Posted on 07/09/2011 7:21:34 PM PDT by Immerito
MONROEVILLE, Pa. -- Stephanie Kelley, of Trafford, has been a weekly customer of McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center. Not any more.
The eatery on Broadway Boulevard in Monroeville has decided to stop admitting young children, and she's the mother of a toddler.
"I can't believe this. I am offended. This is just an ignorant policy," Kelley told Team 4 investigator Jim Parsons.
In an email sent to loyal McDain's customers, owner Mike Vuick wrote, "Beginning July 16, 2011, McDain's Restaurant will no longer admit children under six years of age. We feel that McDain's is not a place for young children. Their volume can't be controlled and many, many times, they have disturbed other customers."
(Excerpt) Read more at wtae.com ...
Chilluns should be SEEN, NOT HEARD! An old adage — TRUE
“But, ask nicely for the useless parent to do something about their “precious” and they’re calling the cops on you.”
__________
Yes, it is so irritating. And I say this as a mother who (years ago) had to bring her upset children outside when we tried to go to a restaurant. Sometimes, it just doesn’t work, and you have to go home.
If you OWN your own establishment in New York City you cannot allow smoking..even if you’re the owner and smoke you have to go outside your OWN building. I’m an ex-smoker but I hate this law because I believe in the logic you just stated. While we’re at it...I hate ALL no smoking laws on a LEGAL product!!!
“... feel like we’re the only parents who ever discipline their children”.
Right there with you, Mountainbunny. My children aren’t perfect but they have always behaved in a restaurant. We have received many compliments over the years because people were amazed at just how good they acted. Now, no one saw or heard the “talk” in the car before going in. It was clear cut instructions and expectations of behavior. NO loud talking, say please/thank you, eat like a lady or gentleman, no running, standing, walking around etc, etc, etc. They knew what was expected of them going in. I have seen wild hooligan children doing all sorts of stuff... dumping plates of spaghetti, throwing food, screaming, temper tantrums. To be honest, there have been other people’s kids that ruined our meal. If a private owner of a restaurant wants a ban on kids, it is his or her right IMHO
That resturant would make it to the TOP of my lists to go to. Tired of not being able to have a conversation; because some mis-behaving brat is throwing a tantrum, is running uncontrolled, is screaming or making noise.
Surprisingly, every parent thinks that what they produced is the golden child, their precious little prince/princess can do no wrong - that any noise they make is merriment to everyone else. The rules that everyone else must live by; are utterly optional for them.
Good for this resturant; I hope their business SURGES.
I have friends whose two boys were taught from a very young age how to behave in nice restaurants.
When they behaved, they were treated with respect and were made a part of the whole group. The took part in the conversation with everyone else and so, had a good time with everyone else.
When they misbehaved one parent or the other would mostly just give “the look” and that was mostly all it took. The parents decided what was for dinner, not the boys, and because it had always been that way, there was no argument.
I had another friend who was so impressed with her children, he walked over to her table with a bottle of nice wine, thanked her for how well behaved her children were, and filled her glass.
Read my post...I’m sure it will and good luck to him ...I say!
I love that sign. A local toy store has that sign and they added “a large chocolate bar”.
Yes, some people have no common sense. Your habits with the kids sound like ours when ours were little. My 14 month old grandson is such a joy. Now it’s my daughter’s turn and it’s fun to watch her and her husband with that little guy.
I have no grandkids yet but like You, they will do no wrong and they won’t be screeching... they’ll be whimpering...so get used to it, you “looking-for-romance bigots”...LOL
Years ago we went on trip to Florida with my grandparents. They took the whole family.
My young cousin was usually a brat in the restaurants. My grandad was a calm quiet man. One day my cousin was screaming and acting out in the restaurant.
Grandpa got out of his chair, picked my cousin up and took him out to the car and shut the door. The kid was still screaming. Grandpa stood there smoking his cigar and told him “when you decide you are done screaming, we will go back inside”. LOL About 15 minutes later they returned and not a peep came out of the kid.
The boy was always good after that in the restaurants.
I don’t think too many people care to have to eat their dinner around noisy brats. It should be the job of parents instead of restaurant making the rules. If this place can afford to lose those customers, the owner has a right to set the rules.
An older couple seated near us stopped at our table as they were leaving to compliment us on how well-behaved our son was.
Now, he was was no paragon of perfect behavior, but he had stayed in his chair and not screeched nor pitched a fit.
He did, however, appear a perfect little angel compared to the two or three families seated near us. Their children were running around the restaurant, chasing each other, yelling, and (Yech!) playing in the food still on the buffet line. The parents all sat at their tables, drinking coffee, conversing, and paying no attention whatsoever to their offspring.
I never found misbehavior and excessive noisiness "cute" in my children nor anybody else's, and I get less patient with it as I get older.
I'd pay this place a visit if I lived anywhere near it.
We didn’t go out to eat very often when the kids were small, but when we did, on at least two occasions, strangers approached us and complimented us on how very well behaved our children were. Of course, we felt proud of them, but I always was worried that after saying that, the kids would start acting up. Thankfully, that never happened.
Sigh - if only I could bok a “kiddo-free” flight.
OH well, at least in 1st class there is a smaller chance of being stuck next to smelly screamer for 4 hours.....
Yeah, I’ve got two little kids. We go to restaurants with balloons and free kids meals. There for a while we didn’t go to any restaurants because one kid had a penchant for what I like to call “the random screams.” He grew out of it. Then we could go back to balloons.
I don’t care for screaming/ill-behaved kids in public, whether it be a restaurant, movie theater, church or retail store. My mother didn’t allow me to act like a brat.
Another RUDE thing that parents let their kids do...is give the waiter/waitress an order”
Strongly disagree with you. When we are in a family restaurant and there is a children’s menu, once my grandson learned to read he was allowed to order. Children learn by doing. My grandson orders in about one tenth of the time it takes my DIL and then she always changes her mind. We have always let him choose something to take with him to the restaurant to occupy himself. Everyone is much happier this way, including those sitting around us.
Good. I hope it is the start of a global trend!
No, it’s a private business. They have the right (or ought to ) to ban people from their establishment if they choose to do so. Restaurants that ban too many customers find themselves at a competitive disadvantage. This restaurant must have a good reason for its policy.
There are plenty of sit-down restaurants that allow children.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.