Some of us remember childhood half a century or more ago. We know how it CAN be. We know how children CAN behave. We know that children CAN be taught to respect others. We know how classrooms CAN be controlled. We know that theaters CAN make noisy people leave. We know how parents CAN teach and discipline little ones. We know that adults being annoyed by unruly children CAN ask for it to be stopped. We know that 'being the adult' is not supposed to be fun or popular or buddyville.
A challenge to all parents of little ones here: check how much corn (all forms), food coloring, chocolate and milk your little ones digest. Then go search ADHD and food together (I got 3,360,000 hits). Then try some targeted dietary changes (it's hard), and note daily behavior. Been there, done that, and allowed an ADHD-symptom child to regain calmness with no drugs.
AMEN!
Interestingly, as a HS teacher, I used to have kids tell me alot of things, including how easy their parents were to manipulate. They didn't want their Moms to be their best friends (they had friends). But they loved the fact that they could get whatever they wanted because their Moms refused to parent.
susie
"Then try some targeted dietary changes (it's hard), and note daily behavior. Been there, done that, and allowed an ADHD-symptom child to regain calmness with no drugs."
My oldest was very well behaved but at times acted out horribly and would cry because he wanted to stop but couldn't. We finally found out that he was reacting to dairy products. We cut them out and his outbursts disappeared within 3 days. It was amazing.
BTW, I agree with the restaurant owner. Parents should not take out of control children out for other people to ENDURE. When I get an occasional 'date' WITHOUT the kids, I don't want to hear other people's whiney loud obnoxious brats!