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.
I was a school bus driver for 1 year, (not enough money to make me do that again).
Had a 14 year old little b..... that was a pain in the assets. She started acting up one afternoon and refused to responed to my directions. I started turning the bus around to go back to school.
The other kids resolved the problem very quickly.
Parents like you are always welcome. Sometimes kids act up, and responsible parents deal with it. The problem is always those parents who think the only "rights" in an establishment belong to their children.
My son is well behaved in public because of the parenting at home. When he is at home is when he is testing the limits.
Parenting is different from politics. I can vote out bad candidates (if I don't live in Detroit or another major metropolitan area controlled by Democats).
I can't vote out bad parenting.
JILL :}
The problem here is that I have yet to hear "Well, one time my child started getting out of control and this is what I did to reel him back in..."
All I hear is "My kids are well behaved where ever we go..." etc.
Like I said, FR is a gold mine for perfect parents and perfect kids. Obviously the rest of us are horrible parents because are kids don't always go by the rules.
Yet some people think chilren don't have the right to be children and go thru the usual growing up learning that comes with public road trips. What next..make sure you give your kid a chill pill before they leave the house. SHEEEEEZ
you as an individual can't vote anyone out. it is collective electoral strength that votes in candidates. collective societal pressure to require parents to actually PARENT would be equally possible. the guy in this article, putting up his sign in his eatery is making his little stab at it.
Has anyone voted in the poll on the website listed? It is about time that store owners take back control of their businesses. I have been to some places where the racket was so loud, we could not hear what others were saying. Then there is one place in town which caters to families but the parents are in control of their children and you can eat in peace.
Sometimes, rarely though. I can say that there was a time or two where I have said "Now Karina, you have to be respectful of other people that are here at the restaurant, so please be quite."
She just looked at me funny and laughed.
Well, kids learn what we teach them. What can I say?
susie
No one's asking for "perfection". They're asking for parents to act like grownups. When you take a child to a store, you tell the child before you leave what to expect, what will happen, and when you'll be coming home. You also tell them how they can act. I know this sounds silly, but it works. Also, when asking a child to do something, give them a choice of two things (both acceptable to the parent) and let them experience some control over their little lives. It's not hard to love them and allow them to be lovable.
There's nothing crueler to a child than to raise them in such a way that only a mother can love them...
if you don't see the problems out there with children leading their parents around by the nose and calling the shots in the parent-child relationships, i can't help you. THAT Is what is being discussed here. you say your kids behave in public, so why are you being defensive?
Kids don't learn by being allowed to scream and holler and run around like nuts in public. They learn by having the adults in their lives stop them from such foolishness and give them the negative consequences (which will vary according to the child and their age).
For some kids, being kids will include pushing your child down and taking away his/her cookie. Is that acceptable since they're just doing what kids do?
We were out of town for the weekend last week and we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. 2 little kids pounding on the table with knives. It was very annoying and we couldn't get of there fast enough. My children were very well behaved when they were little kids and I just don't understand why those children were allowed to pound on the table with knives, forks, etc. Mom and Dad just sat there, did nothing and continued to eat their food. I guess it's just a new generation. UGH!
The lady next door stood with a broom at the edge of the walk to make sure the kids didn't go on her lawn. Of course, when she wasn't around, I made a point of stepping on it. When I made my first confession at age 7, I confessed to stepping on Mrs. Cullian's lawn.......500 times.
Quoted for truth.
"Do you think A Taste of Heaven was right to post its sign asking kids to use their "indoor voices?" "
Yes -- 2587 votes -- 97%
No -- 84 votes -- 3%
You gotta be kidding me? You think that my 1-year-old daughter doing what babies do is doing so because that's what I'm teaching her?
Or did I just misconstrue what you said?
Because my kids don't always behave in public. I'm saying they are not perfect. The fact is: Kids will be kids, they have their own little minds and sometimes they might do things that you don't want them to when you least expect it.
bump the indoor voice
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