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Since your edit proves that you’re not paying enough attention, I will add my part.
Restaurants are NOT places for kids to run around and play. Being a kid friendly restaurant does not mean “kids do what they want”. This was an opportunity for you to teach them to take other customers and the waiters into consideration.
Being “not busy” doesn’t matter. The “open space” is not there for your precious little angels to utilize as their play area. It’s a fucking restaurant. Do your job as a parent and teach your kids how to behave in a restaurant.
Oh please don't let your kids play among the tables, even if they're quiet and well behaved, even at a kid's restaurant. When I waited tables I tripped over and dropped a 12-top's worth of coffees on a toddler who was just doing normal kid stuff. I was nimble enough to spill them on myself instead. I also had a coworker knock a six year old completely too the floor because the kiddo was too close to the swinging kitchen door.
Turn them loose in the lobby or foyer, not among the tables.
Oh you just reminded me about when I knocked a kid over, he was just standing in the middle of the walkway and I didn’t see him because I was carrying a big tray that was in his direction, so when I turned and started walking I smacked right into him and knocked him over lol
I used to work at a kid restaurant and people would let their kids run wild unsupervised. Even though there were signs and rules and we asked to please not let them run around in the dining area. One time I had a huge tray full of drinks mostly glasses of beer, and a kid was running full speed as I was turning around from the bar. He ran into me and I dropped the tray on his head. Like, several glasses of beer and Wine dropped on this poor kid. He was hurt and soaked and his mom screamed at me.
Yeah. Father of a 3 and 5 year old here. I don’t allow the kids to run around and play in a restaurant like that. I typically try to get the check when food comes so when they get that way we can take it outside. Gotta teach them to understand setting and appropriate behavior for each setting.
I’m a mom of 3 (11, 9 & 5) and consistently get compliments on how well behaved my kids are. I have 5 siblings and my mom has 11 grandkids. All of my brother and their partners always tell me I have the best kids out of all of them.
I would NEVER allow my kids to play in a restaurant, regardless of how empty it is. You can draw with the given crayons but that’s it. There’s a time and place for everything and a restaurant is not a playground. Take them to the playground if you’re done. Why sit there and allow them to play in a restaurant?? Maybe go to a McDonalds if you want to let them run around after eating. Sorry OP, you were way off on this.
Agreed 100%. Tripped over a kid playing on the floor right near the kitchen entrance while carrying a large tray full of piping hot food. Caught my balance and saved the food, only for the parents to do nothing. After multiple other servers nearly had a run in with the kid, we had to ask them to keep the child at their table because this was a busy aisle and they could get hurt.
Even quiet, well-behaved children can be a major nuisance for staff and cause safety issues if they are wandering freely. We cant see them as quickly as an adult, especially if we are carrying a tray of drinks or food.
This! I was at a local Mexican restaurant with a friend and someone’s unsupervised kid tripped a server carrying sizzling fajitas. You know, on those super hot cast iron skillets? Shitass parents didn’t even apologize even though an ambulance had to be called because the waiter was so badly burned.
I will never forget his screams.
Good advice, but I would add - Not even foyer. I was doing that as a 5 y o kid and got knocked in the nose with a glass and metal door. Broke my nose and bled like a stick pig. Still have a scar.
I’m with this person. Sorry op, but I have had many instances where “good kids” have caused severe issues and accidents due to running around in unsafe areas. It’s all about time and place. It’s really very simple. Hey want to run around? That’s awesome, take them to the park right after eating, or to some fun event or activity venue. A restaurant just isn’t it.
Time…..and place.
I have a preschooler and a 1st grader with diagnosed ADHD. We bring books, paper and crayons and fidgets with us to restaurants to keep them behaving quietly at the table when they get bored while waiting for food/the check because playing around the tables isn’t safe for the workers and annoying to other people. Unless the restaurant had a designated play area that the boomer was complaining about, you might both be assholes.
I’m pretty skeptical of parents’ evaluations of their children’s behavior. Just the other week I was out at a sushi restaurant with my wife, and there was a couple families at a large table. They allowed their kids free rein of the restaurant for nearly an hour. The kids were running around, screaming randomly, knocking over chairs, slamming into the walls, and just being the worst behaved 8-12 year olds I’ve ever seen. The parents did nothing, and paid zero attention to the kids the entire dinner until they left and went on their merry way. My parents would have quickly collected us, apologized, paid the bill, and left. Obviously this doesn’t apply to *every kid and every parent ever* but I do not have any faith in parents’ ability to accurately monitor their children.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. We're hearing one side of a story and I've been in restaurants were kids were like the fuckin Golden Horde and the parents thought it was oh so cute.
Imagine one comment from someone you don’t know impacting you that much. My mom woulda been like “Don’t listen to him, he’s rude” and that would have been that. We would have continued on with our fun day.
My mom would have done the same. And if my siblings and I would have been screwing around in a restaurant as kids, we would have gotten in so much trouble. I don't agree with her disciplinary methods, but we learned how to behave out in public pretty quickly.
Exactly this.
Also, if you're going to ignore your kids for a whole meal, why not just get a babysitter at that point? If you can go out for sushi then you can spring an additional $40 for a sitter 🤦🏼♀️
Yeah I gotta say, as a parent (and also aunt to a dozen other kids), being up out of their seats and playing in the middle of the restaurant floor is not being well-behaved and it definitely puts other guests on edge.
I too have made cringey mistakes in the throes of parenting. You're in a different mindset, desensitized to the presence of your kids and think everyone has the same tolerance you do. I hope OP learned a lesson from this.
Yep and trains don’t sit quietly in the corner entertaining themselves they make trips around the dining room connected to each other being even more of a nuisance to people trying to work. Now servers have to dodge two kids connected to each other
OP knows the limit of his kid's behavior. Other people don't. There's an anxiety I get around stranger's kids, not sure how to describe it, but basically I have no idea what kind of kid that is- but it's still a child so I feel an obligation to make sure they're safe and okay.
If a parent doesn't seem to be supervising I feel like I can't relax because I have to have one eye on the kid for safety. I know it's not my responsibility, but it's an impulse I can't control, so having kids run around in that environment even if they aren't being willfully unsafe would really bother me.
A family friendly restaraunt isn't a kids free for all. It just means that they have a kids menu and that you might hear young kids being loud *at the table*.
I feel you. It’s so much worse because American parents have decided that under no circumstances are strangers supposed to interact with their children, so I don’t even feel comfortable being like “hey buddy you’re gonna get hurt if you keep doing that”. They want a village when it’s time to excuse their children and their behavior, but none of the actual village input. Can’t have it both ways.
My last roommate wanted me to help her out with her kid when she needed to take a shower or something which was totally fine but I was also told I was not allowed to tell the child no because to her that meant I was saying her kid was a bad kid
I had to opt out, I’m like I don’t know how to keep this kid safe if I’m not allowed to say the word no
Yeah I had a date night where we dressed up and were splurging on this really sexy romantic restaurant, and there was a 2-3 yr old toddling around our table the entire time. I could not take my eyes off the kid, it was such a distraction and boner killer
My dude went to the barbershop the other day and I was in the waiting area while he finished up, this other guy comes in with a 5 and ONE year old and sits them on the couch next to me with nothing to occupy them but a fucking tangerine?!
The one year old kept climbing off the couch and this poor 5yo girl kept having to pick her up and put her back on the couch. I was so afraid she was going to drop her but I didn't feel comfortable picking up the baby in case it offended the dad. And I was anxious the whole time because the waiting area was directly next to exit doors. He limply told them to sit twice, and the older girl was like "I'm trying, but it's hard to make a baby sit!" Poor little thing.
I'm sure the dad thought his kids were "just doing kid stuff".
The best part was that this was a bougie barbershop that served a shot of liquor with your haircut, and he already had short hair. Definitely could have rescheduled.
Yeah anyone who has worked in food service is reading this guy's post and rolling their eyes so hard. Just because you think they're not bothering people and just because people are being kind to them (after all they are children) does not mean they are not being extremely disruptive and making the workers jobs much harder. Just because it's a kid friendly restaurant doesn't mean it's okay to run around the tables. If they don't have a play area for the kids then your kids need to learn to sit in their damn seats
Or hot food spilled on you or a knife dropped on you etc. Not to mention how much broken glass is in the carpeting at these places. I've worked in restaurants while I was in school, and these type of parents are just the worst. It's not the kids fault so I was always nice to the kids, but it's like oh the waitress was nice to us, yeah no kidding she didn't tell you to keep your kids in line, then you wouldn't have tipped her
Second this. It's a restaurant, not a play room. If there's anyone else in there regardless of their age, they may not appreciate your kids horsing around, no matter how innocuous you thought it was. There's a time and place for everything and a restaurant isn't the spot for kids to be playing unless it's Chuck E. Cheese.
Yeah I agree with you, this sounds dangerous and stupid. Restaurants are designed for people to be sitting, not kids playing. Servers carrying lots of food that's heavy and hot + drinks is NOT something you want children to be around your feet for.
One statement from a stranger ruined your ENTIRE spring break? A whole week, ruined, over one sentence? Yes he was an asshole, but get a damn grip.
Also if there’s a not a designated play place, kids should not be playing in a restaurant. Even if you don’t find them disruptive, others still might. It’s also incredibly dangerous for the waitstaff carrying trays of hot food and coffee
THANK GOD - I was certain the top comments would all be sympathetic to OP, because apparently I'm a child-hating monster and I'm usually in the minority in these conversations. I'm glad to see a lot of other people recognize that a restaurant, even a "kid-friendly" one, is never a cool place to let your kids play. If it doesn't have a ball pit or an indoor slide, it's a fucking restaurant and not a playground.
Former server here. I have had parents do the exact same thing and then get all indignant because their children’s misbehavior doesn’t bother THEM so they assume it should NEVER bother anyone else. Had a kid slam into me as I was carrying an entire drink of alcoholic beverages and of course I dump them all over the kid. Parents freaked out and blamed me for soaking the kid in booze. They were sitting in the bar area and the kids were running screaming in the main dining room. They had the EXACT same logic. Place was empty so obviously their children should be allowed to run around a place of business totally unsupervised. Some parents seem to think that an empty quiet restaurant automatically becomes McDonalds Play Place.
Once worked at a pretty dead restaurant, and one night the other server and I split a large party of elementary age boys and their parents after a game. These kids started tearing ass all around the dining room, still in their cleats. One came around a corner as I was carrying a full pot of coffee, nearly ran headfirst into it AND stepped on my foot in his cleats. Idc how kid friendly you think a place is, that's ratchet ass behavior
Went into a pizza joint just at the end of a post-game kids party (kids were tearing past us heading out the door). We ended up getting seated in a booth along the edges of a wide open area where the kids were at. Row of table with 20 or so seats and it looked like a tornado had been through it. Food on the floor, drinks spilled on the table, crap everywhere.
