As the mother of a flock, good for the owner. Other people’s children drive me nuts sometimes.
I often feel like we’re the only parents who ever discipline their children or expect them to behave quietly in public.
“... 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
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.