kid-free zones

I agree, no problem teaching kids manners, that is something that the parents in Chili's tonight obviously didn't do!

I probably would never do it, but many times I felt like taking my plate full of food and slamming it upside down on the offending child's and parents table. They disrupted my dinner, I'd sure like to disrupt theirs! Okay, I'm finished ranting, too!

Randy, that's a good idea. Your Olive Garden is very thoughtful (as in thinking).

Debi, I'll keep your suggestion in mind. LOL

It seems that many parents don't care how their children act these days or they just don't feel like trying to show them good behaviour.

My girls are older now but if a restaurant was kid-free I wouldn't support it. I think it's rediculous that they are catering to the kidless people. Kids are never going to learn correct behavior if they are not able to be put into this situation. My girls weren't the poster child of angelic behavior but if she threw a fit or started crying because she wasn't getting her way, either my husband or I would take her out of the room so we wouldn't disrupt the other diners. I've never been in a restaurant that has the families with kids and the couples without kids separated but I wonder how good that is for kids. What I'm thinking is they are confining all the kids to one room...good and bad...and the good kids will witness the bad behaviors and think its ok. Can't you just imagine all of the kids in high chairs screaming at the top of their lungs just because one family is allowing theirs to do it. Kids love to play follow the leader.

Now don't get me wrong what the people in the Chili's restaurant were doing wasn't at all the correct way to react to their child's shrill screaming. But to punish all parents because of a few bad incidents is wrong.

True Heidi. I don't support kid-free zones. I promote parents having the common (or uncommon) sense to know if their child can handle a situation and dealing with it appropriately if they get into a situation where they child is having a melt-down.

I was truly blessed to have children who sat quietly and still in restaurants and I have no idea how I would handle it if they did not. *knocking on wood*

I agree with you 100% - that minority of inconsiderate parents should be banned. I can imagine how you must have felt to know that the parents were laughing and encouraging the child to behave like that. Good article!!!

I think if you begin taking your child to a restaurant early in life, when they can sit up in a high chair, and correct him or her, the first time they do something wrong at that very minute, lessons are taught. I don't think people should have to pay a baby sitter so they can go out, but I do think training your children to behave from early on, at the table, at home or in a restaurant is probably the smartest thing you can do. Of course there will always be adults not smart enough to be adults or parents for their children, so you will always find one you like you described. I think I would have stood it just so long, and then asked the waiter or waitress, if they could ask the parents to control their child, a restaurant should not want to lose business from either set of people, those with children or alone. A little common sense is what is needed here, and I think that yes a family section with all people with little kids such as the Olive Garden has, is a nice idea. But I don't think you will find it everywhere.

Don't blame the kid, it is the inconsiderate parents that are to blame.

My wife got mad at me the first time I did it but I call the waitress and tell her we are moving to another table because of the noise. Not just kids but anyone that gets too loud, I make sure they know it bothers me.

Jimmy, you just reminded me of this hysterical restaurant review I read. I will have to try and find it so I can share it with my fellow Gatherites. It's involving cell phone use in a restaurant. fun stuff!

I agree that many parents today are not concerned about teaching their children manners. I'm in retail, and I see parents all the time who just don't care how their children act!

oh cindy, I hate to hear that.