Comments on: I Had My Children To Ruin Your Pleasant Dining Experience http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/ Denver parenting, with altitude Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:29:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1840 Anonymous Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:13:54 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1840 cones!cathode snark Brontosaurus pounce.... cones!cathode snark Brontosaurus pounce….

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1839 Anonymous Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:53:56 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1839 sloping pious Punjabi Torrance pattering Weidman poster - Tons of interesdting stuff!!! sloping pious Punjabi Torrance pattering Weidman poster – Tons of interesdting stuff!!!

]]> By: Jak http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1838 Jak Fri, 16 May 2008 10:38:28 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1838 My girlfriend and I actually enjoy a family of 6 sitting next to us in an adult restaurant, about as much as having a root canal. If your kids HAVE six kids, and the trend continues, can you imagine what this world will look like in 200 years? We'll just "roll our eyes at you" for a good reason. I mean, get real! They have procedures for birth control if the pill doesn't work, ya know. My girlfriend and I actually enjoy a family of 6 sitting next to us in an adult restaurant, about as much as having a root canal. If your kids HAVE six kids, and the trend continues, can you imagine what this world will look like in 200 years? We’ll just “roll our eyes at you” for a good reason. I mean, get real! They have procedures for birth control if the pill doesn’t work, ya know.

]]> By: LeeAnn http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1837 LeeAnn Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:00:25 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1837 We have 3, leading with twin boys. I think it is important to match the behavior with the type of restaurants. Too many parents do not do this, and that may be why people look at children in restaurants with distaste. There have been stages that we avoided restaurants at all costs because our twin boys were too active for any restaurant. I believe that as parents we have the responsibility to make sure our children can handle where we are going. There are times we go to McDonalds with a playland because that's where our kids were at that night. (I hate fast food so that's a sacrifice!) Most times, we go to buffets because they can eat immediately and are sure to get something they like. Then sometimes we go to some of my favorite "family style" restaurants and it is a wonderful experience. The rude comments need to end, but I guess that will happen when rude people are no more. (We never go to formal restaurants, mostly because they're too expensive for 5 and because people dining there are often on a date night and don't really want to deal with kids.) Shame on that woman's comment about beating your kids into submission though!!! We have 3, leading with twin boys. I think it is important to match the behavior with the type of restaurants. Too many parents do not do this, and that may be why people look at children in restaurants with distaste.

There have been stages that we avoided restaurants at all costs because our twin boys were too active for any restaurant. I believe that as parents we have the responsibility to make sure our children can handle where we are going. There are times we go to McDonalds with a playland because that’s where our kids were at that night. (I hate fast food so that’s a sacrifice!)

Most times, we go to buffets because they can eat immediately and are sure to get something they like. Then sometimes we go to some of my favorite “family style” restaurants and it is a wonderful experience. The rude comments need to end, but I guess that will happen when rude people are no more.

(We never go to formal restaurants, mostly because they’re too expensive for 5 and because people dining there are often on a date night and don’t really want to deal with kids.) Shame on that woman’s comment about beating your kids into submission though!!!

]]> By: Brian http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1836 Brian Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:01:51 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1836 I'm shocked at the people who shrug this off and try and defend people who say stuff like this. I am the parent of twin boys. They will be 3 in May with one more on the way in July. With twins, you get the STUPIDEST questions from people all the time. I think overall, people don't mean harm saying stuff like "Double Trouble". Advice: Don't EVER say that to a parent of twins. My boys are wonderful, loving and happy children. They are NOT trouble. Like I said, a very benign comment from their perspective. Asking if you beat your children? That is beyond the limits IMO. We do our best to keep our kids in line. And what I don't understand is these people who feel that they know how to be a parent better than you. We had this experience at a place where the waitress asked the lady at the table next to us how her meal was. She replied something like "It was fine until they got here". My wife heard this, I didn't. She was very hurt by this. I admit, our boys weren't having a great day, but I think people need to remember that kids are KIDS. What should be the determining factor is how the parents are responding. We do whatever we can to keep our boys focused. It's hard to expect a 2 year old to wait for 25 minutes for his food to come out. Its not like we just let them get away with screaming and banging spoons around on the table. We try and keep them happy and well behaved. And yes, we've recieved comments from people that reaffirm our approach. Just remember, you were a kid once, and you were probably not perfect either -- unless your mom beat you into submission, I guess... I’m shocked at the people who shrug this off and try and defend people who say stuff like this. I am the parent of twin boys. They will be 3 in May with one more on the way in July. With twins, you get the STUPIDEST questions from people all the time. I think overall, people don’t mean harm saying stuff like “Double Trouble”. Advice: Don’t EVER say that to a parent of twins. My boys are wonderful, loving and happy children. They are NOT trouble. Like I said, a very benign comment from their perspective.