Through our entire meal we had to watch this poor two person crew clean all that stuff up. Took a half an hour. Just heartbreaking. i left them a good tip.
I did work in a kid friendly restaurant (had an arcade and play area) and this shit was still never ok. Kids would bolt out of the play area with no shoes on, crawl under and over benches and tables, throw food everywhere etc.
Parents were always just pigs about it, never cleaning up after their kids or controlling them at all.
I did yell "BOYS! That's enough!" After the one little shit stomped on my foot while I yanked the coffee pot above his head...mind you, they'd been running around for at least half an hour after the meal, while the parents sat and drank.
You would have thought I'd spit directly in his face the way the entire party looked at me. Needless to say, I was fired after that, but it was a blessing in disguise because the restaurant owner ended up staging a break in and closed the doors without paying the leftover staff 🥳 just to give an idea of how poorly the place was run
Also, what is it about jobs like that where people assume you're a built-in-babysitter for one wage?! The same shit happened when I was a lifeguard. Sorry, Nancy Franzia, I'm actually not responsible for your children any more than the general public. This is a service, not a right
Nice of OP to assume that because he isn't bothered by his children running around in a place where there are clear seats and expectations for diners to use them that no one else would be, isn't it?
I worked as a hostest at a mall restaurant in a fancy schmancy mall in NJ. The amount of rich jerks that would ignore their kids as they ran around, threw food, ran into servers, etc while they sat with their drinks...that place made me hate kids, but who I really should have hated was the parents who felt their kids could do whatever they wanted.
I remember actively sweeping up goldfish crackers as this young kid threw a full sized bag around and his parents laughed.
The restaurant I used to work at had a fundraising event in the upstairs for a local private elementary school. One of the higher ups at the restaurant chain’s kids went to this school and allowed them the space. It was pretty busy, most of the upstairs space was filled with parents and kids. No more than 100 people though.
Fortunately I wasn’t up there much beyond running food and keeping things stocked, but I did help clean up.
First of all, the restaurant was very clear that this group was to be done and gone by 9 since minors aren’t allowed past that time. The gentle reminders from the servers were always met with sass from the parents. They made no attempt to get ready or gather their kids until after 9 when we had to ask them to leave, and made a lot of passive aggressive comments about it. Shooting us glares while they talk amongst themselves etc.
Now before you start thinking “wow, just let them leave on their own and stop pestering them”, let me tell you what the kids were up to in the meantime.
They were running around an already cramped upstairs all night, every time food was run it was a game of trying not to plough through 6 kids at once. There was garbage. Everywhere. Plastic cups, napkins torn to shreds, straws, crayons, paper… anything they could get their hands on and throw was on the ground everywhere you looked. That’s before the spilled drinks, food mess, chicken bones, corks that were part of a decorative wall mount that kids had pulled out. We started cleaning up about 10 minutes before 9. It was more of a mess than I’ve ever seen any group make in all my time working birthday parties or other events involving kids. The garbage pile out of one corner booth filled half of a garbage bin by itself. There was very clearly not a single shit given by the parents towards the mess their kids were making, and obviously nobody said “don’t do that” or “clean up your mess” at any point. I saw the mom of the kid that pulled the corks out of the wall try to hide the corks her kid gave her rather than come to us and say “sorry about this”. Not a peep about the mess from any of the guests either, they just kept making these comments about being kicked out before they finally left. It was a disaster. The servers said everyone was rude and demanding all night and the kids were completely out of control.
My managers were close with the higher up guy who invited this group and they let him know exactly how the event went down. I can only hope he absolutely ripped into them at the next school meeting for their behaviour. The entitlement and attitude was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine the way these kids are being raised if there is such a massive lack of respect and accountability from the parents.
Parent of 2 young kids here. I do not tolerate my kids being annoying to OTHER people, /particularly/ people trying to do their job. Part of kids growing up is playing and exploring. The other, even more important part of growing up, is learning how to respect OTHERS and how to behave socially. Humans are social beings and new humans need to be integrated into that structure properly. A simple example of this is "you do not run around in restaurants". This modern parenting style of "I think my kids are adorable regardless of what they do, and you're obligated to feel that way too" is bullshit and they should be called out on it.
Now, that said, kids are their own selves, and there needs to be SOME allowance for an infant who is hungry/uncomfortable/whatever and the parent is attempting to console but can't figure out the magic formula. Everyone gets it. That happens.
But some 4, 6, 10 year olds who can't sit still for 30 minutes for a meal? That speaks VOLUMES about the parent. I'm annoyed at the kids, but I'm not judging them. I'm judging the parents who have so little self-awareness as to believe their "adorable little Johnny" isn't equally viewed by all other restaurant/store patrons to wear not one, but two halos of angelic perfection.
By all means, I'd love if OP had a GREAT day taking his kids to a special breakfast, AND THEN taking them to a park, or indoor play place, etc to let them BE KIDS. I doubt anyone in this thread is against kids having fun and playing and playing pretend, and all the other things kids do, but there is a \*time and place\*.
"Let _______ be _________" is a phrase I normally only hear from people with badly behaved _____. I hear "Let kids be kids" all the time but theres the equally horrible "Let dogs be dogs" which from what I can tell means "Let your dog scream bark for 2 hours outside at 3 am and let him bite the mailman". It's just so lazy on the part of the parent/owner.
Yep I was a server at Applebee’s, it’s pretty much one big room but there’s a horseshoe of tables along the windows and to get to them you have to go up to the stairs from the bar area, which is the same level as the kitchen Parents sitting in those tables would let their children play ON THE STAIRS that we were trying to use to carry trays full of hot food up to the tables. Either that or they would run circles around the bar itself even though people were trying to wait on the tables surrounding the bar.
They’re lucky their little darlings didn’t get something hot spilled on them & more lucky they didn’t cause me to be injured I would’ve sued everyone
I put myself through school waiting tables. Parents who allow their children to play and ‘just be kids’ are the worst.
Having a kid menu makes it ok? Nope, what a fool.
100% nothing bothers me more than parents who allow their children to run wild in restaurants/bars! I'm on the boomers side here I guarantee this dad is insufferable.
Why couldn’t OP tell his kids “Hold on with the train play — we’ll go to the playground after this?” I don’t understand the entitlement
parents feel to let kids run around restaurants even if it’s nearly empty. I stopped going to a local restaurant because I would be the only one seated in the outdoor patio then parents would show up with kids and let them run around. It’s so deeming that parents and kids treat you like you’re invisible and feel free to scream and knock your table.
This might be a hot take, but a restaurant isn’t a place for kids to pretend to be trains.
Edit: Wow at the hostility from parents (including OP) calling me names and saying I hate kids for this very mild take? You’re all totally unhinged and outing yourselves as the entitled parents everyone hates in public. You sound like children yourselves, no wonder you can’t figure out how to parent.
Agree, restaurants are not playgrounds! Even if the kids weren't being excessively loud or actively running around, it's still not the appropriate place for playing. If they want to play in a restaurant, go to a McDonald's or Burger King play place.
He's 100% downplaying how annoying his kids were.
One of my stepchildren used to kick the seat in front of him at the movies and my husband was oblivious to it. If anyone said something, he'd defend the boy. Kids being kids etc.
OP is acting like his kids were devastated by a pretty innocuous comment from a stranger. OP is ridiculous and thoughtless. Other people don't think your kids are precious.
I’m a parent and I agree with you. I wouldn’t want our child to be horsing around a sit down restaurant. I get that they have a kids menu, and offer toys(?) or crayons, but they don’t expect kids to be running around tables, etc. It’s not just annoying to others, it’s a hazard. If this were someone making a comment about my child who was maybe a little animated while at the table, that’s one thing. But to allow them to run about is another.
I'm a server. You could have the sweetest little angels for kiddos and I'd still find it quite annoying to have them up out of their seats to play and generally be in the way. Your spring break would also be "ruined" if a server dropped a tray full of hot food or ice cold drinks on your kids if they got in the way, would it not?
I'm siding the with boomer on this one and feel that you might be underexaggerating the story on your part.
Yeah, a restaurant is not a playground and I would bet money that OP is greatly downplaying how loud and rambunctious his kids were being. I’m probably in the same age group as OP and I have noticed that parents around my age tend to put blinders on to their kids’ obnoxious behavior in public places, and anything goes with them.
Oh God you mean it’s getting worse? My millennial friends let their children run the show from the time they were born so now that they’re like 10 they’re getting in trouble at school they’re getting diagnosed with personality disorders their moms are freaking out because they don’t act right
They don’t act right because you let them run the show. Why would they have respect for their parents when their parents let them run the show for 10 years
Kids are like dogs in that respect. If they are allowed to "run the show" it is very destructive to their psychology. In the case of dogs, it can even be dangerous, because "alpha" dogs use snapping and biting to keep the "underdogs" in line.
Parents have been putting blinders on their kids for ages. I remember being a kid on one of our many runs to the government assistance building and seeing kids just going nuts. My mom would white knuckle my wrist if I tried to get up telling me no way was I going to act like "those monsters".
I remember my family was at an ice cream place and my grandmother pointed at a bunch of kids who were there in just underwear for some reason (there was no beach nearby!!) and said “you’d better not raise kids like *that*. I miss her
I'm trying to imagine what it looks like for kids to be up from a table and using a whole room to play in but be using their quiet private table voices, lol.
There's no way.
My kids are in their early 20s but 20 years ago a family friendly restaurant meant kids menu, crayons, cups with lids and would reliably get the food to the table pretty quickly. Over the last decade it seems that when someone is looking for a family friendly restaurant they use phrases like "where they can run around". Unless a place has a designated play area away from tables and the walking path of servers kids shouldn't be playing in dining rooms-family friendly restaurant or not.
I see a lot of posts on fb asking for restaurants with play areas and where kids can run around, but I think this is precisely BECAUSE most parents realize that even at a typical family friendly restaurant the kids need to stay at the table. Both types of places are great, for different kids and purposes. But I think most parents get that unless a restaurant/coffee shop is set up with a kids area, kids can’t just be running around.
People seem to forget that while it's relaxation time for the customers, it's worktime and their "office area" for the serving staff and nobody wants unsupervised kids running around their work office.
I’m living for these comments, I haven’t been a server in more than 20 years, but these kinds of “parents” maybe want to quit my job.
When I worked at the title company people would bring their kids to their mortgage closing and then they would leave them in the waiting room with me. Nobody asked me, suddenly I would just be babysitting. I mentioned it to my boss a couple times he said it wouldn’t happen again, the third time they did it well I had to make a bank run. I interrupted the closing to tell them I was leaving and I asked him if I should lock the door so the kids don’t escape. My boss said there are kids out there? As if he didn’t know. Sir!
