Angry Moms Boycott Eatery That Asks Kids To Keep Quiet

NBC TV NEWS ^ | 11-12-2005

[Cagey]

Parent Says Restaurant Offers Kid Food, So It Should Cater To Kids

"We were surprised at how many times we would see children really out of control," McCauley said. "And we actually had people leaving the bakery because the children were so out of control."

So, he put a sign on the door at kids' eye-level, asking children of all ages to use their "indoor voices."

"We thought it was just a friendly reminder to people that when they come here, just be considerate of the people around them. We had no idea the kind of controversy that was going to explode out of this," McCauley said.

But some parents who spoke with NBC5's Natalie Martinez took immediate offense to the sign. The angry mothers said there are plenty of places in the Andersonville neighborhood where they can take their kids, even if they're acting out.

"I've e-mailed friends and said, 'Just so you know, this man has a sign up. I know there are lots of other options, and I'd encourage you not to go there,'" parent Kate Bremmer said.

When she spoke with Martinez, Bremmer and her kids were picking out goodies at a Swedish bakery, where all kids are welcome.

"Our custom has been to offer a cookie to every child that comes into the store for as long as I can remember," said Kathy Stanton-Cromwell, the co-owner of the bakery, which is just a few doors down from A Taste of Heaven.

Stanton-Cromwell said the cookie serves as "a good calmer" for kids who are acting up.

Bremmer said A Taste of Heaven "is not a five-star restaurant," so she thinks it should cater to kids, not the other way around.

"They offer ice cream cones and cookies and lots things that kids love, and therefore, I don't think that they should make such an issue of it," Bremmer said.

Other parents enjoying lunch with their kids at A Taste of Heaven were more diplomatic.

"I have mixed feelings about it. It's a little off-putting," one mother said.

Linda Wallace, also a mother who eats at A Taste of Heaven, said she thought McCauley was "sort of brave" for putting up the sign.

"It did cross my mind that he might offend some people," she said.

McCauley said he loves kids, although he has none of his own. He said he has no immediate plans to take the sign down.

[Sam Cree]

I don't mind well behaved kids in a restaurant, but when they are shouting and screaming, I leave. I don't come back if that's the norm for the place.

Sometimes the restaurant has a choice, serve noisy children, or serve people who enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. The two will not willingly occupy the same space.

To me, it's unbelievable that a polite request for indoor voices and good behavior is grounds for a boycott. Generation X, I guess.

[bonfire]

Don't move to TX. THere are no restaurants that are free of kids. Even the priciest, fanciest......everyone brings the kids. We lived there for 11 years and never got used to it.

[jeremiah]

I had breakfast one morning next to a table full of children once. The once part comes in when I explain that they were ages 8-3, all related. The mom and dad sat alone and appeared to be not with them. As I waited for the noise and mess, they surprised all at the restaurant, and colored on a book while waiting for food, the older ones helped the younger ones pour milk in cereal, and not once did they act anything other than great. It was jaw dropping, I hadn't seen children behave so well since . . . . the days when my mother ruled with an iron skillet. The parents watched them carefully, but did not once have to shoosh them, or clean up a mess..

Yes kids now rule their parents, and the parents not only defend the actions of these unruly brats, they demand others accomodate them.

[brytlea]

I think if a child looked under the dressing room door while I was in their changing, they would be scarred to life! Just punishment! ;)
susie

[HowDidIGetHere?]

Agreed. It is statistically impossible for this many perfect parents to be in one place at one time :}

JILL

[hispanarepublicana]

Well, I live in Texas, and the restaurant with the fancy-schmancy Sunday brunch mentioned in my earlier thread was in the metroplex. But, you're right......it is near impossible to find a restaurant without kids. My husband and I have actually requested the "smoking" section before if we wanted to have a "romantic" dinner.

[brytlea]

I have noticed alot more unruley, ill behaved kids with oblivious parents here in S. Florida than I ever noticed in Texas. FWIW this is a very upscale area. But people seem to bring their small children to the most inappropriate places. I think if they can bring their wild kids I should be able to bring my two well behaved golden retrievers! Alas, it is not so!
susie

[xsmommy]

i just have to wonder... have you never been out in a store or a restaurant and been witness to parents who are NOT in control of their children? no one here is claiming perfect parenting, but what they ARE advocating is that the parent be the one in charge and not the child. instances of the reverse are legion, everywhere you look.