Asking if you beat your children? That is beyond the limits IMO. We do our best to keep our kids in line. And what I don’t understand is these people who feel that they know how to be a parent better than you. We had this experience at a place where the waitress asked the lady at the table next to us how her meal was. She replied something like “It was fine until they got here”. My wife heard this, I didn’t. She was very hurt by this. I admit, our boys weren’t having a great day, but I think people need to remember that kids are KIDS. What should be the determining factor is how the parents are responding.

We do whatever we can to keep our boys focused. It’s hard to expect a 2 year old to wait for 25 minutes for his food to come out. Its not like we just let them get away with screaming and banging spoons around on the table. We try and keep them happy and well behaved. And yes, we’ve recieved comments from people that reaffirm our approach. Just remember, you were a kid once, and you were probably not perfect either — unless your mom beat you into submission, I guess…

]]> By: Stacey http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1835 Stacey Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:01:51 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1835 Yeah, we get that with two kids, and that's before the youngest even acts up. LOL! Yeah, we get that with two kids, and that’s before the youngest even acts up. LOL!

]]> By: Jess http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1834 Jess Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:18:32 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1834 Dear JM, A public restaurant should be a place where anyone can go and enjoy a nice meal and time together - even families with children having a challenging day or challenging diagnosis like autism. In order to ensure a perfectly quiet evening out with family and friends, I think you'll need to go to a restaurant with the following sign out front, "Perfectly Orderly and Together People Only." Dear JM,
A public restaurant should be a place where anyone can go and enjoy a nice meal and time together – even families with children having a challenging day or challenging diagnosis like autism. In order to ensure a perfectly quiet evening out with family and friends, I think you’ll need to go to a restaurant with the following sign out front, “Perfectly Orderly and Together People Only.”

]]> By: edj http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1833 edj Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:49:18 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1833 I can relate. Even though I only have 3, I have gotten my share of stinky looks and assumptions. I've also gotten complimented on them a lot, too. I have two thoughts: one, if that was a joke, that was way out of line. What a rude comment! and two, I must admit that sometimes I don't blame people for reacting, because I have seen many children misbehaving in public. I don't mean autistic kids or tired and overwhelmed kids either--I'm a mom, plus I have friends with autistic kids, and I know what those things look like. I mean the out-of-control kids jumping off the chairs and running around the waitresses who have their arms full, while the parents smile vaguely and ignore them. I totally agree that our culture, while claiming to be inhibition-free, seems to have gone beyond the Victorians to say children should not be seen or heard! I can relate. Even though I only have 3, I have gotten my share of stinky looks and assumptions. I’ve also gotten complimented on them a lot, too.
I have two thoughts:
one, if that was a joke, that was way out of line. What a rude comment!
and two, I must admit that sometimes I don’t blame people for reacting, because I have seen many children misbehaving in public. I don’t mean autistic kids or tired and overwhelmed kids either–I’m a mom, plus I have friends with autistic kids, and I know what those things look like. I mean the out-of-control kids jumping off the chairs and running around the waitresses who have their arms full, while the parents smile vaguely and ignore them.
I totally agree that our culture, while claiming to be inhibition-free, seems to have gone beyond the Victorians to say children should not be seen or heard!

]]> By: Jenni http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1832 Jenni Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:16:31 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1832 LOL. Usually I am the one replying "we beat them into submission" when people ask me why my kids are so well -behaved. Or when they ask how I get them so quiet, I say "we remove their vocal cords until they are twenty-one". It's definitely offensive to have to hear it in the context that you did, though! I'm glad your waitress was so pleasant to you. The worst comment I ever got was from a waitress who said "I feel for you..." and I shot back "feel what? Jealous? You should." She changed her tune pretty quickly, and we decided to give her a good tip anyway. People can be so very obnoxious. LOL. Usually I am the one replying “we beat them into submission” when people ask me why my kids are so well -behaved. Or when they ask how I get them so quiet, I say “we remove their vocal cords until they are twenty-one”.

It’s definitely offensive to have to hear it in the context that you did, though! I’m glad your waitress was so pleasant to you. The worst comment I ever got was from a waitress who said “I feel for you…” and I shot back “feel what? Jealous? You should.”

She changed her tune pretty quickly, and we decided to give her a good tip anyway.

People can be so very obnoxious.

]]> By: JoAnn http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1831 JoAnn Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:22:22 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/2008/03/19/i-had-my-children-to-ruin-your-pleasant-dining-experience/#comment-1831 I'm speechless. How can someone come up with that for well behaved children. Shocking. If it was even a joke, it wasn't funny at all! I’m speechless. How can someone come up with that for well behaved children. Shocking.

If it was even a joke, it wasn’t funny at all!

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