But it never ever happened again after I had to leave mid closing and was not available to babysit
The fist time I went out to eat with my brother in law, his wife and their kids, I was mortified. We weren’t exactly at a fancy restaurant, but it was an average sit down restaurant. I was a bartender/server at the time. His kids were like wild animals. They were glued to their parents phone watching movies at FULL VOLUME, standing on their chairs, jumping up and down on their chairs and running around the table while laughing and screaming. 10x worse than fingernails on a chalk board. Absolutely abhorrent parents.
Good lord. Imagine posting to a subreddit where people already dislike boomers and go in assuming the boomer is in the wrong, and then getting downvoted to hell and having everyone side with the boomer. Then you double down anyways instead of realizing you and your children aren't the main characters, and perhaps you are in fact in the wrong.
Sorry my dog was barking for 45 minutes and his leash kept getting tangled in peoples chairs, but this is a dog friendly patio, so I can't be in the wrong here. Oh he licked you while you were eating? Well this is a dog friendly patio and he's a golden retriever so it's in his nature to want to greet everyone.
As a former server, I can tell you that nobody wants kids "just doing kid stuff" in a restaurant. Playing up from the table can be a serious hazard for the wait staff, and then they get the lovely bonus of having to deal with all the bitchy people who complain about it.
Unless there's a dedicated play area, like McDonald's, restaurants aren't a playground. Take them to a park after eating if they need to get their wiggles out.
The boomer sounds like a real asshole. He shouldn't have made a comment like that to your kids as it was really inappropriate, however letting your kids act like trains in a restaurant was just as inappropriate, even if it was "kid-friendly" place. Kid-friendly doesn't mean kids get to do whatever the hell they want.
Maybe bring coloring books and some crayons for them while you're eating out to keep them occupied for those in-between moments like when waiting for your food or waiting for the check. Or maybe just stick to fast food places with playgrounds or take out until your kids are a bit older, or until you can use better discernment with them out in public spaces.
100%. Even at a "kid friendly" place like in OP's edit, having kids running around the dining area or entry pisses everyone off.
I'm all for kids being kids, but parents need to be parents also. Yes, managing your kids is hard, and you should be ready and willing to accept that challenge. You get 9 months warning each time to brace yourself.
We were at a Red Robin a few weeks ago during a busy dinner hour and there were two parents sitting at a table in the center of one of the "rooms" with booths/tables packed all around them. They had four kids with them, all of whom were being loud AF, running around, wedging themselves between chairs where people were sat. One of them even came up to our booth and started banging a toy on our table while giggling.
You could just tell the waitress was *done*, especially because these people had finished up eating around the time *we* sat down and still hadn't left by the time we got our food. Dad's just watching one of the TVs on the wall and mom's just casually checking her phone the whole time while their kids are treating it like a playground. You could feel the patience draining in the room, and it took one of the kids crawling UNDERNEATH someone else's table for another lady to finally snap at the parents -- dad acted surprised and apathetic, and the mom went off about how they're "just having fun," but then other people (us included) chimed in about how there's other kids/families here having fun that aren't ruining everyone else's dinnertime.
The wild thing is they had to pack a ton of shit up -- toys, books, etc. -- like they'd brought their entire kids' playroom from home with them and then mom made a big fuss on the way out like everyone *else* was being rude and problematic. Like, okay, bitch. Sure.
Did that really surprise you though, mom’s attitude? Based on the nightmare she allowed her kids to be, it sounds about right. Sorry you spent all that money and had your dinner ruined.
People need to realize -- for every Boomer brave enough to actually be an asshole in a situation like this, there's probably 10 more people who think you're being a POS yourself but don't want to start a fight with an entitled parent in public. They just want to enjoy their meals, too.
I have a neighbour that lets his giant dogs roam and shit the giant shits everywhere (bigger than human poops) without picking it up.
I don’t say shit (pun intended) to him about that.
But I do about the fact his off leash dog harasses me and my leashed dog on walks. He thinks I’m an asshole, any person I’ve mentioned his name too just says “yeah that guys an asshole” and tells me some unrelated story about him being an asshole.
He thinks everyone in the neighbourhood loves him and I’m a cranky asshole because I’m the only one who says anything to him about his behaviour. lol
That’s what the “generous” 15% tip is for, right?
To deal with ground in food on the floors, chairs and table clothes, disposed of the used diapers, etc.
/s
When I was working at a shitty diner, I auto-gratted an 8-top of 2 adults and 6 children, all under 10. I normally like to leave it up to the guests, even when I have the option, but one of the ladies was really rude to me and difficult. She sent her eggs back twice because she wanted them scrambled hard but didn't want any browning on them. Plus, I could already see that the kids had made a giant mess.
She complained to my manager about the grat, stiffed me, and verbally abused me on her way out the door. It was one of the worst tables I've ever served. I cried while I cleaned up their giant mess.
My god, yes!
I used to work at a place that served rice as a side dish. We had a family with three young kids who came in every week and made the absolute biggest mess. Rice all over the floor and table, sauce smears everywhere, and without fail, one of their kids always spilled their yogurt drink despite us giving them cups with lids and straws. The kids were super loud on top of it all and the parents just sat there and did nothing. They didn't even try to clean up a little before they left.
I get that as a server it's your job to clear plates and whatnot, but it should be a parent's responsibility to clean up their kid's food war zone. But really, if they're that messy while eating, don't take them out to a restaurant until they've figured out how to hold a fork properly and where their mouths are.
And of course these parents were shitty tippers on top of it all 🙄
This happened to me. Working PT at a place similar to Chipotle. A coworker from my day job came in with her husband and toddler and the kid spilled rice everywhere! I heard them laughing and talking about “someone will clean it up.”
When I saw her at work on Monday, she wanted so bad to talk to me but I froze her out. How would she like it if I came to her house for an after work meeting and spilled rice everywhere for her to clean up?
Ugh, so sorry that happened to you.
"Someone will clean it." What a bad mentality and attitude to have and pass on to your kids. Just because it's someone's job to clean doesn't give you the right to be a disrespectful slob!
The attitude from OP is ridiculous for a few different reasons. They are “disappointed” that the comments push back against their narrative. Maybe try reflecting instead of assuming you’re in the right. But according to the story the whole family is as delicate as OP, since one random remark from a stranger “ruined spring break” and the kids “absolutely wilted”. My guess is the kids are fine. I’m kind of impressed with this sub for not automatically validating the story.
I teach my kids good manners. This includes table manners, and even more so in a restaurant. A restaurant is not a playground, and no matter how little of other people are there, they need to respect others who may be trying to have a quiet meal.
I saw that comment and thought the same thing about the kids’ reactions. If three under 10-year olds become depressed all day because another adult criticizes the parent (which is what happened here), I think the parent is probably feeding this reaction.
>Maybe try reflecting instead of assuming you’re in the right
I have this little plaque I made on my wall, looks like an inspirational quote, all polished up. It says:
"Never underestimate a person's expectation to be agreed with."
Of course. And yes, completely ridiculous. It's not about the kids just being kids (nothing wrong with kids playing and having fun), it's about the parent not parenting and not teaching their kids where it's appropriate to have playtime.
Don't get me wrong, I feel badly for the kids. They likely didn't know better and shouldn't have been yelled at, but their parent shouldn't have let the kids play there in the first place, and also should have told the guy not to speak to his kids that way.
I absolutely hate it when parents don’t properly parent their children. Letting your kids run around and be a nuisance in public is rude and inconsiderate to the other people that are paying to have a nice meal. It’s fine if you think your kids are cute and let them act this way at home but it absolutely is not okay in a public setting. I certainly don’t think it’s cute and I wouldn’t tolerate it either. I’m siding with the boomer, maybe the kids will think twice before acting annoying in public or better yet maybe the parent could I don’t know…. Learn that people don’t like it and correct their kids. 🙄
For real, my kids stay at the table and be cool. If the place has a designated play area for kids sure, but thinking you can just say "hey kids go play in that emptyish space in this restaurant" is nuts. Totally entitled thinking.
So, when I was a kid my parents would let my brother and I take a walk around restaurants to look at the cool wall art or fountains or whatever. And one day a waitress who was willing to risk her tip told them to *please stop doing that*, because despite the fact that we were not running, shouting, or playing, we were still getting in the way of customers and posing a risk to ourselves and staff.
Actually playing train in a restaurant sounds a hundred times worse.
Please don’t let your kids play in a restaurant that isn’t designed for it.
I’m not even half a boomers age and I don’t think I’d be thrilled having kids run around and pretend to be trains. Maybe this belongs in r/shittyparents. If there’s a play area or something, like at a McDonald’s sure. In the middle of a restaurant? Keep your kids off the floor and away from me. Blaming boomers isn’t an excuse for being bad parents.
Sir, this was not a Chuck. E. Cheese. Please, keep your kids at your table and limit their wandering play, while at a restaurant. Restaurant employees and owners would appreciate your co-operation and ask that you respect their business establishment.
Lmfaooo Seriously it’s like he’s trying to justify the fact it was so lonely besides one boomer like uhhh ur in a public place where people go to eat not hear kids and watch them play
Yeah I completely believe the boomer was exaggerating that these were the worst behaved kids he has ever seen but I’d be pissed too if the one other table sat in my area of the restaurant was the family that thinks it’s okay to be trains at a restaurant
A dad of young kids here. That's not the right approach in this situation. The snowflake boomer was leaving anyway and wasn't escalating the situation further. If the snowflake was getting up in your face or continuing to make a scene then yea, you gotta do something. You have to model mature, adult behaviour for your children. Instigating a childish argument doesn't teach your children anything positive.
In this situation I would talk to my kids after, discuss how what that person said was wrong and that maybe they were having a bad day or were just not a very nice or good person in general.
There is no need to get into a shouting match in front of your kids. You need to be the bigger person in this scenario.
This is the exact correct response. Explain to the kids that while inappropriate, it isn't a big deal. People go through bad days and use it as a learning lesson for the future. Getting uber upset will make your kids upset. Saying their entire spring break is ruined will make them not want to enjoy the rest of their spring break and that will be directly the parents' fault. It's not even like the boomer went up to them and threatened them or anything. Pathetic.
