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

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!

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

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.

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"^ 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.

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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.

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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

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Kids that turn around and talk to you.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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