The no-kids-allowed movement is spreading.- Page 2

[artscallion]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 11:42am

I used to work in a bakery and was regularly stunned by women who would walk in and sit a baby, wearing only a diaper, down on the glass display counter top while they ordered. Seriously lady? You do know I'm serving food on this counter!

Updated On: 7/27/11 at 11:42 AM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 12:03pm

I agree about the smoking Q. If a restaurant or bar wanted to allow smoking, as long as it's clear that they do from the outside, it's an adult's choice if they want to be there.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 12:05pm

Walking through a department store the other day and a child ran up and planted herself in front of my husband with her arms and legs spread out as far as she could get them. She was waving back and forth and yelling. Robert told the mother to control her child and she blew up.

You should have seen the mothers reaction when I told her to keep her monkey on a leash.

[Q]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 12:10pm

Geez, Diva, doesn't your phone take vids, or at least pics?!?

[Kad]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 12:17pm

"^ That's why I'm constantly dismayed when places like, say, The Delacorte allow people to bring their babies to Shakespeare in the Park performances. Not only is it potentially disruptive and possibly dangerous (holding a baby in 95 degree heat for 3+ hours, anyone?), it's so obviously not geared towards them and represents the petulance/laziness/cheapness of the parents."

Actually, AC, I'm working at the Delacorte this summer and I've been surprised at how well-behaved both children and their parents have been. Yes, I would not small children to go see Measure for Measure. But people have, and nearly all the parents that have brought a baby have been quick to leave if the baby starts fussing. And all kids in the 2-7 range have been quite behaved during the show.

I've had more problems with nursing home groups, in terms of being disruptive to other patrons.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 12:28pm

There weren't any disruptions at either of the performances I've attended this summer, but I've seen it in the past. Even if it's attended to quickly, it still takes you out of the moment--maybe that's my biggest complaint. And it just always seemed so odd that they would allow it. (I always worry about the babies and the toddlers in the heat, too. I've attended performances that were over 100 degrees and figured they must be miserable.)

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 4:49pm

Someone in my hometown opened a pretty nice restaurant. ($30-50 check average) Beneath the name of the restaurant it reads "No children under 12 permitted." Some friend went a few weeks after it opened and was promptly seated next two a couple with an infant. It turns out people threw a FIT over the policy. The sign is still up and on average there are fewer kids than most restaurants, but they don't enforce the policy as they originally intended.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:06pm

"THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR!"

I love the way she says acceptable.....LOL assceptable.

Anyway, I've had elderly people stop by my table at restaurants just to complement my son on his behavior. It's not all kids that are brats.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:10pm

That's because not all parents are idiots, Stock. And you're a good one.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:14pm

Thanks, Reg! xoxo

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:16pm

My mother frequently comments people with well-behaved children, as well. And (shocker) it's almost always people who are paying attention to and engaging their children rather than trying to have a good time for themselves.

[Q]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:21pm

"That's because not all parents are idiots, Stock. And you're a good one."

Or the kid is scared.

Or bribed.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:26pm

Does anyone know what the criminal penalty would be for slipping a sedative to someone's unruly? If caught, that is.

I'm not suggesting anything really harsh like a roofie or an Percoset.

Just something small but potent, like a Valium or a Xanax, that can be hidden in a small piece of candy, like a Tootsie Roll, and chewed without any tell-tale bitter taste.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 8:33pm

I love that the pills are easily divided into sections...

Q,
It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to video tape anything. She kept calling me an ugly fag after I made the monkey comment.

Persian woman are so touchy about the extra body hair they have...

[StockardFan]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 8:46pm

LOL, Q! My son is just a polite kid. And I can't really even take credit for it 'cause I'm a rude biotch. Kidding. I honestly think that by starting your kid in a family friendly restaurant from an early age (and removing them when they cry until they calm down), they learn how they are supposed to act. The problem is when you try to bring them to a restaurant for the first time at 3 or 4 when they are already rambunctious. Also, I would never bring my child to a fancy restaurant. a) it's not appropriate and b) there wouldn't even be anything on the menu he would want.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 8:51pm

Stock, I remember having this discussion a few years ago and thinking you were a model of good sense and good parenting.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 9:31pm

Reggie, do you know how much I love you? (p.s. your check is in the mail.....LOL)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 9:36pm

I have two kids, and I love them. For the most part they are pretty good kids -- but if they misbehave in public, we go home, they get in trouble.


Other people's kids drive me nuts. (Not the well behaved ones, mind you.) Kids that turn around and talk to you. Kids that roam around. Kids that yell.

I don't even like being with the kids of friends that cannot behave.

And when I'm out WITHOUT my kids -- keep yours away from me.

Your child SHOULD be the center of your world -- but don't expect them to be the center of mine.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 10:01pm

Kids that turn around and talk to you.

That I don't mind as long as it's a nice conversation.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 11:01pm

^ Eh. When I'm out with my friends or my S.O. I don't really want to be the unpaid babysitter while the kid's parents have the adult conversation I should be having

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 11:37pm

I spent a long time being paid to interact with kids so I guess that's why I don't mind it. I remember being on a plane and a little girl was telling me how excited she was about her first airplane ride and seeing her grandparents. And her parents were involved in the conversation. It was nice.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/28/11 at 12:04am

There was a news story several years back about a flight attendant who attempted to drug an obnoxious child with a sedative put into a drink.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 7/28/11 at 1:45am

I don't mind the random conversation with a little one here and there, but when they won't leave you alone it gets to be a bit much. There is a little girl who is a younger sister of a girl that does karate with my son who hangs all over me the whole time they are in class. She's adorable, but why isn't her father playing with her and reading her books.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 7/28/11 at 7:29am

He's got her trained to use the "adorable" card on you. Suckah!

[D2]

Posted: 7/28/11 at 8:11am

I was in Starbucks yesterday, usually a mecca for the "wild child," and a very solemn child came up to me and asked, very politely, if I were using the extra chair. I told him he could use it, he thanked my and brought it back to his table where he sat and quietly played cards with his brother until his parents came with their beverages. I had to say something to them about how well-behaved their kids were; fair is fair, I certainly do enough bitching about the brats. The parents were thrilled to hear it. And I was thrilled to be able to say it to them.

"There was a news story several years back about a flight attendant who attempted to drug an obnoxious child with a sedative put into a drink."

I asked the flight attendant to do it.