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Angry Moms Boycott Eatery That Asks Kids To Keep Quiet
NBC TV NEWS ^ | 11-12-2005

Posted on 11/14/2005 5:51:48 AM PST by Cagey

Parent Says Restaurant Offers Kid Food, So It Should Cater To Kids

"We were surprised at how many times we would see children really out of control," McCauley said. "And we actually had people leaving the bakery because the children were so out of control."

So, he put a sign on the door at kids' eye-level, asking children of all ages to use their "indoor voices."

"We thought it was just a friendly reminder to people that when they come here, just be considerate of the people around them. We had no idea the kind of controversy that was going to explode out of this," McCauley said.

But some parents who spoke with NBC5's Natalie Martinez took immediate offense to the sign. The angry mothers said there are plenty of places in the Andersonville neighborhood where they can take their kids, even if they're acting out.

"I've e-mailed friends and said, 'Just so you know, this man has a sign up. I know there are lots of other options, and I'd encourage you not to go there,'" parent Kate Bremmer said.

When she spoke with Martinez, Bremmer and her kids were picking out goodies at a Swedish bakery, where all kids are welcome.

"Our custom has been to offer a cookie to every child that comes into the store for as long as I can remember," said Kathy Stanton-Cromwell, the co-owner of the bakery, which is just a few doors down from A Taste of Heaven.

Stanton-Cromwell said the cookie serves as "a good calmer" for kids who are acting up.

Bremmer said A Taste of Heaven "is not a five-star restaurant," so she thinks it should cater to kids, not the other way around.

"They offer ice cream cones and cookies and lots things that kids love, and therefore, I don't think that they should make such an issue of it," Bremmer said.

Other parents enjoying lunch with their kids at A Taste of Heaven were more diplomatic.

"I have mixed feelings about it. It's a little off-putting," one mother said.

Linda Wallace, also a mother who eats at A Taste of Heaven, said she thought McCauley was "sort of brave" for putting up the sign.

"It did cross my mind that he might offend some people," she said.

McCauley said he loves kids, although he has none of his own. He said he has no immediate plans to take the sign down.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: parenting
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To: Cagey

When negative behavior affects other people trying to do business or enjoy something the children should be removed. The mothers don't have control that's why they let them do what they want. Plain and simple.


161 posted on 11/14/2005 7:02:17 AM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He's done more for our country than we will ever know. He's the man!)
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To: szweig

Me too.


162 posted on 11/14/2005 7:02:46 AM PST by ONETWOONE (onetwoone)
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To: Freebird Forever

One of these days, you're gonna stick your nose into somebody's else's business and get it blown off.

If you have a problem with that, too bad.


163 posted on 11/14/2005 7:03:05 AM PST by tuffydoodle (Shut up voices, or I'll poke you with a Q-Tip again.)
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To: Gadsdenman

Great! I love it.


That does tell you something about society, doesn't it?


164 posted on 11/14/2005 7:03:10 AM PST by Loud Mime (Bad Lawmakers = Bad Law = Infinite Lawyers)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

Wow, that was excellent! I would hate to be a school bus driver, but you really seem to have come up with a method that would work.
susie


165 posted on 11/14/2005 7:03:58 AM PST by brytlea (I'm not a conspiracty theorist....really.)
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To: kx9088

Why would you even think saying "shhh" to a one year old would have any effect at all???
susie


166 posted on 11/14/2005 7:04:47 AM PST by brytlea (I'm not a conspiracty theorist....really.)
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To: tuffydoodle

parenting your child effectively doesn't require corporal punishment, so i fail to see how an insane parent that ends up KILLING their child has any bearing on ineffectual parenting.


167 posted on 11/14/2005 7:04:48 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: Cagey
Parents like this lady are raising our next generation of sociopaths. I don't look forward to interviewing these brats for jobs in the future.
168 posted on 11/14/2005 7:06:06 AM PST by NeoCaveman (ANWR is national security, RINO's keep us dependent on foreign oil, aiding our enemies)
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To: ONETWOONE; All

So, something that made my day today.

Over the weekend, I had dropped my kids off with my folks so wife and I could do some early XMas shopping.

When we got, my Dad told us that he'd taken the two oldest to a bakery in town to get some sweets.

Today, he calls me and wanted to thank me and to say he was proud of me.

Why you ask?

On the way home, my oldest son says, "Thank you for taking us to the bakery grandpa."

My dad said that he was proud of the way I was teaching my kids and that I was doing a good job. I let him know that I had the best teachers, him and my mom.

Have a good Monday everyone.


169 posted on 11/14/2005 7:06:18 AM PST by CnTXBobcat
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To: Hoodlum91

Many do not understand the difference between discipline (from disciple) and punishment.

