So, he put a sign on the door at kids' eye-level, asking children of all ages to use their "indoor voices."
More Photos and Video at the source page.
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.
So, he put a sign on the door at kids' eye-level, asking children of all ages to use their "indoor voices."
More Photos and Video at the source page.
"No soup for you!"
It used to be in the "good old days" that parents were in control, not any more
Boycotts. I am so sick of stupid boycotts. Boycott the kids and their mothers. ;)
There are some kids who have ear-piercing screams that rattle the brain. ANNOYING!
Where does it say that they have to "Keep Quiet"? "Inside voices" means to talk in a normal voice, not yell and scream. Typical MSM headline....
They aren't "kids unfriendly" they are spoiled brat unfriendly.
Kudos to them!
Where is this guy's joint? I want to patronize him. Rugrats - either behave or leave.
People can really get their panties in a wad over nothing, can't they?
That'll put fear into mothers for miles around! :-)
I can't imagine any of my friends being upset with the fact that their children should behave in a restaurant. Either the moms in the story have no control over their kids, or there is another issue going on that didn't make it into the story.
Well, I'd say there are a lot of mothers that keep their children from 'A Taste of Heaven'.
LOL!
I have two daughters, four and one year olds. As long as I get a legit chance to correct an outbreak (of which there are VERY few), I not only understand, but appreciate this fellow's efforts to reinforce my desire to teach my children to be civilized. I hate it when I have to explain to my children that some children act up and don't get punished because their parents are not considerate of other people.
If I lived near this place, an occasional visit for the girls may be a reward for good behaviour.
He doesn't seem 'kid unfriendly', just 'brat unfriendly'. Those terms don't *HAVE* to be synonymous.
I learned what happens when you act up in public really quickly when I was a kid. But then again, my parents were actually attentive parents...what a concept.
feh. If I am in a place and if someones kids are out of hand, I tell em to shut up and sit down and tell the parent to mind them. The parents don't usually say anything. Why wait?
Our local grocery seems inhabited by badly behaved children and clueless mothers.
I couldn't get to the pet food one day because a kid, probably five or six was stretched across the aisle doing spins with her legs extended while clueless dumpy mommy kept staring at the shelves saying, "Don't, stop, mommy needs you to stop that, don't; stop, mommy doesn't like that...."
or
The kids in line at checkout screaming at the tops of their lungs hitting mother...
or
The kids steering carts at full speed into me and other shoppers while mommy, who appears to be some alternate nirvana say, "Don't, stop, mommy doesn't like that, don't; stop, mommy doesn't like that...."
Yeah, I raised lots of boys...took all of them to the store with me at one time...and they never dared to act like the kids I see now...who btw, are not toddlers and infants..
Send them to the Chocolate Factory.
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