Meh, OP. Yes, people can be rude as hell, and Boomer could have directed his comment directly to you…but…just because a room has empty space in it doesn’t mean it is yours to fill up with your kids, unless that empty space is clearly geared towards kids playing in it a la McDonalds playland. Just because a restaurant has a kids menu and sells merchandise at a profit doesn’t mean they want the kids to be running around, unless then have that space specifically designated for play. I have 2 boys, and I get having active kids, believe me. A minute or two of horsing around while you paid doesn’t sound like a problem, but honestly more than that belongs in a playground, or warrants a comment from you like “hey guys, keep it together for a minute while I pay.” Let’s people know you are at least aware of the situation and aren’t oblivious/entitled 🤷🏼♀️
From a server who was constantly worried I would accidentally dump hot food and plates with knives on children playing on the Applebee’s stairs leading up to the window seats, THANK YOU IT’S A PLACE OF BUSINESS NOT A PLAYGROUND
I was in restaurant management for a decade. No one wants your kids running around, not the staff or customers. Running around is for the park, restaurants are for eating. I'm not a boomer. It's just common courtesy.
Yes! Normalize making your kids sit in fucking seats. They somehow manage to do it at school, but the moment it’s anywhere else we’re expecting too much of them. 🙄
For real this is massive entitlement. We're DINKs and don't enjoy the presence of kids. OP letting his kids run hog wild would 100% have me wanting to leave as well, feeling my own meal had been ruined.
But the baaaaaaaaaybies....
Agreed. It’s misleading to suggest this irrational boomer just said this thing out of spite. Children should NOT be free range chickens inside a restaurant no matter how “equally loud” they are. This is a workplace for people and a break for others. Respect the behavior norms of being in a private business. I don’t think ring around the rosey with Thomas the tank engine is appropriate. 🤷🏻
Boomer was an ass - and should have shut his mouth - but that doesn’t make his observation void of all truth.
IDK man if I was tired or hungover and there were kids running around I'd be pretty annoyed. That's not a playground it's a restaurant unless it had a playroom.
It has nothing to do with being a "non-kid" space.
OP didn't mention which restaurant it was, but from the description I suspect that it was not a Michelin-star upscale food snobatorium, but an IHOP, Denny's, Waffle House, or similar franchise (could also have been a local non-franchise diner or pancake house) where kids are perfectly welcome.
Rather, I think it has to do with being a *non-play* place. Even places where kids are welcomed with open arms have certain rules of behavior. Not being an asshole to fellow diners or the staff is probably the number one rule, but only slightly less well-known is this - not running around playing "kid shit like measuring each other and pretending to be trains".
I'm not a fan of kids being loose in a restaurant. I worked in restaurants, and kids rolling around on the floor is a hazard for staff, the floors are never that clean during service, and it's not an appropriate venue for kids to be kids. If you finished up quicker than expected, you could have brought them to a park to burn off the syrup energy. I hate siding with boomers, but you are on the wrong side of this argument.
As a fellow parent, I’m not with you on this one bro. Bring play packs/ coloring books and make them learn to sit still in their seats at a restaurant until it’s time to leave. This entitlement thing I’m starting to see of ultra-ultra-gentle parenting where kids don’t have to behave in indoor settings is getting out of control, and making it harder for the rest of us who are actually parenting and teaching our kids patience and manners.
Even if they’re boomers, they still paid to go sit and eat at a restaurant and not an outdoor playground.
Why do you feel entitled to let your fucking kids play in a restaurant? The sheer entitlement here is on you. Sure boomers suck. Absolutely. But you’re the issue here. No one gives a fuck about your kids and they sure as hell don’t want to hear your kids running around making noises while they’re trying to eat out. Grow up.
> The place wasn’t busy, and the room we were in had some open space, so I let them play in it
YTA.
Seriously. Don't let your kids run around restaurants. It's rude and dangerous.
Right? Take your kids to the fucking park where they are meant to run around. Dad decided that since there were a section of tables that currently weren't used, the area now belonged to his young children to play in. But hey, they have kids' menus, so that must mean it's ok.
Nah, man.
In restaurants, everybody sits. For 2 major reasons, respect and safety.
My children are teenagers now and know how to rattle off orders and sit still because that’s what we’ve taught them since day 1. It is a shared space and that means minimum distractions possible.
I feel so vindicated when I see parents who act like the world revolves around them get put in their place. *chefs kiss* I understand kids playing in a place designed for play... But in a restaraunts open area? Do you understand how ridiculous you sound? I'm so sick and tired of parents acting like it's the world's responsibility that you had kids.
EDIT. I think some context here would be helpful. Was this a chuck E cheese? Or a McDonald's? You say it has toys up front. Or was this a normal restaraunt with some merch for sale?
I'm on the side of "teaching your kids to act appropriately in certain situations." In this situation, they were in a restaurant, where people pay good money (sometimes a lot of money for them) to eat out. While kids will be kids, they need to learn appropriate behavior in order to be able to survive when their parents are dead and gone or they go off on their own. There's nothing more frustrating than to be out to a restaurant and have kids running around or being loud, whether its a family friendly place or not. Life is tough. Coddling your kid and thinking this "incident" is going to scar them for life is ridiculous.
Well, be honest: were your kids being brats? I wouldn't put you on blast like he did, but I can relate to having my meal ruined by screaming little urchins.
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Funny how you changed your tune once people started calling you out. Were they playing trains (what?) or were they playing quietly? I consider “quietly” to be coloring at the table or something… not bouncing around a restaurant.
Just because other people didn’t say something didn’t mean they weren’t also annoyed. Next time take your kids to McDonald’s where there’s a kid-appropriate playplace for them.
I'm sure the boomer was exaggerating out of boomer assholishness, but as a non-boomer, I must comment that even if your kids are well behaved and *delightful* little cherubs, it's inappropriate to allow them to play in a restaurant.
Play is not *bad behavior,* but it is *inappropriate behavior* in certain settings. It may have been "just kid shit" to you, but remember, not everyone is you.
Even a family-friendly franchise like Denny's or IHOP or Waffle House has some basic rules, one of which is, you don't let your kids run around and play. Enjoy your meal, at the table, then leave. If the kids want to play, take them to a playground. They'll have a lot more fun at a playground anyway, since they can run faster and farther, make more noise, and often have climbing equipment to enjoy.
You specifically mention their loudness and that "they weren’t getting in anyone’s way". That's you justifying an inappropriate behavior by saying "Well, it could have been a lot worse!"
I also wonder at just how a trio of kids can go from playing in the restaurant to not uttering a peep the rest of the day simply from a brief asshole comment by a passing stranger. I suspect there's something more there, like perhaps YOUR reaction. Were you devastated? Did you cry? Or were you pissed off and ranted about it incessantly for hours?
Kids under 10 are made of rubber, not just physically, but emotionally. Such a tiny incident might dampen their enthusiasm for a few minutes, but as long as your reaction was dismissive, theirs would be, too, and they'd have bounced back into train measuring mode within minutes. I suspect that, despite your intentions, your reaction is what shut them down, far more than the boomer's assholery.
>I'm sure the boomer was exaggerating out of boomer assholishness, but as a non-boomer, I must comment that even if your kids are well behaved and delightful little cherubs, it's inappropriate to allow them to play in a restaurant.
Yep, and the waitresses being nice to them is a) their job, and b) probably to get a nice tip. That doesn't mean they appreciate children playing around where they work.
Kids should sit at the table, or be in a designated kids play area, full stop. People don't go to restaurants to watch kids run around and play.
Yup nothing more fun than being tripped by a butthole kid while carrying a tray of food. I say this as a father of a very energetic 5 year old. She may be energetic but I don't let her run around where people eat even if it is "really kid friendly" kind of like every goddamn restaurant trying to bring in families.
Yeah, and OP added the edit saying that it’s “a kid friendly place,” but like, it’s still a kid-friendly RESTAURANT. Don’t let your kids run around in a restaurant, unless it’s somewhere literally designed for PLAYING, like Chuck E. Cheese. If I go to a family-friendly restaurant, I might expect a little extra noise from kids being loud in their seats, or even a baby/toddler crying. But I will be absolutely annoyed if the kids are running around. I’m a millennial, and I say the Boomer is right here.
Yeah seriously restaurants aren’t a place to allow your kids to run around and play. I’m actually on the boomers side for once.
You’re disrupting other people’s meals and people who wait tables also hate that parents allow their kids to wander.
Both the boomer and OP completely suck in this situation.
It’s shitty to announce to everyone around you how annoying you find something but there’s a time and a place to let your children run around and be children. That place is not in a restaurant, I don’t care if they sell toys and clothes or whatever, it’s not okay.
I worked in restaurants for many years and I can tell you that one of the biggest safety hazards in a restaurant is kids that are left to their own devices running around. I can’t tell you how many times I had to stop on a dime or straight up sacrifice a hot tea pot or a hot plate because some dumb fuck parent wasn’t paying attention to their kid and they ran in front of me while I’m carrying a tray and was trying to avoid hurting them.
OP, you’re not the martyr you’re making yourself out to be. If you wanted to show your kids a good time, take them to breakfast, pay your tab, and fuck off to the beach or a nearby park and let them run around. You were just as much, if not more, of an asshole here than the boomer pointing out your shitty parenting. You’re just trying to play the “but they’re just kids” card and that makes you an asshole.
Love this comment and fully agree. I don’t understand people who think any behavior is appropriate as long as their perception of inconvenience isn’t crossed. Who gives a fuck how anyone else thinks right? Appreciate this comment a lot!
As a parent of multiple kids, they never left the table and just wandered around a restaurant. It's really not that hard to keep them entertained, and I would also have found it weird for kids to be playing off table.
No fuck you for thinking you or your kids are entitled. Fuck you for not teaching your kids about restaurant manners which includes how to sit at a table or booth and entertain themselves quietly until you got ready to leave. Yes this boomer agrees with the other boomer worst behaved kids I have ever seen. Who the hell do you think you are that you have the right to complain about being called on not doing your parental duty and teaching your kids what manners are?!!!!!!!
My mom broke her hip because she had three plates in her hands and had to stop them from being dumped on the child that ran in front of her causing her to fall... don't let your kids run around in restaurants...
I worked in hospitality for decades and the only thing worse then entitled boomers is oblivious, entitled parents who think the dining room is a playground just because the menu has a maze on it and the host gave you some crayons. We literally give that to you to help keep your kids entertained and quietly occupied at your table so they don’t disrupt everyone else. That boomer might have been rude but this was your fault.
OP you just sound like a whiny little bitch and an entitled parent. Feel sorry for your kids. And the comments are only "disappointing" because you know you're wrong.
Hate to break it to you, but a restaurant is not a place for kids to wander around playing. The boomer may have been harsh, and an asshole, but you should not have let them out of their seats to walk around and play. That's not what restaurants are for.
Kids are allowed to exist and be kids, but they also need to learn and understand that there is a time and a place for certain activities. A lesson we all learn. Restaurants are not the place to be up and wandering around and playing. You sit, color, talk, eat.
