Restaurants and kids

mommyofpremitwins wrote: Well my husband and I enjoy going out to restaurants but my children get bored. We usually only take them to breakfast on Sundays because that is all that they can handle.

Last Sunday we were out for breakfast at a Family restaurant and my son was fussing a little and was not crying but complaining only for 2 minutes at the most before I had him calmed down. There were 4 people sitting next to us and one of the older men made a loud comment for us to hear that he didn't take his kids to restaurants until they were old enough to behave them selves. Then he said that is what McDonalds is for.

My husband and I were so hurt and felt so bad. That is why we chose a FAMILY restaurant to go to. And trust me Cole was only noisy for 2 minutes at the most.

What is everyones opinion on this?

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I would have said something to my husband along the lines of: "Geez... if he didn't want to eat around kids, he shouldn't have gone to a family restaurant. That's what the Keg is for."

Don't worry about it...some people are ignorant.

mom2my2cuties replied: I generally respond to something like that with a comment right back - Usually something along the lines of, MAN! If the food is so bad here that you have to pay so much attention to what is going around you, you should ask for a refund and never come back.

hawkshoe replied: If your child was as you say, then I would say ignore the man's comments. We sat in a booth at a local diner one day and my son was acting perfectly fine, just moving around in his seat a bit. An old woman in the booth next to us kept giving us dirty looks. My husband was getting pissed at me. I told him our son was behaving fine (it is not like he was standing in his seat, screaming or even touching her). I told him (loud enough that she could hear) that if she had a problem with children then she should ask to have her table moved. Honestly, I think some older people just don't want kids around when they are eating, well behaved or not. I wouldn't be surprised if no kids zones replaced the no smoking sections in some restaurants (especially the ones frequented by the old crotchety type)

MommyToAshley replied: I think all kids have their moments, even the "well-behaved" ones. It only took a few minutes to calm him down... forget about that comment. You were in a family restaurant, and you handled the situation accordingly. Life is too short to dwell on the comments of a grumpy stranger.

Kids do get bored easily. I usually bring a bag of small toys and coloring books and crayons when we go out to eat. Sometimes it can take awhile for the food to come and this keeps Ashley occupied. Some family restaurants have coloring pages and crayons, but not all... so I bring my own just in case.

gr33n3y3z replied: being the type of person iam I would have said something back at him
I'm use to dealing with older ppl. bc our town has lots of them
Mind you not all are like that some are just misrable ppl. and nothing you can do to make them happy

Nina J replied: When you go to a family restaurant, you go knowing there is the possibility there will be noise and fussy kids. You don't go to McDonald's and expect it to be quiet and peaceful.

I would've responded with some language not suited for a family restaurant

Crystalina replied:
Ditto.

I do not have a big mouth and I'm not loud but I would definately have said something to him. I can't stand when people walk out of their door and into society and get ticked when they run into people (or kids God forbid!). They should have went to the country club. If you were in a family restaurant then you were not in the wrong. I used to get agitated with the kids for fidgeting and one day it clicked that I was not getting upset because they were being bad but I was getting upset with them because I was trying to please the people around me. In doing that I was getting angry with them for being normal (and really well behaved compared to most) and when the person I was trying to please would leave so would my tension. I made a mental note to ignore the people who didn't like Evan playing peek-a-boo with Daddy and giggling. He was being normal and they can always move.

gr33n3y3z replied: I'm 43 years old and I fidget ask Ed lol

C&K*s Mommie replied:

As it was said before, some people are ignorant!

A&A'smommy replied: I agree totally ignore it it would have been different if was screaming but just fussing a little for a few minutes give me a break he is a kid.. i would just ignore it!

msoulz replied: I think "BITE ME" is an appropriate response in a restaurant, wouldn't you say??

No matter what we do with good intentions, someone will be offended. Life's too short to worry about those folks.

CantWait replied: Well most times I struggle to bite my tongue, however if it was a elderly fellow, then I probably wouldn't have said anything, younger though and watch out.

ashtonsmama replied:


If our son gets fussy, we try everything to get him distracted/calmed down, but if he won't settle down, we do usually leave (it doesn't happen often that we go out to dinner with him though)!