Whatever happened to the days when children were expected to behave in restaurants?

Question

I'm not talking about infants and toddlers; I'm talking children who are old enough to know better (or should know better).

More and more I notice that children run amok in public, especially in restaurants, even the nicer sit-down restaurants.

As a child, I was severely scolded if I even so much as raised my voice in a public place. Nowadays it seems that many parents are oblivious to how their children behave. Kids can't seem to differentiate between the playground and a restaurant.

Driving the staff and other diners crazy...how did it come to this?

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

I believe that there has been so much emphasis put on child abuse, that parents no longer know where the boundary lies between normal discipline and abuse so they simply don't discipline. We also have very lazy parents that are selfish. They are more concerned with enjoying their meal with each other and friends, than they are about teaching valuable life skills to their children. I used to take my children outside until they behaved.Every single time they misbehaved! When they asked where we were going,I replied" Your behavior is inappropriate for the occassion, so we will stay out here until you can behave correctly".It didn't take many times before my children always behaved in public. I own a restaurant and the other day we had a large table of women and a child. I was asked by a server to intervene on behalf of the child. So I asked that the child sit with the group, that we were concerned that she might have hot food or plates get dropped on her ,with her running in front of the server and rolling around on the floor.The mother and grandmother got angry, and paid there bill and left, leaving the server a single penny for the tip for the table. A mighty life lesson to this 4 yr old child! She learned she could behave this way and get away with it.

Answer 2

You are right! Children must behave appropriately in a restaurant or you have to remove them. It is not fair to other diners, who may have paid a babysitter to get away from their own brood for awhile. It is not fair to the restaurant owner, who has a business to run. Children must learn that we are in the world together and that social customs allow us to carry on peacefully for the greater good of all. This is the essence of successful democracy, which is so far about the best system anyone has come up with. Allowing kids to behave like savages in a public place, particularly in a restaurant, where we have a right to peace and quiet, is HUGELY selfish.

Answer 3

Well, its actually just one symptom of the degeneration of american society. It may seem a stretch at first, but bear with me.

In the 50s, prayer and bible reading were removed from the public schools.

Not long afterwards, the standards and moral values that went along with that were removed also.

They were replaced with psychology and evolutionary teachings and "values," such as "man is only an animal, a cosmic accident."

This paved the way for situational ethics and relative morality.
This undermines the 10 commandments, which at one time both our societal mores and our law system were based on. The one worth noting here is:

"honor thy father and thy mother."

If there is no God, if man is an animal-an accident, then what do artificial standards matter? It goes along with what the bible said, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

Today, parents are commanded to respect their children. Many times, children control the household, parents catering to every whim of their fragile "self-esteem". In deed, discipline and punishment are frowned on.

The family was the first "political" unit ordained by God, which Father and mother ruling over the children. National Government was ordained later.

Since the national government has dethroned God, it only makes sense that the institution of the family would be maligned as well.

Also worth noting is the riotous rebellious immoral hollywood stars and singers who serve as role models for children. Also, hollywood and MTV are allowed to babysit many children, instilling them with their 'values' and 'morals'

How can we expect any better of the future generations?

Answer 4

Good manners home & abroad starts at the home. It is sad that some parents won't take the time to be a "role model" in teaching this. I would be suprised if restaurants actually allow that going on, as they would lose a lot of busness letting children run around like that.

Answer 5

I feel that the restaurants should start to speak up. the parents have no respect for anyone not even to teach their kids. the public should tell the manager that they need to do something. I work in a pre-school all day long, and my kids are grown so when i go out its to relax not to hear all that crap and see running around. also its so dangerous for the child. shame on you parents.

Answer 6

Do you really notice the good kids? Of course not, because they are quiet and well behaved and not standing out. You are noticing the bad kids of bad parents, but as a server I notice all of them, good and bad. I think its about 50/50

Answer 7

good for you Rhea B. I bet everyone else in the restaurant including staff was glad to see them go. You are exactly right. They taught that child that anything she does is fine. They will regret that when she is older.

Answer 8

Bad parenting. It seems that some parents are not teaching their children manners. It's not the kids fault it is the parents fault.

Answer 9

Any idiot with a functional reproductive system can make children. Teen parents are the norm now and it is nauseating. Children having children, what do you expect?

Answer 10

Those days die with each child born...thank the parents who keep cranking them out...