I had a dinner date last night and, yes, it was with my wife
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
United States
June 29, 2019 11:09am CST
Last night I took my wife out to dinner at the same restaurant my editor and I had lunch on Wednesday. I had described the food and atmosphere to my missus and she was eager to give the place a try.
The server I had on Wednesday was working last night and I asked to sit in her section. She approached with a smile until she saw I was with a different woman. I introduced her to my wife and reassured her that my missus knew all about my lunch date with my editor.
Our food and service were excellent. The only unpleasant part of the evening was due to the two couples with one small boy each at the next table. The boys were between two and three years old, I'm guessing, and one of them was very loud and obnoxious. The other behaved much better. He even looked embarrassed at how his friend was acting out.
Do you believe it is inconsiderate of parents to let their child act out in a restaurant when it infringes negatively upon the dining experience of the other customers?
10 people like this
10 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
29 Jun 19
I think that more parents are choosing to ignore the child because they feel it's better for the child's emotional upbringing. I also think that more parents need to be proactive at quieting their children. It's rude not to atleast try to quiet the child down. I also think there is an age factor to take into consideration. The younger the children are, the more forgiving the other patrons may be. The older the child, the more heavily they criticize the parent.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
29 Jun 19
@DWDavis Let me clarify that when I said "ignoring the child was better for their emotional upbringing" I mean as opposed to correcting their behavior by disciplining them. I've not seen a lot of this myself, but I've heard enough of it on the internet (which arguably, you can't always trust) to think there are plenty of parents who aren't disciplining their children enough.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
30 Jun 19
@JudyEv Once when I was working at a restaurant up north, one of my waiter friends had to ask one of the waitresses to request a lady to button up her top. The woman was flashing him every time he went to her table. He didn't think it was on purpose, but he didn't know how to let her know he was getting a free show.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
29 Jun 19
If parents can't control their children then they need to train them at home. It's no fair to take them to a restaurant and spoil the occasion for other patrons.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136063)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Jun 19
It would depend on the child. We cant know the full circumstances. But they should have at least been trying to explain to him not to do that.
That poor waitress. I am sure she does see that on a regular basis. 
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
30 Jun 19
The circumstances, in this case, seemed pretty clear. The millennial parents were too wrapped up in what they were talking about to care how their son's behavior might be disturbing those around them. Nor did they make any effort to curb his antics.
I do give kudos to our waitress. She kept a smile on and remained courteous and professional throughout.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
30 Jun 19
@wolfgirl569 She was the best, considering it was her first-night working solo after only 2 days of shadowing and it was only her 2nd job as a waitress, her first being at a Pizza Inn. She'd waited on my editor/friend and me on Wednesday under the supervision of the head waitress, so when I saw she was working Friday night, I asked for her section.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136063)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Jun 19
@DWDavis That happens more all the time anymore. Sounds like you had a great waitress.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
29 Jun 19
Yes loud children in public can be real annoying. But age of two and three might be a little tough to manage. Expecting a good behavior from them for too long is not possible. Parents should take such young children to more of kids friendly restaurants.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
29 Jun 19
Yes! Some parents think everyone wants to tend to their children.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Jun 19
Yes, unruly children need to be kept in check at public places.
1 person likes this