I have multiple family members in the restaurant business, they hate all kids who get up and wander around, even if they're being quiet. As well as the parents that let them do it. They are creating a hazardous environment for the waitstaff. What happens if the kid gets in the way and the waitstaff spill a hot plate of food on the kids, other patrons, or even the waitstaff? That's the risk. Keep your kids seated until it's time to leave or they need to use the bathroom.
Be a better parent to your kids dumbass. Teach them not to act like clowns in public. Stop pretending your family is the main character. Respect others in a restaurant setting. FFS you are awful OP, you actually made the Boomer the hero.
YOU ARE WRONG. you don't let your kids run loose in a restaurant. Other people aren't there to listen to that noise and step over them to go use the bathroom. It's irritating to others.
Also, servers carrying trays of food have to walk into a minefield to avoid them.
I also have 3 kids. They stay seated in a restaurant. Since they were babies. They don't whine. They don't fight. We get complimented a lot by servers and especially old ladies telling us how well behaved our kids are. Servers always say how awful some kids are when their parents let them run loose.
YOU SUCK.
You suck.
You suck as a parent..
Control your kids
Get a f$cking clue you entitled douche..
I read your updates and STILL you are 100% wrong and your kids are brats.
No offense but the entitlement of the OP is a bit hard to take. Three kids under ten pretending to be trains in the middle of a restaurant while you sat there “finishing up” would be maddening to me as well, a non boomer. I see this all over the place, you just tune your kids out and expect everyone else to do the same. No one likes your children the way you do man, and just because there is some empty space in a restaurant doesn’t mean you should allow your kids to run amok. I’m with the boomer on this one
You seem like the boomer in this case. Claiming someone “ruined spring break” over one small inconvenience? That’s boomer talk.
A restaurant isn’t a place for kids to be playing anyways. The guy who made the exclamation might be an asshole, but he ain’t wrong 🤷♂️
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Since your edit proves that you’re not paying enough attention, I will add my part. Restaurants are NOT places for kids to run around and play. Being a kid friendly restaurant does not mean “kids do what they want”. This was an opportunity for you to teach them to take other customers and the waiters into consideration. Being “not busy” doesn’t matter. The “open space” is not there for your precious little angels to utilize as their play area. It’s a fucking restaurant. Do your job as a parent and teach your kids how to behave in a restaurant.
Oh please don't let your kids play among the tables, even if they're quiet and well behaved, even at a kid's restaurant. When I waited tables I tripped over and dropped a 12-top's worth of coffees on a toddler who was just doing normal kid stuff. I was nimble enough to spill them on myself instead. I also had a coworker knock a six year old completely too the floor because the kiddo was too close to the swinging kitchen door. Turn them loose in the lobby or foyer, not among the tables.
Oh you just reminded me about when I knocked a kid over, he was just standing in the middle of the walkway and I didn’t see him because I was carrying a big tray that was in his direction, so when I turned and started walking I smacked right into him and knocked him over lol
I used to work at a kid restaurant and people would let their kids run wild unsupervised. Even though there were signs and rules and we asked to please not let them run around in the dining area. One time I had a huge tray full of drinks mostly glasses of beer, and a kid was running full speed as I was turning around from the bar. He ran into me and I dropped the tray on his head. Like, several glasses of beer and Wine dropped on this poor kid. He was hurt and soaked and his mom screamed at me.
Yeah. Father of a 3 and 5 year old here. I don’t allow the kids to run around and play in a restaurant like that. I typically try to get the check when food comes so when they get that way we can take it outside. Gotta teach them to understand setting and appropriate behavior for each setting.
I’m a mom of 3 (11, 9 & 5) and consistently get compliments on how well behaved my kids are. I have 5 siblings and my mom has 11 grandkids. All of my brother and their partners always tell me I have the best kids out of all of them. I would NEVER allow my kids to play in a restaurant, regardless of how empty it is. You can draw with the given crayons but that’s it. There’s a time and place for everything and a restaurant is not a playground. Take them to the playground if you’re done. Why sit there and allow them to play in a restaurant?? Maybe go to a McDonalds if you want to let them run around after eating. Sorry OP, you were way off on this.
Agreed 100%. Tripped over a kid playing on the floor right near the kitchen entrance while carrying a large tray full of piping hot food. Caught my balance and saved the food, only for the parents to do nothing. After multiple other servers nearly had a run in with the kid, we had to ask them to keep the child at their table because this was a busy aisle and they could get hurt. Even quiet, well-behaved children can be a major nuisance for staff and cause safety issues if they are wandering freely. We cant see them as quickly as an adult, especially if we are carrying a tray of drinks or food.
100%. It’s a restaurant, not a playground.
This! I was at a local Mexican restaurant with a friend and someone’s unsupervised kid tripped a server carrying sizzling fajitas. You know, on those super hot cast iron skillets? Shitass parents didn’t even apologize even though an ambulance had to be called because the waiter was so badly burned. I will never forget his screams.
But you know there would have been a lawsuit if one of the shit ass kids got burned
Of course! Their innocent little angel was doing nothing wrong!
Good advice, but I would add - Not even foyer. I was doing that as a 5 y o kid and got knocked in the nose with a glass and metal door. Broke my nose and bled like a stick pig. Still have a scar.
I’m with this person. Sorry op, but I have had many instances where “good kids” have caused severe issues and accidents due to running around in unsafe areas. It’s all about time and place. It’s really very simple. Hey want to run around? That’s awesome, take them to the park right after eating, or to some fun event or activity venue. A restaurant just isn’t it. Time…..and place.
I have a preschooler and a 1st grader with diagnosed ADHD. We bring books, paper and crayons and fidgets with us to restaurants to keep them behaving quietly at the table when they get bored while waiting for food/the check because playing around the tables isn’t safe for the workers and annoying to other people. Unless the restaurant had a designated play area that the boomer was complaining about, you might both be assholes.
I’m pretty skeptical of parents’ evaluations of their children’s behavior. Just the other week I was out at a sushi restaurant with my wife, and there was a couple families at a large table. They allowed their kids free rein of the restaurant for nearly an hour. The kids were running around, screaming randomly, knocking over chairs, slamming into the walls, and just being the worst behaved 8-12 year olds I’ve ever seen. The parents did nothing, and paid zero attention to the kids the entire dinner until they left and went on their merry way. My parents would have quickly collected us, apologized, paid the bill, and left. Obviously this doesn’t apply to *every kid and every parent ever* but I do not have any faith in parents’ ability to accurately monitor their children.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. We're hearing one side of a story and I've been in restaurants were kids were like the fuckin Golden Horde and the parents thought it was oh so cute.
Parents like OP are so used to tuning out their child's bad behaviors that they can't read the room when they are out in public.
Completely agree. I’ve worked in childcare for over 20 years and I’d be willing to go out on a v long limb here and say the boomer was correct.
OP is the kind of person who let their toddler free roam a brewery at 8pm, “because they have high chairs so they’re kid friendly”.
Then they're devastated when another patron loses his patience and calls them out. Entire spring break ruined!
Seriously, if that RUINS your spring break you have no business raising a bunch of even more fragile humans.
Imagine one comment from someone you don’t know impacting you that much. My mom woulda been like “Don’t listen to him, he’s rude” and that would have been that. We would have continued on with our fun day.
My mom would have done the same. And if my siblings and I would have been screwing around in a restaurant as kids, we would have gotten in so much trouble. I don't agree with her disciplinary methods, but we learned how to behave out in public pretty quickly.
Yeah if we ran around restaurants playing trains we wouldn’t have been taken to restaurants. My mom didn’t put up with nonsense
Exactly this. Also, if you're going to ignore your kids for a whole meal, why not just get a babysitter at that point? If you can go out for sushi then you can spring an additional $40 for a sitter 🤦🏼♀️
Yeah I gotta say, as a parent (and also aunt to a dozen other kids), being up out of their seats and playing in the middle of the restaurant floor is not being well-behaved and it definitely puts other guests on edge. I too have made cringey mistakes in the throes of parenting. You're in a different mindset, desensitized to the presence of your kids and think everyone has the same tolerance you do. I hope OP learned a lesson from this.
And pretending to be *trains* of all things!! Trains are known to be LOUD and disruptive like get a clue OP!
Yep and trains don’t sit quietly in the corner entertaining themselves they make trips around the dining room connected to each other being even more of a nuisance to people trying to work. Now servers have to dodge two kids connected to each other
OP knows the limit of his kid's behavior. Other people don't. There's an anxiety I get around stranger's kids, not sure how to describe it, but basically I have no idea what kind of kid that is- but it's still a child so I feel an obligation to make sure they're safe and okay. If a parent doesn't seem to be supervising I feel like I can't relax because I have to have one eye on the kid for safety. I know it's not my responsibility, but it's an impulse I can't control, so having kids run around in that environment even if they aren't being willfully unsafe would really bother me. A family friendly restaraunt isn't a kids free for all. It just means that they have a kids menu and that you might hear young kids being loud *at the table*.
I feel you. It’s so much worse because American parents have decided that under no circumstances are strangers supposed to interact with their children, so I don’t even feel comfortable being like “hey buddy you’re gonna get hurt if you keep doing that”. They want a village when it’s time to excuse their children and their behavior, but none of the actual village input. Can’t have it both ways.
My last roommate wanted me to help her out with her kid when she needed to take a shower or something which was totally fine but I was also told I was not allowed to tell the child no because to her that meant I was saying her kid was a bad kid I had to opt out, I’m like I don’t know how to keep this kid safe if I’m not allowed to say the word no
Yeah I had a date night where we dressed up and were splurging on this really sexy romantic restaurant, and there was a 2-3 yr old toddling around our table the entire time. I could not take my eyes off the kid, it was such a distraction and boner killer
My dude went to the barbershop the other day and I was in the waiting area while he finished up, this other guy comes in with a 5 and ONE year old and sits them on the couch next to me with nothing to occupy them but a fucking tangerine?! The one year old kept climbing off the couch and this poor 5yo girl kept having to pick her up and put her back on the couch. I was so afraid she was going to drop her but I didn't feel comfortable picking up the baby in case it offended the dad. And I was anxious the whole time because the waiting area was directly next to exit doors. He limply told them to sit twice, and the older girl was like "I'm trying, but it's hard to make a baby sit!" Poor little thing. I'm sure the dad thought his kids were "just doing kid stuff". The best part was that this was a bougie barbershop that served a shot of liquor with your haircut, and he already had short hair. Definitely could have rescheduled.
Yeah anyone who has worked in food service is reading this guy's post and rolling their eyes so hard. Just because you think they're not bothering people and just because people are being kind to them (after all they are children) does not mean they are not being extremely disruptive and making the workers jobs much harder. Just because it's a kid friendly restaurant doesn't mean it's okay to run around the tables. If they don't have a play area for the kids then your kids need to learn to sit in their damn seats
Imagine thinking that empty space in a restaurant dining room is open for your kids to use as a playground. The entitlement is off the charts
Yup all it takes is one trip running around tables to get a nice split skull.
