Children At Restaurants?

Question

I work at a restaurant. My restuarant closes at 10pm during the week. Tonight, a family of three adults (mother, father and grandmother) came in with two children (under the age of 7/8)

It was 9:45 when they walked in. They preceeded to order the kids pizza and ice cream (for dessert). The family was not over weight or anything; but it seem so that this is bad parenting.

I don't have children. However, I think serving their children such heavy food, so late at night is bad. I have nothing against seeing healthy looking, nice families w/ kids eating pizza if it's 6pm (in moderation too) But, by the time they finished dinner it was almost 11pm. Too late to be eating and too late for young children to be out.

I understand, kids don't always go to bed early. But, dinner at a restuarant at 10pm on a Wednesday night seems bad to me.

When I was little, I remember having a bath and being in my PJs by 8 or 8:30 (even in the summer) I remember doing that to at least 10 years old

What do people think?

I've worked at 2 different restaurants over the past two years, I've seen this alot?

It kills me. Half the time, the kids are falling a sleep before the food even gets there.

I can't believe how many people are against me. But, come on 11pm!!

I'm sorry, I'm not a parent. You are right, but I would plan my day better. Kids shouldn't be eating pizza and then ice cream at 11pm.

If I were the parent, I would rather say, "yes, it's a special occassion, but it's too late for ice cream. We'll have ice cream after lunch tomorrow afternoon."

The kids were having Pepsi's too!!! I mean sugary soda at almost midnight!!

Yes, I don't have children. But, I am an education major. I've learned about development and healthy patterns of living in school. I've observed classrooms. I also have one nephew and one godchild. Neither set of parents would do the above stated.

I'm not judging, rather making an observation. This is a new trend. In past decades, I feel this would never happen.

What happen to giving kids a routine and revolving a schedule around what's healthy for the child.

If this were my family, my mother wouldn't care if she lived 300 miles away. She'd tell me, "get those kids home and in bed. Next time, we'll schedule an earlier dinner."

Answer 1

I agree with you, but also you don't know their situation, but still I don't find that an excuse to be eating dinner that late. I try and keep my kids on their schedule best I can, and yeah sometimes we eat dinner late but only maybe about an hour late at the most.

Also with everyone saying you shouldn't eat past a certain time, the only reason they say that is is because of what people eat past 8pm, there is nothing wrong with it is just the food choices people make, like ice cream and chips. It also does not slow down your metabolism.

Answer 2

Even though I agree with you, we don't know what situation that family was in. May be they were traveling.
For me, my son gets off his sleep schedule and sometimes stays up until 10-11pm. But I wouldn't be feeding him that late. He's two. We've been to WalMart before at 10pm. But that's only if he's had a long nap and is wide awake and we have run out of milk or something.
Todays time has changed so much since the 70s when I grew up. I was in bed between 7-8pm every night and going out to eat was actually a TREAT. Just a once in a while, two or three times a year treat. We had home cooked meals and scheduled bath routines and bed routines. Not these days. Some people don't get off work until 6pm or after. Doesn't leave much time with the kidos.
Plan on having kids? You'd be a good Mom with a very good schedule etc. But you may find yourself off routine a bit sometimes and have to go to the store late, or something like that. For me, never a restaurant that late at night.
Also if a restaurant closes at 10pm, there would be no way I would expect to be served at 9:45pm. I couldn't do that. I've walked away before because I would ask how late the restuarant is open and if it's only 15 min more, I will find somewhere else to go. I think that's rude.

There are so many diverse family structure out there now a days. It's hard to tell what their situation is when they're coming in that late. Keep a smile on when you serve. :-)

Answer 3

If the kids are screaming, crying, and misbehaving because they are clearly tired and up past their bedtime, then that's really annoying. Well, it's annoying and rude to just stay at a restaurant when your kids are disturbing other guests at any time of the day, really.

However, if the kids are behaving okay, it wouldn't bother me and I wouldn't really think it's my business why they're out late. The family could be traveling and just had to stop somewhere to eat Or maybe they just have a schedule where the kids are able to sleep in pretty late in the mornings, and therefore are able to have a later bedtime than the average child. Because in some families, both parents don't work so they don't have to drop the kids off at daycare early in the morning, and some families homeschool so even older school-aged kids don't necessarily have to get up super early in the morning.

