Obnoxious children & oblivious parents at restaurants...?

Question

Do you ever go to a restaurant (not a fast food place), and end up next to a table with completely obnoxious, out-of-control children? Does it seem like the parents are blind to the fact that their children are disrupting the entire place?
I realize that I am paying the same prices for the same food that they are, and they should be entitled to eat at the same place I am eating, but should I have to listen to their kids scream?
Where does one draw the line, why should my dining experience be ruined because of someone else's kids? At what point should this family be asked to either leave the establishment or at least quiet their child?
I've so much to say on this matter, but I'll leave it in you hands. What do you think should be done? What Can be done?

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All of your answers are making my day brighter!! I now know that I am NOT the only one who feels like this! I LOVE the idea of a kid/non-kids section... that is fantastic! (Now if they only came with sound-proof walls!!) I thought I was going to get ridiculed for my lack-of-tolerance, thanks everyone!!

Answer 1

I think the answer is to have hooks outside where children can be left( preferably until they are 18) so people can dine in peace

Answer 2

Inevitably I always end up next to that table. Hopefully some parents of some of those children are reading this. My son was taught at a young age how to act in public and I was never above getting up and removing him as all kids from time to time melt down but I did realize that I had no right to subject other patrons to it. Not sure where to draw the line I think it would depend on the type of restaurant. Family style will probably be more receptive to this behavior. If you are looking for a nice quiet and intimate dinner it is my experience to go to a more expensive place you are less likely to run into kids. Not that I am excusing the obnoxious kids or their oblivious parents or saying that you should have to pay more to grab a bite to eat. That is just what I do for my own relaxation,

Answer 3

Well..

I have kids and I know exactly what you are talking about. The youngest is about to be 7 and if need be, we "make a trip to the bathroom" for a little hand to a55 conversation.

I agree with you, if they can't controlled, then they don't need to be there. Most parents nowdays seem to lack any common discipline themselves, why should they instill any in their own kids? I am not perfect but if MY children are being obnoxious, I'm all over their a$$es in a heartbeat. You could go as far to say that I am on their asses BEFORE they can get a start. I am strict and although many (other) parents disagree, we will see whos getting the stares and whispers when we go out to eat.

What my wife and I have done in the past is tell the management about the obnoxious kids while we are leaving, prematurely.
Now management has been made aware that they are loosing customers (you won't be the only one leaving, I am sure). Let them do something about it.

On a few occassions I have said something to the obnoxious parents/kids myself. "Do you think you could controll your children?" always gets some dirty looks. I have even told the kids to go sit down and be quiet. Especially if they were in my vicinity. They go tell mommy and of course the dirty looks start flying.

If it came down to it, there should be seperate seating for those with obnoxious children, like smoking/non-smoking areas. Or even a minimum age requirement to allow them in. If an adult misbehaves, the police get called. Why should a child get away with it if their parents don't want to be responsible?

(Yes, I do have kids and if you disagree, maybe it's you that needs the discipline and not your unruly children!)

Answer 4

I completely understand where you are coming from. I work in a restaurant and deal with the children and parents all the time. I have had children playing in the restaurant like it was recess which doesn't work when I am carrying 5 people's food in my hands. But the parents are the worse they refuse to take responsiblity for their child! They let them throw their food, run around, play tag in the ailes, scream, and then if the child decides he doesn't want his perfectly good meal and wants something new I am supposed to just click my heels twice and get it for them! Parents! Sheesh....im not bitter...hahaa Bottom line though is that in the restaurant business your there to serve, the customer is always right even the bratty children are always right. Most often will see if the table next to the screaming child wants a diff table on the opposite of the restaurant ebcause that is all we can do.

Answer 5

I agree! I understand that babies cry and toddlers have meltdowns sometimes...so i'm understanding in situations like that, although I do wish more parents would go outside if they can't get the kid quiet within a minute or so. But what really annoys me is when some 5-year-old is totally out of control, constantly getting up out of his seat and running around or climbing all over the booths and the parents ignore it. A kid that age should know better, and I can't understand how the hell the parents aren't totally embarrassed and mortified that their kid is acting like that! Not to mention, it's a safety hazard when servers are carrying trays of hot food. A kid running around could trip them and end up with third degree burns.

