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Originally Posted by selena
I've seen alot of alleged grownups that acted more boorish that the worst 3 year old.
Personally, I'll take the kids misbehaving over an idiot adult any day.
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selena...definitely true. It isn't children that are ripping "on sale" sweaters out of other people's hands in department stores.
I don't think I've ever seen a "public display" by a child that I didn't blame on the parents. Sure, all kids act up occasionally. But, unlike adults, children usually have a reason. Tired, hungry, even being greedy is a "reason." If you're going to take your kids out in public, which you should, you learn to handle them all. Never take out a tired, hungry child. Have the kid go to the bathroom first. Most of all, pay constant attention to the child. I've seen people shop who had absolutely no idea of the physical location of their child. I just don't understand that. I know what a minute period of time it takes to lose a child...permanently. Yes, people with four kids need to go to the grocery. But damn it, teach them how to behave. Kids actually crave approval and rewards for doing things right. A simple "I'm very proud of you, you behaved very well in the grocery store. Ice cream?" with a hug works wonders.
Back when the kids were little, an "all you can eat" buffet opened. It was the first in Louisville. The absolute perfect place to take kids. You could say to the kid "whatever you want, g'head" and not worry about paying for a meal the child wouldn't eat. (One of my daughters always had strawberries and bacon bits with whatever else she chose. Wierd, but it made her happy.) The floor was tile covered with rubber mats. Therefore, when one of my kids attempted the "I want to do it myself" soda refill and didn't make it back to the table with a full glass, the smiling attendent said "this is why we have rubber mats on the floor. We're set up for kids. No problem."
My husband and I were in a family restaurant recently and a woman brought in six children. I made certain I announced to my husband in a voice that carried "those are the most polite children I've ever heard!" (They were.) This woman wasn't a drill sergeant, either. She was polite *herself* and had trained all six of the chilluns to wait their turn to pick out their order.
Those fancy - what TE called "snooty" - restaurants are for adults. Kids shouldn't start going to those until they start hitting "landmark" birthdays. The ones that you dress up for. When I go out with my husband to a "fancy" restaurant, which is rarely, I can't stand them, I want to be with adults. Other times, I want the buzz and chatter of happy families.
I used to go to a church that had thoughtfully - and wisely - provided a soundproofed room for parents to take babies that began to cry. The sermon, or whatever, was piped in and there was a glass window. The parents didn't miss anything and they could tend to their babies without driving anyone insane with the echoes of the crying.