Answer 4

I agree children need a schedule but how do you know what their schedule is? when my husband worked third shift we all were on his schedule. We ate late shopped late and slept late. Not everyone can work day light hours. Also, What if the kids were out and hadn't ate? Would you rather they went to bed hungry? There are a million different scenarios that could come into play here. I think you wanted everyone to say how bad these parents were but honestly I think you being brutal. It may stink that you had to wait on them so late but that doesn't qualify as bad parenting. And if its summer why does it matter if its Wednesday. I have taken my kids out and things take longer and we have eaten late, does that make me bad in your opinion? Or are you just mad cause you had to do work and you didn't want to do ? Back off and wait till you have kids and crazy schedules and then you can judge until then nope I'm not criticizing that family to make you feel better.

Answer 5

Just butt out of other poeple's business, OK?! Why do you care how late this family eats? has it occured to you that they may have a different schedule, and that's a normal time for them to eat? Maybe the kids go to bed much later then that, then get up later than most poeple as well. A little unusual, but there's nothing wrong with that. Stop judging poeple that are different from you, especially when you don't even know them.
Bottom line: When that family eats dinner is none of your business.

Answer 6

LOL. I do have to agree with you that it was a wednesday and that means a school night so kids should be home in bed by 8pm. But really what is the difference between having ice cream at 6 or 11 pm. It is not going to effect the kids. All parents to their own. At least they are feeding there kids and not just leaving the kids at home by themselves while they are out. You don't know what their night has been like. For all you know they could have been at the bedside of a dying loved one for 6 hours and needed to stop and eat before they go home. Who is to say. Don't judge lest ye be judged

Answer 7

You do not know the family therefore you have no right to judge them. I work from 12 til 8 and currently have custody of my brother who just turned 9. We sometime take him out for dinner after i get done taking a shower and stuff. Do you know what it is like to raise a child working 2nd or 3rd shift? Different families have different schedules we don't all work 9 to 5 jobs.
Also , we home school him currently. He does have play dates and stuff but mostly sleeps same schedule as I do. I really hate when people make judgement on situations they know nothing about

Answer 8

I am pretty strict with my kids' schedules and children shouldn't be drug all over town all hours of the night. I realize you are just trying to look out for the kids in this situation.

However, I would probably try to give them the benefit of the doubt. They could have been vacationing and maybe they were still in their time zone where 9:45 felt like 6:45. It is summertime and many families are taking trips this time of year. Since most kids are out of school right now they might have very late bedtimes.

I would have noticed the same thing as you and it would have bothered me like it bothered you, but I would have to remind myself that I don't know that person's situation and that things might not be what they originally appreared.

Answer 9

Hmmm...
Perhaps they are on vacation. We recently spent a couple of days at an amusement park. Came back to the hotel rather late, we were hungry, so we went out for a late dinner. My kids are 8 and 5. We were on a trip. It was a couple days/nights of fun. It was in the middle of the week. During the summer, we are more lenient with when we do certain things like go out and get to bed.

Maybe it was just a fun night out. Those are allowed on occasion. :) My husband works late sometimes. It was our 16th annniversary in May. The kids were in their pj's, I took them to meet Daddy for a late dinner that night after he was off of work. We went to our favorite restaurant. Ended up running into friends of ours with their kids, they were just coming home from vacation, wanted to treat the kids to a dinner out before going home.

Really judgemental of you to consider this bad parenting.

If these children were wearing ragged clothing, if they looked like they were abused, if they looked uncared for... that would be bad parenting.

Answer 10

For most of the US, it's still summertime. So the kids didn't need to be in bed to be up for school. Who ever decided that there is a "certain time" that kids need to be in bed? What makes you think that a kid is better off being in bed at 8:30 than at 11:30? Why does it matter if it's a Wednesday or a Friday, if there is nothing for them to get up early in the morning for?

Are you upset that they came in late when you were about ready to go home, and you're trying to blame it on the 'bad parents who don't get their kids to bed'?

Surely you know that one food or another doesn't make a difference at bedtime. They needed to eat something for dinner. Should the kids have just eaten a light salad? I don't get your logic in soooo many ways.

Mind your own business.