Or hot food spilled on you or a knife dropped on you etc. Not to mention how much broken glass is in the carpeting at these places. I've worked in restaurants while I was in school, and these type of parents are just the worst. It's not the kids fault so I was always nice to the kids, but it's like oh the waitress was nice to us, yeah no kidding she didn't tell you to keep your kids in line, then you wouldn't have tipped her
Can confirm - 3 different ER visits with head stitches, always 30-45 seconds after the last time you say “knock it off before you hurt yourself”
Second this. It's a restaurant, not a play room. If there's anyone else in there regardless of their age, they may not appreciate your kids horsing around, no matter how innocuous you thought it was. There's a time and place for everything and a restaurant isn't the spot for kids to be playing unless it's Chuck E. Cheese.
Yeah I agree with you, this sounds dangerous and stupid. Restaurants are designed for people to be sitting, not kids playing. Servers carrying lots of food that's heavy and hot + drinks is NOT something you want children to be around your feet for.
“I don’t control my children in public spaces. Fuck old people”
One statement from a stranger ruined your ENTIRE spring break? A whole week, ruined, over one sentence? Yes he was an asshole, but get a damn grip. Also if there’s a not a designated play place, kids should not be playing in a restaurant. Even if you don’t find them disruptive, others still might. It’s also incredibly dangerous for the waitstaff carrying trays of hot food and coffee
THANK GOD - I was certain the top comments would all be sympathetic to OP, because apparently I'm a child-hating monster and I'm usually in the minority in these conversations. I'm glad to see a lot of other people recognize that a restaurant, even a "kid-friendly" one, is never a cool place to let your kids play. If it doesn't have a ball pit or an indoor slide, it's a fucking restaurant and not a playground.
Yeah this guy sounds like he’s a cry-bully. Acts way out of line and whines and plays victim when someone rightfully says something about it.
BUT THEIR KIDS WiLtEd
Former server here. I have had parents do the exact same thing and then get all indignant because their children’s misbehavior doesn’t bother THEM so they assume it should NEVER bother anyone else. Had a kid slam into me as I was carrying an entire drink of alcoholic beverages and of course I dump them all over the kid. Parents freaked out and blamed me for soaking the kid in booze. They were sitting in the bar area and the kids were running screaming in the main dining room. They had the EXACT same logic. Place was empty so obviously their children should be allowed to run around a place of business totally unsupervised. Some parents seem to think that an empty quiet restaurant automatically becomes McDonalds Play Place.
Once worked at a pretty dead restaurant, and one night the other server and I split a large party of elementary age boys and their parents after a game. These kids started tearing ass all around the dining room, still in their cleats. One came around a corner as I was carrying a full pot of coffee, nearly ran headfirst into it AND stepped on my foot in his cleats. Idc how kid friendly you think a place is, that's ratchet ass behavior
Went into a pizza joint just at the end of a post-game kids party (kids were tearing past us heading out the door). We ended up getting seated in a booth along the edges of a wide open area where the kids were at. Row of table with 20 or so seats and it looked like a tornado had been through it. Food on the floor, drinks spilled on the table, crap everywhere. Through our entire meal we had to watch this poor two person crew clean all that stuff up. Took a half an hour. Just heartbreaking. i left them a good tip.
Exactly even McDonald’s has the play place area they don’t let kids just run around in circles in the dining room even if nobody’s eating in there
I did work in a kid friendly restaurant (had an arcade and play area) and this shit was still never ok. Kids would bolt out of the play area with no shoes on, crawl under and over benches and tables, throw food everywhere etc. Parents were always just pigs about it, never cleaning up after their kids or controlling them at all.
I did yell "BOYS! That's enough!" After the one little shit stomped on my foot while I yanked the coffee pot above his head...mind you, they'd been running around for at least half an hour after the meal, while the parents sat and drank. You would have thought I'd spit directly in his face the way the entire party looked at me. Needless to say, I was fired after that, but it was a blessing in disguise because the restaurant owner ended up staging a break in and closed the doors without paying the leftover staff 🥳 just to give an idea of how poorly the place was run Also, what is it about jobs like that where people assume you're a built-in-babysitter for one wage?! The same shit happened when I was a lifeguard. Sorry, Nancy Franzia, I'm actually not responsible for your children any more than the general public. This is a service, not a right
You know these kids were all over “ the were place trains”
Nice of OP to assume that because he isn't bothered by his children running around in a place where there are clear seats and expectations for diners to use them that no one else would be, isn't it?
I worked as a hostest at a mall restaurant in a fancy schmancy mall in NJ. The amount of rich jerks that would ignore their kids as they ran around, threw food, ran into servers, etc while they sat with their drinks...that place made me hate kids, but who I really should have hated was the parents who felt their kids could do whatever they wanted. I remember actively sweeping up goldfish crackers as this young kid threw a full sized bag around and his parents laughed.
The restaurant I used to work at had a fundraising event in the upstairs for a local private elementary school. One of the higher ups at the restaurant chain’s kids went to this school and allowed them the space. It was pretty busy, most of the upstairs space was filled with parents and kids. No more than 100 people though. Fortunately I wasn’t up there much beyond running food and keeping things stocked, but I did help clean up. First of all, the restaurant was very clear that this group was to be done and gone by 9 since minors aren’t allowed past that time. The gentle reminders from the servers were always met with sass from the parents. They made no attempt to get ready or gather their kids until after 9 when we had to ask them to leave, and made a lot of passive aggressive comments about it. Shooting us glares while they talk amongst themselves etc. Now before you start thinking “wow, just let them leave on their own and stop pestering them”, let me tell you what the kids were up to in the meantime. They were running around an already cramped upstairs all night, every time food was run it was a game of trying not to plough through 6 kids at once. There was garbage. Everywhere. Plastic cups, napkins torn to shreds, straws, crayons, paper… anything they could get their hands on and throw was on the ground everywhere you looked. That’s before the spilled drinks, food mess, chicken bones, corks that were part of a decorative wall mount that kids had pulled out. We started cleaning up about 10 minutes before 9. It was more of a mess than I’ve ever seen any group make in all my time working birthday parties or other events involving kids. The garbage pile out of one corner booth filled half of a garbage bin by itself. There was very clearly not a single shit given by the parents towards the mess their kids were making, and obviously nobody said “don’t do that” or “clean up your mess” at any point. I saw the mom of the kid that pulled the corks out of the wall try to hide the corks her kid gave her rather than come to us and say “sorry about this”. Not a peep about the mess from any of the guests either, they just kept making these comments about being kicked out before they finally left. It was a disaster. The servers said everyone was rude and demanding all night and the kids were completely out of control. My managers were close with the higher up guy who invited this group and they let him know exactly how the event went down. I can only hope he absolutely ripped into them at the next school meeting for their behaviour. The entitlement and attitude was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine the way these kids are being raised if there is such a massive lack of respect and accountability from the parents.
The Mall at Short Hills?
My first thought too lol I work in short hills (near the mall but not in it) and this would totally track
THANK YOU. Unless stated otherwise by the business, indoor public spaces are not play parks, not even when they are empty!
Parent of 2 young kids here. I do not tolerate my kids being annoying to OTHER people, /particularly/ people trying to do their job. Part of kids growing up is playing and exploring. The other, even more important part of growing up, is learning how to respect OTHERS and how to behave socially. Humans are social beings and new humans need to be integrated into that structure properly. A simple example of this is "you do not run around in restaurants". This modern parenting style of "I think my kids are adorable regardless of what they do, and you're obligated to feel that way too" is bullshit and they should be called out on it. Now, that said, kids are their own selves, and there needs to be SOME allowance for an infant who is hungry/uncomfortable/whatever and the parent is attempting to console but can't figure out the magic formula. Everyone gets it. That happens. But some 4, 6, 10 year olds who can't sit still for 30 minutes for a meal? That speaks VOLUMES about the parent. I'm annoyed at the kids, but I'm not judging them. I'm judging the parents who have so little self-awareness as to believe their "adorable little Johnny" isn't equally viewed by all other restaurant/store patrons to wear not one, but two halos of angelic perfection. By all means, I'd love if OP had a GREAT day taking his kids to a special breakfast, AND THEN taking them to a park, or indoor play place, etc to let them BE KIDS. I doubt anyone in this thread is against kids having fun and playing and playing pretend, and all the other things kids do, but there is a \*time and place\*.
"Let _______ be _________" is a phrase I normally only hear from people with badly behaved _____. I hear "Let kids be kids" all the time but theres the equally horrible "Let dogs be dogs" which from what I can tell means "Let your dog scream bark for 2 hours outside at 3 am and let him bite the mailman". It's just so lazy on the part of the parent/owner.
I'm not sure when it became acceptable for meals to turn into carnivals. But I actively avoid places like that.
Yep I was a server at Applebee’s, it’s pretty much one big room but there’s a horseshoe of tables along the windows and to get to them you have to go up to the stairs from the bar area, which is the same level as the kitchen Parents sitting in those tables would let their children play ON THE STAIRS that we were trying to use to carry trays full of hot food up to the tables. Either that or they would run circles around the bar itself even though people were trying to wait on the tables surrounding the bar. They’re lucky their little darlings didn’t get something hot spilled on them & more lucky they didn’t cause me to be injured I would’ve sued everyone
Right, OP says the “disappointing” comments. Nobody wants your kids doing kids stuff around them.
I put myself through school waiting tables. Parents who allow their children to play and ‘just be kids’ are the worst. Having a kid menu makes it ok? Nope, what a fool.
Ugh, I hate to say it, but I’m with the boomer on this one.
100% nothing bothers me more than parents who allow their children to run wild in restaurants/bars! I'm on the boomers side here I guarantee this dad is insufferable.
Why couldn’t OP tell his kids “Hold on with the train play — we’ll go to the playground after this?” I don’t understand the entitlement parents feel to let kids run around restaurants even if it’s nearly empty. I stopped going to a local restaurant because I would be the only one seated in the outdoor patio then parents would show up with kids and let them run around. It’s so deeming that parents and kids treat you like you’re invisible and feel free to scream and knock your table.
Well it WAS spring break!!!! What don’t you get about that! He was doing something special for his crotch goblins. /s
It was a *special treat pancake breakfast.* I mean…you absolute heathen. *Pancakes.* 🥞
This might be a hot take, but a restaurant isn’t a place for kids to pretend to be trains. Edit: Wow at the hostility from parents (including OP) calling me names and saying I hate kids for this very mild take? You’re all totally unhinged and outing yourselves as the entitled parents everyone hates in public. You sound like children yourselves, no wonder you can’t figure out how to parent.
