo) that their brother is autistic for fear that they will repeat that word to him or other kids and make the autistic one feel bad. So, I have never told my son either, although he knows something is differenet.
To my point, this boy, is an awesome little boy. I have learned so much about autism. One thing I can say is that they are incredibly intelligent in that area of focus. It's pretty amazing, and I am sorry about all the social issues that you have to struggle with. Because these children seem to focus better on an area than many non-autisma kids do. It's like they've learned how to channel their thoughts. But, although he does not have a severe case, he has social limitations. But, he growing and he does good with other children and my son has always gotten along really well. It is wonderful to the strides he is making and I know that he will be a productive regular person in society because of the support his parents are giving him.
Hang in there - Autism may seem like a struggle, but these kids are gifted.
Oh, don't I know it. My own sister is in that camp, and it makes me so tragically sad, my heart might burst.
It is not ever lost on me, disgruntled as I might get, what a gift and blessing my children are to me.
Thanks. I try.
Glad you found it. Sudafed works great for me. I envy people who have no pain without drugs.
Oh... I think he's probably in good company with a few others, don't you?
B-Chan is only my nickname. My real name is more prosaic -- I'm called after my own dad and a Scottish historical figure.
My name is boring, too. One year, I was in an elementary school class with six others with the same name! And at my former place of employment, there were so many that our boss called us by our last names.
One of the interesting things about the "creative" names trend is that my sons' "dare to be dull" names - Bill, Tom, Pat, James, and Dan - aren't all that popular. And the girls' Empress-themed names - Josephine, Eleanor, Sabina - are uncommon without being weird.
My experience here in TN is the opposite: last year, my son was one of 4 variations of "William" in his class, and my daughter was one of 3 "Katies" - not including the Katherines, Catherines, and Katheryns. (No Cathys)
Interstingly, no Jim Bobs or Sue Ellens. :)
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