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.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?
Too many people are worried about what others will think of them if their baby is sucking their thumb, so they resort to stupidity like this. Babies suck their thumbs if they don't have a bottle, a breast, or a Binky to satisfy them. It calms them.
Let the moms and the kids go elsewhere. I like to eat without having to deal with other people's kids.
ROTFL!! Chuckie Cheese Hell!!
The kids oviously didn't know ant better - and I was dry.
Yes I behave too and since there is so much crap out there from kids and adults...I like to do things at home and with friends in their house or our house. Much better that way. We have to make our own playtime without having to be subjected to a bunch of unruly, ill mannered ADULTS who don't know how to behave so how can we expect anything more from their offspring. I hate that word by the way...Offspriing. Sounds terrible. :)
I gave him plenty of warning, and was nice enough to wait for him to put the kid safely on the ground – besides; there is nothing wrong with a “sucker” punch. The Marquee of Queensberry rules only apply if a person is in the ring.
I can't count the number of times we had an ARD meeting which I had to attend (actually sometimes taking me from a class) and the parent didn't bother to show up. And they never bothered to call and say they couldn't make it or try to get it resheduled. The kid would sit there while the school tried to reach the parent. How sad!
susie
susie
Yeah, I hate to go to the movies anymore because so many people (adults AND kids) seem to forget they aren't in their own living room.
susie
Only in America!!
When my kids were that age I would react to yelling and throwing things with a very stern voice and "angry eyes". Not the second or third time they did it, but the first time. My reaction was immediate. That is how you discourage that behavior in a one year old. They recognized it was not acceptable behavior and I have never had a problem.
If slapping your kid's hand for ill behavior is the only thing you can think of doing, then you must be somewhat limited in your parenting abilities.
My kids have turned out fine, so obviously my parenting abilities are up to par.
Everything is wrong with a sucker punch. I'm no advocate of rules in a fight either. I've taught self-defense professionally, and I'm a firm believer in whatever works, works. However, a sucker punch is initiating violence. It's assault. Plain and simple. I don't ever want to be the guy that escalated a confrontation into violance. I don't mind being the guy that finishes it, but I'm not going to instigate it.
Amen. Been there many times, and I hope to never be there again. I've come full circle: I now know that violence is never the answer to anything but violence.
"All eyes went to her...and she melted into the background."
LOL!! Too funny!
I don't doubt it. There are many ways to skin a cat.
Still, you're not the only one to say that teaching a one year old not to act out is impossible. That idea, while popular, is incorrect.
I do believe I would have had both my lawyer and insurance man prepare the language for the sign. Start the language with something like, "Due to compensation claims, liability and potential lawsuits ...".
Liability and compensation insurance are expensive, and a lawsuit would put me out of business. Fact is, uncontrollable patrons are not good for business.
"It's something that's severely lacking in today's youth"
You're right. One problem with it is that so many people tell my children not to call them Miss or Mr. Excuse me, my children will show proper respect to adults. My 16 year old started working not long ago and he stopped everyone, including the manager, in their tracks when he call the manager 'Mr. Eric.' He was told not to call him mister but my son told him that he has to live with us not him. LOL!
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