[Gabz]

Yes kids now rule their parents, and the parents not only defend the actions of these unruly brats, they demand others accomodate them.

Alas, it seems that you are correct. It seems I know nearly as many impolite as polite children. I'm by no means a perfect parent, nor is my daughter an angel, but my husband and I have done our best to instill proper manners in her, and for the most part we have been successful.

[paul51]

I see nothing wrong with the sign

Except that the owner needs to put it up a little higher so the real problem gets the message

[HowDidIGetHere?]

Of course I have. However, having been a parent for quite a few years now I have a bit more empathy for people who might be having a bad day or week. As I said in an earlier post, the Feingold Diet saved us from some behavior issues that really might have destroyed my family and me. Google Feingold if you are interested.

I don't really know what strangers are going through when I have my moment of contact with them at the store or wherever. I don't feel it is my right to go through life without being inconvenienced. On my better days, at least :}

JILL

[rhetorica]

Whatever happened to common courtesy? The rules are fairly simple. There is a difference between a "child being a child" and a child being out of control. I have no problems with children in public places, but I have a big problem with "out of control" children. I've had more meals than I care to remember ruined by out of control children. How hard is it to know that when your child is running around or screaming at the top of his/her lungs you take them outside? If I lived near this bakery, I'd go out of my way to patronize it!

[Quilla]

If the kids on the bus were unruly or not sitting and if they were being loud/screaming, etc, I would warn them once and if it didn't stop, I wouldn't care where I was in my route (I had the longest route in the school system), I would turn around, drive ALL the way back to school, park the bus where I picked them up, wait for them to be quiet and then start out again.

See, this explains perfectly why I am not a school bus driver. I'da slammed on brakes and sent the buggers flying.

[xsmommy]

well i guess we differ in our views. sure anyone can have a bad day and kids are going to misbehave now and again, but there is an epidemic, in our culture, of parents who fail to parent, who give their children decisionmaking power that they have no business having, and the result is a society of little monsters, who will grow up to be self centered big monsters. teachers will tell you. and i do think that even a casual bystander to a temper tantrum by a child, seeing how the parent responds, probably is able to tell pretty accurately which of the two is in charge in that situation.

yes, diet can be an issue, but that is not going to be a cure-all, if the parents cede control to their child.

my oldest is 17, and while not a child any longer herself, is able to look at one of these out or control situations and roll her eyes and say, some chance you'd have let US carry on like that.

[markman46]

that is what "parenting classes" do you have to tell the child that you don't "like" what they are doing, not to give them a good wack on the butt.

[GOPJ]

Good point:

Where does it say that they have to "Keep Quiet"? "Inside voices" means to talk in a normal voice, not yell and scream. Typical MSM headline....

[Mjaye]

Great link, too funny! When our kids were little, we could take them to any restaurant without fear of bothering anyone else.

I was seated recently near a child who let out an ear-splitting shriek periodically, and her parents smiled indulgently without a thought to others trying to have a meal. They are crippling their child by teaching her that she can do anything she wants, anytime, anywhere, no problem.

I'm surprised that libraries are still allowed to request quiet; after all, some kids may want to go in there and yell or scream.

[HowDidIGetHere?]

I agree with you; it is an epidemic. However, I have no control over it. :}

JILL

[Gabz]

I was paid a lovely compliment last week about my child's behavior. We were having a conversation about this very type issue, and how so many parents just don't seem to want to be parents but rather friends to the kids and let them walk all over them.

Mind you, all of these folks have grown children and some have grandchildren. One of the gentlemen said to me that of all the children that frequent the place, mine was pretty much the exception to the rule and everyone else agreed with him and commented that she waw always welcome there.

That made me feel really good, especially since I know she has her moments - fortunately they do not often occur in public :)

[xsmommy]

well we have no control over politics either, but we continue to opine about that here, who the better candidates are etc., what the better positions are on various issues. How is this any different? it isn't fair to tag the people lamenting the current trend of 'kids run amok' as considering themselves PERFECT PARENTS.