time spent in restaurant with toddler
i have to vent about this graph
i found this picture from natural parent magazine on facebook and even though it’s supposed to be somewhat of a spoof, the comments that were written by “natural parents” in response to it were embarrassing
since when is it natural to not be able to say “no” to your children and to teach them proper manners and discipline?
or social skills for that matter of fact?
children are a reflection and a product of their parents and their environment
if your child is acting the way this graph goes, is because you, the parent tolerates such behavior and because you, the parent have not been teaching your child any better at home
it is expensive to eat out these days
not everybody has nor likes children
and even if you do, it is not fair for everybody else who is out trying to enjoy a good meal to have to put up with children whose parents tolerate bad behavior
if your child cannot sit with manners at a restaurant then please stay home and do us all a great favor
when Will and i go out to eat with Lily (something we have done ever since she was less than a month old), she is expected to behave the way she does at home
she is to sit, eat and ask to leave the table when finished
she is not to be running around chased by a spoon, she is not to be under the table, she is not to be screaming
she is to be proper
otherwise we would leave (something i think we only had to do once)
but then again, we do not tolerate that kind of behavior
so i ask you, what do you think about this graph and what do you tolerate?
Kelley
December 4, 2012 @ 8:40 pm
Spot on, Claudia. I completely agree with you. A few years ago I went out to dinner with a lady I used to nanny for and her daughter, who was almost 3 at the time. The little girl was jumping up and down in the both, being loud with silverware, and then the mom let her run around the restaurant. I spoke up..crap, I spent 50 hours a week with her for a year and a half–I felt invested. I told the mom the little girl needs to learn how to properly behave in a restaurant and it was her job to do that! She was a little shocked, I think, but helllooo??? Other people are there too, spending their hard earned money to enjoy a meal out–not watch your kid run around like a banshee..
Claudia
December 5, 2012 @ 1:13 am
@Kelley,
the parents who don’t say no to their kids because they think they are breaking their spirit really do it for me!