Posted on 11/14/2005 5:51:48 AM PST by 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.
Absolutely, we did the same thing. Of course, I probably had a pretty low tolerance for things like screaming kids. It didn't take removing them from the restaurant before they got the idea.
susie
I wanted to embarrass her. It worked.
My kids have honestly never misbehaved in a restaurant. Then again, we were smart enough not to take 3 year olds to dimly lit, boring restaurants where they would have been sure to act out. One of my pet peeves these days is to go to a nice place with my wife, only to see that a couple who doesn't have a clue have brought a toddler.
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/national/09bakery.html
And these quotes in particular:
"I think that the mothers who allow their kids to run around and scream, that's wrong, but kids scream and there is nothing you can do about it. What are we supposed to do, not enjoy ourselves at a cafe?"
"You go to a coffee shop or a bakery for a rest, to relax, and that you would have to worry the whole time about your child doing something that children do - really what they're saying is they don't welcome children, they want the child to behave like an adult."
... about made me swallow my cud.
True story: Last year, we were called to a parent-teacher conference at my then 1st grade daughter's private school. Every one of my kid's teachers showed up, and you could tell from the tone of the meeting that they had circled the wagons. Long story short, they were moving our daughter from AP to grade level reading (although she remained in AP math).
It was obvious that they expected us to go ballistic. My wife and I looked at each other, then said , "OK. You know her capabilities best." They were truly surprised that we didn't pitch a hissy fit. Apparently most parents at this school not only believe their children are nothing but little angels, but each one of them is a Little Einstein and woe to anyone who tells them any different.
BTW, it was the best academic thing that could have happened to her. She's now a straight A student and not stressed out by trying to keep up with stuff that's over her head. And one of the teachers took us aside one day, and told us that we're considered "the good ones" (sets of parents) by the teachers.
Well, she sounds like one hell of a woman.
As Rush has said many times, America has lost its common morality.
Excellent point. I still see my 20something kids behavior as a reflection on me. And yes, I can look back and see some things I wish I had done differently.
susie
It sounds as though the guy deserved it. This kid's action was very rude and anti-social, and went beyond a mere verbal tantrum. How he deals with his kid is legally his business, but he at least has a duty to apologise for his kid spitting on someone. I probably wouldn't have punched the guy (just me personally), but I would have made him apologise.
Ah, assualt. Yet another boast of criminal behavior on this thread. Sickening.
As for the punch. If I ever hit my son with my fist, at any age, the only caveat being that I'm defending myself, then I fully expect to go to jail. Not only do I expect, but I would absolutely deserve it. You don't punch people, any people for mouthing off.
You sure as hell don't assault school teachers for turning in evidence of abuse. That's low-life, "gansta", thug behavior, and certainly not something a so-called conservative should be bragging about on Free Republic.
I'd have spit back on the kid.
God bless your sister and brother-in-law. It's nice to know that someone still has a clue.
Oh, aren't you the kind one! I'm blushing!
susie
Sad, but true. My experiences in Texas have been the same. The only exceptions seem to be the bar and grill places where the food is mediocre, but the drinks are stiff.
Amen to that. You just described my children exactly. I finally figured it out though. My wife and I are so busy fighting the battles, we don't have a good frame of reference. Our efforts are working, but we're so busy correcting our children we can't see what well behaved kids they are - on balance.
Great outcome. We're "good ones", too. Unfortunately, one side-effect is sometimes teachers become more willing to discipline your child than others that need it more (easier to discipline the ones it works with).
Yup, and tell them to stop in the form of a question. It's not "will you", but it's "you will".
That's perfectly normal and as it should be.
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