Answer 6

I see your problem and have been in the same situation,but do you also think it is fair that if you have a family area that my kids have to sit in the area where all the bad kids are if mine arent miss behaving? And its not always just kids.. I have been in resturants where adults have been so rude and loud and the language is unbareable. People today ahve no respect for anyone else. I have been in a restuant before when our baby has started crying and after a few mins she wouldnt stop fussing we took our food to go. I dont care where the no smoking section or your idea of a family section is in a resturant your still going to smell smoke and her the kids. The problem is to many kids raising kids! And people that have no respect for others. Families dont sit down to a family dinner anymore. So kids dont know how to act in a resturant. Most families eat in front of the TV, and never together.

Answer 7

Parents like that need nothing more than a swift kick to the giblets. I'd LOVE to see people kicked out of a restaurant because of their bratty-*** kids. My aunt and uncle are the same way, they think that everything their kid does is adorable, to the point where it's a problem, and WILL a problem later in his life. And, I'm sure that lots of things ARE cute when they're babies, not ten freakin' years old. This kid is just NOT going to turn out normal, and EVERYONE knows it except them. The only thing to do is hope that kids like that grow up to realize how much their parents sucked and that they try to do better.

Answer 8

Unfortunately I think this happens more and more today. Parents just don't seem to discipline their kids like they used to. They watched to much Oprah or something. The parents don't even seem to realize it's rude on their part to let their brats behave this way. My solution to this problem, create a child/no child section like the smoking/no smoking sections. It may not seem right but my kids behaved while in a restaurant even in the McDonald's they did. Other than that I have no clue.

Answer 9

I will not get going on this subject, I agree with most of the responses, and I agree parents no longer teach and discipline their kids, which is very much a headache for others, I too have waitressed, and has asked parents to please keep their kids under control as they were distrubing others patrons, and my thoughts are, if they don't like, don't come back, or control your kids, simple as that. Other than that, all you can do is hope the resturant will not allow this to happen.

Answer 10

Okay....your dining experience is from the viewpoint of an outside observer. I've actually had the experience of going out with extended family comprising parents & kids like u described. Let me tell you girl, it's worse when you're part of such a group.

These relatives of mine have actually been told by the restaurant management not to come with their kids. But as an answer to your question, I think you should give the parents a real good glare first. If they don't take the hint, complain to the management. (It's worked pretty damn well for my relatives)

Answer 11

I'm a server so I TOTALLY understand what you're saying!
Now if I wouldn't get fired, I would let the parents have it but since I can't, I wish the other guests would step up! If a kid's bugging me while I'm out, I say something. I don't care. The parents can either control their kids or be embarassed in front of everyone dining. Their choice. 99% of the time the kids relax and I'm the b*tch they won't even make eye contact with! Oh well, at least I'm not listening to some attention-deprived child screaming because he has one pea on his plate. F that! I can only blame the parents and that's why I say something to them.
Funny story about an annoying child and even worse mother. I was working in the afternoon when they came in for a late lunch. The way my restaraunt is set up, there are three long rows of tables going all the way to the back. One side is booths, about 6 and the other side tables, maybe 7. Anyway, the walkway is big enough and we have plenty of room to walk through. But not when an 8 year old little girl with long, curly hair and the attention span of a gnat is dancing in it. She was closer to the kitchen and I had to walk past her everytime I needed to get to my tables. With hot food in my hands no less! So, after about 20 minutes of me dodging the human hairball, I told her she needed to sit down because if she runs into me while I have hot food in my hand, she's going to be burnt very, very bad. It's best to scare kids, that's how they listen! And it's not like I was lying, she could be hurt. So she sits down and her a*shole of a mother looks up at me and says, "Thank you". WHAT?! I looked at her and said, "For what?" and she replied, "For making her sit down." Okay lady, here comes an insult....."Your child is a reflection of you. Good luck." She didn't know what to say. I told her kid to stay in her seat for her own safety. Kids also tend to listen to someone other than their parents because a stranger is scary and mom and dad will protect them. They won't want to leave thier side! Mission accomplished.
What an idiot! I don't see much hope for our children's future, not just that one child. Parents these days are so caught up in their own lives that kids are just an accessory now. It's sad. I see parents every day who sit down to lunch with their kids and put a portable DVD player in front of them and BOOM! Perfect angels. I mean zombies. Whatever keeps them out of their parents' hair. ;)
Good luck with dining out and my best advice, say something to the parents. Adults should know how to act and sometimes they need a swift kick in the you know what!