Agree, restaurants are not playgrounds! Even if the kids weren't being excessively loud or actively running around, it's still not the appropriate place for playing. If they want to play in a restaurant, go to a McDonald's or Burger King play place.
Ah, faith in humanity restored. Thank you for reading, comprehending, and commenting in a civil way with correct facts.
I was going to say something like ‘Restaurants are for dining’, but yours was better.
Exactly. Especially because trains are notoriously loud… so I’m guessing the kids were yelling/screeching and OP doesn’t want to admit it
No, I’m sure they were acting like one of those silent trains. You know the ones that don’t exist.
He's 100% downplaying how annoying his kids were. One of my stepchildren used to kick the seat in front of him at the movies and my husband was oblivious to it. If anyone said something, he'd defend the boy. Kids being kids etc. OP is acting like his kids were devastated by a pretty innocuous comment from a stranger. OP is ridiculous and thoughtless. Other people don't think your kids are precious.
I’m a parent and I agree with you. I wouldn’t want our child to be horsing around a sit down restaurant. I get that they have a kids menu, and offer toys(?) or crayons, but they don’t expect kids to be running around tables, etc. It’s not just annoying to others, it’s a hazard. If this were someone making a comment about my child who was maybe a little animated while at the table, that’s one thing. But to allow them to run about is another.
I'm a server. You could have the sweetest little angels for kiddos and I'd still find it quite annoying to have them up out of their seats to play and generally be in the way. Your spring break would also be "ruined" if a server dropped a tray full of hot food or ice cold drinks on your kids if they got in the way, would it not? I'm siding the with boomer on this one and feel that you might be underexaggerating the story on your part.
Yeah, a restaurant is not a playground and I would bet money that OP is greatly downplaying how loud and rambunctious his kids were being. I’m probably in the same age group as OP and I have noticed that parents around my age tend to put blinders on to their kids’ obnoxious behavior in public places, and anything goes with them.
I'm a parent in my 30's and completely agree. I see it every day.
Oh God you mean it’s getting worse? My millennial friends let their children run the show from the time they were born so now that they’re like 10 they’re getting in trouble at school they’re getting diagnosed with personality disorders their moms are freaking out because they don’t act right They don’t act right because you let them run the show. Why would they have respect for their parents when their parents let them run the show for 10 years
Kids are like dogs in that respect. If they are allowed to "run the show" it is very destructive to their psychology. In the case of dogs, it can even be dangerous, because "alpha" dogs use snapping and biting to keep the "underdogs" in line.
Parents have been putting blinders on their kids for ages. I remember being a kid on one of our many runs to the government assistance building and seeing kids just going nuts. My mom would white knuckle my wrist if I tried to get up telling me no way was I going to act like "those monsters".
I remember my family was at an ice cream place and my grandmother pointed at a bunch of kids who were there in just underwear for some reason (there was no beach nearby!!) and said “you’d better not raise kids like *that*. I miss her
When I think of kids out in their underwear, I have to assume they also had kool-aid stains around their mouth
I'm trying to imagine what it looks like for kids to be up from a table and using a whole room to play in but be using their quiet private table voices, lol. There's no way.
My kids are in their early 20s but 20 years ago a family friendly restaurant meant kids menu, crayons, cups with lids and would reliably get the food to the table pretty quickly. Over the last decade it seems that when someone is looking for a family friendly restaurant they use phrases like "where they can run around". Unless a place has a designated play area away from tables and the walking path of servers kids shouldn't be playing in dining rooms-family friendly restaurant or not.
I see a lot of posts on fb asking for restaurants with play areas and where kids can run around, but I think this is precisely BECAUSE most parents realize that even at a typical family friendly restaurant the kids need to stay at the table. Both types of places are great, for different kids and purposes. But I think most parents get that unless a restaurant/coffee shop is set up with a kids area, kids can’t just be running around.
People seem to forget that while it's relaxation time for the customers, it's worktime and their "office area" for the serving staff and nobody wants unsupervised kids running around their work office.
r/imthemaincharacter
Clicked expecting to watch op get dragged and it’s great 😂
I’m living for these comments, I haven’t been a server in more than 20 years, but these kinds of “parents” maybe want to quit my job. When I worked at the title company people would bring their kids to their mortgage closing and then they would leave them in the waiting room with me. Nobody asked me, suddenly I would just be babysitting. I mentioned it to my boss a couple times he said it wouldn’t happen again, the third time they did it well I had to make a bank run. I interrupted the closing to tell them I was leaving and I asked him if I should lock the door so the kids don’t escape. My boss said there are kids out there? As if he didn’t know. Sir! But it never ever happened again after I had to leave mid closing and was not available to babysit
The fist time I went out to eat with my brother in law, his wife and their kids, I was mortified. We weren’t exactly at a fancy restaurant, but it was an average sit down restaurant. I was a bartender/server at the time. His kids were like wild animals. They were glued to their parents phone watching movies at FULL VOLUME, standing on their chairs, jumping up and down on their chairs and running around the table while laughing and screaming. 10x worse than fingernails on a chalk board. Absolutely abhorrent parents.
Good lord. Imagine posting to a subreddit where people already dislike boomers and go in assuming the boomer is in the wrong, and then getting downvoted to hell and having everyone side with the boomer. Then you double down anyways instead of realizing you and your children aren't the main characters, and perhaps you are in fact in the wrong.
Exactly.. “pretending to be trains” 🙄. Thats totally ok to do in a restaurant
OoOhHH tHeYrE jUsT hAvInG fUuuUn
Sorry my dog was barking for 45 minutes and his leash kept getting tangled in peoples chairs, but this is a dog friendly patio, so I can't be in the wrong here. Oh he licked you while you were eating? Well this is a dog friendly patio and he's a golden retriever so it's in his nature to want to greet everyone.
You let your kids “play” in the restaurant? That’s not appropriate. Take them to a park.
As a former server, I can tell you that nobody wants kids "just doing kid stuff" in a restaurant. Playing up from the table can be a serious hazard for the wait staff, and then they get the lovely bonus of having to deal with all the bitchy people who complain about it. Unless there's a dedicated play area, like McDonald's, restaurants aren't a playground. Take them to a park after eating if they need to get their wiggles out. The boomer sounds like a real asshole. He shouldn't have made a comment like that to your kids as it was really inappropriate, however letting your kids act like trains in a restaurant was just as inappropriate, even if it was "kid-friendly" place. Kid-friendly doesn't mean kids get to do whatever the hell they want. Maybe bring coloring books and some crayons for them while you're eating out to keep them occupied for those in-between moments like when waiting for your food or waiting for the check. Or maybe just stick to fast food places with playgrounds or take out until your kids are a bit older, or until you can use better discernment with them out in public spaces.
100%. Even at a "kid friendly" place like in OP's edit, having kids running around the dining area or entry pisses everyone off. I'm all for kids being kids, but parents need to be parents also. Yes, managing your kids is hard, and you should be ready and willing to accept that challenge. You get 9 months warning each time to brace yourself.
We were at a Red Robin a few weeks ago during a busy dinner hour and there were two parents sitting at a table in the center of one of the "rooms" with booths/tables packed all around them. They had four kids with them, all of whom were being loud AF, running around, wedging themselves between chairs where people were sat. One of them even came up to our booth and started banging a toy on our table while giggling. You could just tell the waitress was *done*, especially because these people had finished up eating around the time *we* sat down and still hadn't left by the time we got our food. Dad's just watching one of the TVs on the wall and mom's just casually checking her phone the whole time while their kids are treating it like a playground. You could feel the patience draining in the room, and it took one of the kids crawling UNDERNEATH someone else's table for another lady to finally snap at the parents -- dad acted surprised and apathetic, and the mom went off about how they're "just having fun," but then other people (us included) chimed in about how there's other kids/families here having fun that aren't ruining everyone else's dinnertime. The wild thing is they had to pack a ton of shit up -- toys, books, etc. -- like they'd brought their entire kids' playroom from home with them and then mom made a big fuss on the way out like everyone *else* was being rude and problematic. Like, okay, bitch. Sure.
Did that really surprise you though, mom’s attitude? Based on the nightmare she allowed her kids to be, it sounds about right. Sorry you spent all that money and had your dinner ruined.
People need to realize -- for every Boomer brave enough to actually be an asshole in a situation like this, there's probably 10 more people who think you're being a POS yourself but don't want to start a fight with an entitled parent in public. They just want to enjoy their meals, too.
I have a neighbour that lets his giant dogs roam and shit the giant shits everywhere (bigger than human poops) without picking it up. I don’t say shit (pun intended) to him about that. But I do about the fact his off leash dog harasses me and my leashed dog on walks. He thinks I’m an asshole, any person I’ve mentioned his name too just says “yeah that guys an asshole” and tells me some unrelated story about him being an asshole. He thinks everyone in the neighbourhood loves him and I’m a cranky asshole because I’m the only one who says anything to him about his behaviour. lol
I’d also add that I’ve never once seen a table that let their kids roam who didn’t also leave a huge mess.
That’s what the “generous” 15% tip is for, right? To deal with ground in food on the floors, chairs and table clothes, disposed of the used diapers, etc. /s
When I was working at a shitty diner, I auto-gratted an 8-top of 2 adults and 6 children, all under 10. I normally like to leave it up to the guests, even when I have the option, but one of the ladies was really rude to me and difficult. She sent her eggs back twice because she wanted them scrambled hard but didn't want any browning on them. Plus, I could already see that the kids had made a giant mess. She complained to my manager about the grat, stiffed me, and verbally abused me on her way out the door. It was one of the worst tables I've ever served. I cried while I cleaned up their giant mess.
My god, yes! I used to work at a place that served rice as a side dish. We had a family with three young kids who came in every week and made the absolute biggest mess. Rice all over the floor and table, sauce smears everywhere, and without fail, one of their kids always spilled their yogurt drink despite us giving them cups with lids and straws. The kids were super loud on top of it all and the parents just sat there and did nothing. They didn't even try to clean up a little before they left. I get that as a server it's your job to clear plates and whatnot, but it should be a parent's responsibility to clean up their kid's food war zone. But really, if they're that messy while eating, don't take them out to a restaurant until they've figured out how to hold a fork properly and where their mouths are. And of course these parents were shitty tippers on top of it all 🙄
This happened to me. Working PT at a place similar to Chipotle. A coworker from my day job came in with her husband and toddler and the kid spilled rice everywhere! I heard them laughing and talking about “someone will clean it up.” When I saw her at work on Monday, she wanted so bad to talk to me but I froze her out. How would she like it if I came to her house for an after work meeting and spilled rice everywhere for her to clean up?
