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.
My wife was terrified of this, so... One day when I was out by myself grocery shopping with the kids, I gave one a swat on the bum. Fortunately, no one complained. But once they knew that they wouldn't be treated any differently in public, they never acted up again.
How many smart people do you know? How many saints do you know?
You're right.
I don't see where they're talking about kids "running wild", seems like they're just being loud. I could be wrong, maybe I missed that part of the article. However, kids will be loud, some people get lucky and they're kids are never loud at an inappropriate time. Others, try as they may, don't have as much luck.
I don't know you well enough or your kids to be able to base a judgement on how well of a job you did as a parent. In fact, I would not pass judgement anyways.
"Quiet, well behaved, respectful children welcomed!"
I thought the one he had was too nice and deferential.
Excellent point. I know I'm still pretty well behaved in public. Of course, I try to avoid public most of the time nowadays...
susie
You are free to pass all the judgement that you can about my boys. I think they stack up quite nicely compared to most.
susie
Loud is bad enough. Kids being kids doesn't mean BEING loud. It means TRYING TO BE loud. It should be stymied after the first syllable or two, or the kids should be removed from the room.
exactly... that, or they do not show up for the meeting, do not discipline the child for school problems, etc.... If it doesn't inconvenience the parent in some way, the child usually doesn't get punished at home.
People who think parenting is about luck should not have children!
If they are loud, take your noisy brats outside - PUNISH them. Bring them back if they can behave enough to be around people that 1) don't want to hear their NOISE and/or 2)are out to enjoy themselves talking to the people they went out to eat with.
Loud people, whether it be children or people on speaker phones are intruding on other people's relaxation. I do not pay a babysitter to go out with my husband and spend more money, just to hear other people's obnoxious uncontrolled brats!
I think you're right...
I meant to add that it is usually VERY obvious whether it is an occasional problem (in which case the parent quickly gets it under control) OR a chronic 'child is the one in control of the parents' situation.
Then understand this much at least: When adult men hit each other, it can cause serious injury or even death. Television and movies have led too many people to believe that fighting is harmless means of correction, and everyone walks away. There are several threads on freep where people have been killed by just a couple of blows. Violent assault is something that has to be taken seriously.
Another ritalin chocolate chip cookie for Suzie please.
PC culpability goes right out the window and that warm fuzzy feeling is somewhere behind anger and rage. :-)
Let's dance!
Sorry, but I disagree here. And when I say "luck" I don't mean it in a 4 leaf clover sense but rather a "things don't always go as planned" sense.
I don't believe in absolutes when it comes to humans being. I also don't believe in prefection either. Sure it may be something to strive for but nothing can be perfect.
That's why when we go out and someone elses kids act up, I don't stress over it because I really don't care. If I wanted quite conversation then I would go to a coffee house or I would put the kids to bed early.
We had a Cub Scout bon fire this past weekend, I was tempted to put up a sign:
Unsupervised children will be burned as fuel.
Very few problems, but it amazes me how lax some parents can be with their children around open fires.
I'm pretty sure I had to say a rosary. Thanks to some insider information (My brother was an altar boy) I found the priest who gave you 5 Our Fathers and 5 Hail Mary's...no matter what. Imagine "Priest Shopping" at age seven!!
Our son is 13 and never has he acted up in a public place where I wasn't able to take him outside, talk to him, and return him to the table where he behaved himself.
These "mothers" need oxford massage!
Exactly!
We're not expecting perfect children...we're requesting parents who are present, engaged and responsible. If you take your unruly child outside for a talk, nobody's faulting you; if you whine that children will be children, we will!
There is a Mexican restaurant here in town where the waiters walk very quickly carrying huge platters of very hot plates of Mexican food. There is a sign that clearly says, "Control your children. We can't always see them, and we are not responsible for accidents if you fail to control your children."
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