Discuss solutions to children misbehaving in restaurants

[DrPizza]

Inspired by top 10 pet peeves about restaurants. So far, it's never happened to me in a nice restaurant, but it seems that half the time we eat at fast food chains (Applebees, etc.) I get stuck next to some family with kids that are seriously misbehaving (screaming, running around, etc.)


My first solution: turn around and tell the kids if they don't shut up, I'm calling the boogie man and monsters to hide under their bed & in their closet tonight.

Suggestions?

 

[JEDI]

taser
stun gun if they get close enuf so that u dont have to waste a taser charge

 

[freakflag]

Ritalin? Muzzles and seatbelts on the high chairs? Maybe...and this is a crazy thought...parents acting like F-ing parents and keeping their brats in line?? Nah, that's just too wacky.

 

[Cuda1447]

Bazooka

 

[xanis]

Ritalin? Muzzles and seatbelts on the high chairs? Maybe...and this is a crazy thought...parents acting like F-ing parents and keeping their brats in line?? Nah, that's just too wacky.

Two responses and we have a winner.

 

[Wag]

Make them sit under the table.

 

[Fritzo]

Ahhhh....another "I don't have kids but would know what to do if I did" thread.

When people that say these things have their own kids, they tend to say "Ohhh....I get it now."

 

[grrl]

Like freakflag is saying, the simplest and most logical solution is also the most unlikely - parents actually controlling their kids in public.

 

[amdhunter]

There should be rubber padded lockers to shove the little bastards in. They should be able to survive for the length of a movie.

Either that, or the parents should stay the hell home and save some movie money to get a damned babysitter.

 

[DeadByDawn]

shot of whiskey in the sippy cup

 

[Patranus]

Ahhhh....another "I don't have kids but would know what to do if I did" thread.

When people that say these things have their own kids, they tend to say "Ohhh....I get it now."

Um. If you cannot control your kid you have no business taking them to a restaurant or even worse on an airplane.

 

[Turin39789]

Ahhhh....another "I don't have kids but would know what to do if I did" thread.

When people that say these things have their own kids, they tend to say "Ohhh....I get it now."

I believe the OP has raised children to the moving out stage.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My son acted badly in a restaurant once. I warned him repeatedly to stop or I was going to take him out to the car...which is ultimately what happened. I carried him kicking and screaming out to the car to wait until he felt that he could control himself enough to rejoin society. This happened when he was 2 or 3 years old...he'll be 8 in August.

He is actually quite well behaved when we go out to eat now. He sits at the table with us, he doesn't get up and crawl around on the floor, he doesn't make a bunch of noise, and he doesn't play with his food.

 

[sandorski]

When kids are involved a certain amount of annoyance can be expected. If they are not your kids, how to deal with it is rather difficult. In short, there's not much you can do.

One thing you can do is scope out the place before sitting down. If you see rambunctious kids, ask for a table as far away as possible. If there are no potential annoyances, to avoid getting stuck later by newcomers, ask for a remote table where a Family is unlikely to be seated. Avoiding "Family" restaurants is likely your best bet. Another Option is Take Out and eat at home, at a Park, or friends place.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Honestly, I'd probably just ask to be seated somewhere else, somewhere far away from the offending kid/kids.

 

[JEDI]

I believe the OP has raised children to the moving out stage.

hm.. there was a thread about some guy kicking his adult step son out of the house.

the situation got worse in that the place (in another state) the step son was crashing in fell thru. (his friend said he cant stay there.)

step son moved out anyway w/o any job or place to live

wonder what happened since then?

 

[PottedMeat]

free roofiecoladas?
stare seductively at the kids?
loudly point out to friends how retarded the misbehaving kids are, also comment on their parents' stupidity.

 

[DrPizza]

Ritalin? Muzzles and seatbelts on the high chairs? Maybe...and this is a crazy thought...parents acting like F-ing parents and keeping their brats in line?? Nah, that's just too wacky.

Solution, not dream world. If the kids are acting up long enough to be annoying, it's already a given that the parents are doing nothing.

Re: my own kids - they would be dragged out to the car & brought back in once they stopped crying. They'd have something to cry about.

 

[Ronstang]

The problem is not the kids, it is the lazy parents. If you cannot control your children maybe you should spend some time learning how. If they act up in a restaurant and cannot be calmed with a few words then it is your responsibility to take them the fuck outside until they can return and act human.

 

[RbSX]

Taze the little fucks.

Kids do not belong in fancy restaurants. Oh, taze the parents too for being inconsiderate retards.

 

[Leros]

My son acted badly in a restaurant once. I warned him repeatedly to stop or I was going to take him out to the car...which is ultimately what happened. I carried him kicking and screaming out to the car to wait until he felt that he could control himself enough to rejoin society. This happened when he was 2 or 3 years old...he'll be 8 in August.

He is actually quite well behaved when we go out to eat now. He sits at the table with us, he doesn't get up and crawl around on the floor, he doesn't make a bunch of noise, and he doesn't play with his food.

That sounds like good parenting. I remember my parents having to do similar things to me. It made me realize I was acting stupid and I was so ashamed I'd never do it again.

 

[djheater]

Children younger than 5 or so can't be expected to exhibit a lot of self-control. Those that do have the right temperament and right environment, but even they will be terrible brats occasionally.
I have children, the youngest is 5. I've made my expectations of restaurant behavior clear and I ensure the older children model correct behavior. I don't make threats I don't follow through on. If I say I will bring them home, I do it.
I don't take children to really nice restaurants (what a waste). I don't expect anyones children but my own to behave, who knows what's going on over there. I don't feel entitled to a perfect restaurant experience when I'm in Chile's.

 

[Pacfanweb]

My kids never do any of these things.

That said, there is no kid that can't have a bad day when they are very small.

My advice would be, have your own kids. You'll be much more tolerant of these things.


Of course, there are parents who should be much more pro-active about minding their offspring in public places, but I see people without kids rolling their eyes when other people w/kids have even the slightest problem.

You don't want to deal with kids? Ask the hostess to seat you away from any kids. Problem solved.

 

[RbSX]

That sounds like good parenting. I remember my parents having to do similar things to me. It made me realize I was acting stupid and I was so ashamed I'd never do it again.

I think good parenting is not bringing the kid to the restaurant to start off with.

The little kid is 3 years old, to not expect him to cry, yell, or do some other equally annoying thing is just unreasonable.

Kids shouldn't be in a nice restaurant until they 8-10 years old.

 

[RbSX]

My kids never do any of these things.

That said, there is no kid that can't have a bad day when they are very small.

My advice would be, have your own kids. You'll be much more tolerant of these things.


Of course, there are parents who should be much more pro-active about minding their offspring in public places, but I see people without kids rolling their eyes when other people w/kids have even the slightest problem.

You don't want to deal with kids? Ask the hostess to seat you away from any kids. Problem solved.

The question isn't whether you can tolerate it, the question is whether your kids are ruining the dining experience of the other people around them.