"Spare the rod and spoil the child" isn't about hitting with a rod, it's about gently but firmly using the hooked end of a shephard's staff to return a wandering sheep to the fold, to keep the it from becoming lost.


170 posted on 11/14/2005 7:06:18 AM PST by polymuser (")
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To: xsmommy

My point was, it's amazing that any child reaches adulthood with some of the insane parents raising them. What's the line in the movie Parenthood? "You need a license to drive a car, hell, you even need a license to catch a fish, but they'll let any butt reaming asshole be a parent."


171 posted on 11/14/2005 7:07:54 AM PST by tuffydoodle (Shut up voices, or I'll poke you with a Q-Tip again.)
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To: dubyaismypresident
Parents like this lady are raising our next generation of sociopaths. I don't look forward to interviewing these brats for jobs in the future.

They'll probably get to vote on euthanasia for us when we're old, too.

172 posted on 11/14/2005 7:08:47 AM PST by polymuser (")
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To: tuffydoodle
I have been married 23 years and have 5 kids, ages 6 thru 16. They are all well behaved in public, we have gotten many compliments on their behavior, from strangers.


Good for you - you and your husband need the positive reinforcement. I was in a restaurant a few years ago, there were a couple of monster kids running around, screaming, bothering other diners. Of course the parents did nothing. There was another booth with a young couple with 2 kids just about the same age. These kids were very well behaved. I made a point of stopping at their table and complimenting the kids and their parents. I know it's sometimes hard to keep your kids in line - especially when they see other kids acting like cartoon characters.


One of the funniest things I ever heard was in a restaurant in Greektown in Detroit. In a fairly nice (and pricey) restaurant there was a child that was running from table to table, grabbing things, screaming her head off - the typical monster child stuff. Of course, the parents were doing nothing. The manager had already spoken to the people. A woman patron finally stood up, walked over to the table and said, "If you don't shut that kid up, I'm going to pick her up and throw her through that window. And you'll thank me for it because that child is POSSESSED!"
The entire restaurant broke into laughter and applause.

173 posted on 11/14/2005 7:08:59 AM PST by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: Cagey

GUARANTEE you everyone one of these whining women employ 'time out' as a form of discipline.


174 posted on 11/14/2005 7:09:30 AM PST by who knows what evil? (New England...the Sodom and Gomorrah of the 21st Century, and they're proud of it!)
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To: bonfire

My youngest was my *test*. My other two were fairly easy (oldest was busy, but not all that ornery). My youngest made me pull my hair out, and at HOME we had some real knock down drag outs to put it mildly.

He also had some moments in school that were difficult to say the least. There were times I really questioned my effectivness as a parent. I am glad to report that he recently graduated from college and is fine. And interestingly, most of his teachers thought he was a hoot (I didn't).

And, yes, even he was required mind his manners in public. So, I do understand about difficult children.

susie


175 posted on 11/14/2005 7:09:33 AM PST by brytlea (I'm not a conspiracty theorist....really.)
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To: tuffydoodle

i agree, there are horrible parents out there. the ones that abuse and neglect and the ones that think they are raising the crown prince and instead turn out some self centered monster who has no idea what boundaries are, bc he has always set his own!


176 posted on 11/14/2005 7:09:59 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: Halls
Excuse me, but kids are kids no matter how much of a good parent mom or dad is. Geez, just yesterday I was in a non kid friendly type of restaurant with my kids, my sisters kids and we had a hard time keeping them settled down.

I guess the same EXCUSE could be applied to parents. You have the alternative of taking them out of the restaurant or teaching discipline before exposing them to the Innocent public. Remember the old saying... "Your Freedom Ends Where Mine begins."

177 posted on 11/14/2005 7:10:29 AM PST by River_Wrangler (Nothing difficult is ever easy!)
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To: Cagey
I see nothing wrong in the sign this man has put up. People need to start reigning their kids in because no one wants to be around a bunch of undisciplined animals out in public. The ones that are boycotting it speaks volumes about them and their kids. In other words, they know their kids are animals and they have no intention of making them behave.
178 posted on 11/14/2005 7:10:46 AM PST by WasDougsLamb (Just my opinion.Go easy on me........)
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To: brytlea

It worked but I had a lot of parents complain. But I think the kids respected me for it. Thats a big part; wrong or no discipline = no respect from kids. <----- me in my youth.


179 posted on 11/14/2005 7:10:46 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: tuffydoodle

My wife and I were talking with a security guard at the Medford shopping mall. Subject of children came up somehow and she said the if they saw a mother or dad spanking their children in the mall they were "under orders to hold them for the police for child abuse"


180 posted on 11/14/2005 7:11:32 AM PST by OregonRancher (illigitimus non carborundum)
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