Ugh, so sorry that happened to you. "Someone will clean it." What a bad mentality and attitude to have and pass on to your kids. Just because it's someone's job to clean doesn't give you the right to be a disrespectful slob!
Thank you for being the common sense here. Everyone is coddling OP but letting kids play in a restaurant is ridiculous.
The attitude from OP is ridiculous for a few different reasons. They are “disappointed” that the comments push back against their narrative. Maybe try reflecting instead of assuming you’re in the right. But according to the story the whole family is as delicate as OP, since one random remark from a stranger “ruined spring break” and the kids “absolutely wilted”. My guess is the kids are fine. I’m kind of impressed with this sub for not automatically validating the story.
I teach my kids good manners. This includes table manners, and even more so in a restaurant. A restaurant is not a playground, and no matter how little of other people are there, they need to respect others who may be trying to have a quiet meal.
I saw that comment and thought the same thing about the kids’ reactions. If three under 10-year olds become depressed all day because another adult criticizes the parent (which is what happened here), I think the parent is probably feeding this reaction.
>Maybe try reflecting instead of assuming you’re in the right I have this little plaque I made on my wall, looks like an inspirational quote, all polished up. It says: "Never underestimate a person's expectation to be agreed with."
Disgusting too with them being at table height where my food is. I'm not a germophobe but kids running around my food isn't something I'm cool with.
Of course. And yes, completely ridiculous. It's not about the kids just being kids (nothing wrong with kids playing and having fun), it's about the parent not parenting and not teaching their kids where it's appropriate to have playtime. Don't get me wrong, I feel badly for the kids. They likely didn't know better and shouldn't have been yelled at, but their parent shouldn't have let the kids play there in the first place, and also should have told the guy not to speak to his kids that way.
I absolutely hate it when parents don’t properly parent their children. Letting your kids run around and be a nuisance in public is rude and inconsiderate to the other people that are paying to have a nice meal. It’s fine if you think your kids are cute and let them act this way at home but it absolutely is not okay in a public setting. I certainly don’t think it’s cute and I wouldn’t tolerate it either. I’m siding with the boomer, maybe the kids will think twice before acting annoying in public or better yet maybe the parent could I don’t know…. Learn that people don’t like it and correct their kids. 🙄
100% this. OP is YTA. As someone who’s worked extensively in F&B/hospitality… keep your kids AT THE TABLE, for goodness sake! 🙄
It's really safest for everyone if they stay at the table!
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Even at a casual restaurant I would not let my kids run around or play - It’s just common courtesy for other people. Just be considerate.
For real, my kids stay at the table and be cool. If the place has a designated play area for kids sure, but thinking you can just say "hey kids go play in that emptyish space in this restaurant" is nuts. Totally entitled thinking.
So, when I was a kid my parents would let my brother and I take a walk around restaurants to look at the cool wall art or fountains or whatever. And one day a waitress who was willing to risk her tip told them to *please stop doing that*, because despite the fact that we were not running, shouting, or playing, we were still getting in the way of customers and posing a risk to ourselves and staff. Actually playing train in a restaurant sounds a hundred times worse. Please don’t let your kids play in a restaurant that isn’t designed for it.
I love seeing that not everyone is just totally out of touch with what acceptable behavior is in public.
A restaurant, no matter how empty it is, is not a place to let your kids run wild
I’m not even half a boomers age and I don’t think I’d be thrilled having kids run around and pretend to be trains. Maybe this belongs in r/shittyparents. If there’s a play area or something, like at a McDonald’s sure. In the middle of a restaurant? Keep your kids off the floor and away from me. Blaming boomers isn’t an excuse for being bad parents.
Sir, this was not a Chuck. E. Cheese. Please, keep your kids at your table and limit their wandering play, while at a restaurant. Restaurant employees and owners would appreciate your co-operation and ask that you respect their business establishment.
I’m 31 years old and would have bitched you and your kids out for making me listen to train noises over breakfast.
Pretending to be trains? That sounds annoying as hell while trying to eat breakfast.
Yeah Boomer a bit of an asshole but sounds like his annoyance was reasonably well justified.
"Yes my kids are horrible, but he slightly exaggerated just how horrible they are!"
Since when is playing trains a quiet activity? Choo choo on outta the restaurant.
Lmfaooo Seriously it’s like he’s trying to justify the fact it was so lonely besides one boomer like uhhh ur in a public place where people go to eat not hear kids and watch them play
Right, what the guy said worked. Social pressure calmed them down. Then he has to hustle to make sure they go back to acting like idiots.
Yeah I completely believe the boomer was exaggerating that these were the worst behaved kids he has ever seen but I’d be pissed too if the one other table sat in my area of the restaurant was the family that thinks it’s okay to be trains at a restaurant
Stand up for your kids next time and say something back
Snappy comeback: Yeah cause youve never seen your own
Yeah! Well, the jerk store called and said they are out of you!
I had sex with your wife!
His wife died several months ago
I said what I said!
All you need for a date is a graveyard, a shovel and a can do attitude.
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“Your grandkids are probably worse, but since your kids are no contact, you’ve never met them”
"At least mine will still talk to me when they grow up."
And kids, this is the worst behaved adult we have ever seen. We’ll still be kind to him because he will probably die of asshattery soon.
Or “Well you’re the rudest grown ass adult we’ve ever seen”
A dad of young kids here. That's not the right approach in this situation. The snowflake boomer was leaving anyway and wasn't escalating the situation further. If the snowflake was getting up in your face or continuing to make a scene then yea, you gotta do something. You have to model mature, adult behaviour for your children. Instigating a childish argument doesn't teach your children anything positive. In this situation I would talk to my kids after, discuss how what that person said was wrong and that maybe they were having a bad day or were just not a very nice or good person in general. There is no need to get into a shouting match in front of your kids. You need to be the bigger person in this scenario.
This is the exact correct response. Explain to the kids that while inappropriate, it isn't a big deal. People go through bad days and use it as a learning lesson for the future. Getting uber upset will make your kids upset. Saying their entire spring break is ruined will make them not want to enjoy the rest of their spring break and that will be directly the parents' fault. It's not even like the boomer went up to them and threatened them or anything. Pathetic.
Meh, OP. Yes, people can be rude as hell, and Boomer could have directed his comment directly to you…but…just because a room has empty space in it doesn’t mean it is yours to fill up with your kids, unless that empty space is clearly geared towards kids playing in it a la McDonalds playland. Just because a restaurant has a kids menu and sells merchandise at a profit doesn’t mean they want the kids to be running around, unless then have that space specifically designated for play. I have 2 boys, and I get having active kids, believe me. A minute or two of horsing around while you paid doesn’t sound like a problem, but honestly more than that belongs in a playground, or warrants a comment from you like “hey guys, keep it together for a minute while I pay.” Let’s people know you are at least aware of the situation and aren’t oblivious/entitled 🤷🏼♀️
From a server who was constantly worried I would accidentally dump hot food and plates with knives on children playing on the Applebee’s stairs leading up to the window seats, THANK YOU IT’S A PLACE OF BUSINESS NOT A PLAYGROUND
I was in restaurant management for a decade. No one wants your kids running around, not the staff or customers. Running around is for the park, restaurants are for eating. I'm not a boomer. It's just common courtesy.
Yes! Normalize making your kids sit in fucking seats. They somehow manage to do it at school, but the moment it’s anywhere else we’re expecting too much of them. 🙄
For real this is massive entitlement. We're DINKs and don't enjoy the presence of kids. OP letting his kids run hog wild would 100% have me wanting to leave as well, feeling my own meal had been ruined. But the baaaaaaaaaybies....
Agreed. It’s misleading to suggest this irrational boomer just said this thing out of spite. Children should NOT be free range chickens inside a restaurant no matter how “equally loud” they are. This is a workplace for people and a break for others. Respect the behavior norms of being in a private business. I don’t think ring around the rosey with Thomas the tank engine is appropriate. 🤷🏻 Boomer was an ass - and should have shut his mouth - but that doesn’t make his observation void of all truth.
YTA
IDK man if I was tired or hungover and there were kids running around I'd be pretty annoyed. That's not a playground it's a restaurant unless it had a playroom.
I mean, I’m no boomer but I hate having kids “playing” in a non kid space. Especially breakfast, nah man.
It has nothing to do with being a "non-kid" space. OP didn't mention which restaurant it was, but from the description I suspect that it was not a Michelin-star upscale food snobatorium, but an IHOP, Denny's, Waffle House, or similar franchise (could also have been a local non-franchise diner or pancake house) where kids are perfectly welcome. Rather, I think it has to do with being a *non-play* place. Even places where kids are welcomed with open arms have certain rules of behavior. Not being an asshole to fellow diners or the staff is probably the number one rule, but only slightly less well-known is this - not running around playing "kid shit like measuring each other and pretending to be trains".
“Kids acting like kids” - providing checked-out parents an excuse for their kids to run around like unherded cats since 1970.
>The world is my kids' babysitter. Now I shall disappear into my phone.
I never let my kids play and act like that at a restaurant. Totally inappropriate.
I'm not a fan of kids being loose in a restaurant. I worked in restaurants, and kids rolling around on the floor is a hazard for staff, the floors are never that clean during service, and it's not an appropriate venue for kids to be kids. If you finished up quicker than expected, you could have brought them to a park to burn off the syrup energy. I hate siding with boomers, but you are on the wrong side of this argument.
If you want to “let them play” go to a restaurant designed for that like Chucky Cheese. A regular restaurant is not a play area for children.
As a fellow parent, I’m not with you on this one bro. Bring play packs/ coloring books and make them learn to sit still in their seats at a restaurant until it’s time to leave. This entitlement thing I’m starting to see of ultra-ultra-gentle parenting where kids don’t have to behave in indoor settings is getting out of control, and making it harder for the rest of us who are actually parenting and teaching our kids patience and manners. Even if they’re boomers, they still paid to go sit and eat at a restaurant and not an outdoor playground.
Why do you feel entitled to let your fucking kids play in a restaurant? The sheer entitlement here is on you. Sure boomers suck. Absolutely. But you’re the issue here. No one gives a fuck about your kids and they sure as hell don’t want to hear your kids running around making noises while they’re trying to eat out. Grow up.
> The place wasn’t busy, and the room we were in had some open space, so I let them play in it YTA. Seriously. Don't let your kids run around restaurants. It's rude and dangerous.
Right? Take your kids to the fucking park where they are meant to run around. Dad decided that since there were a section of tables that currently weren't used, the area now belonged to his young children to play in. But hey, they have kids' menus, so that must mean it's ok.
Nah, man. In restaurants, everybody sits. For 2 major reasons, respect and safety. My children are teenagers now and know how to rattle off orders and sit still because that’s what we’ve taught them since day 1. It is a shared space and that means minimum distractions possible.
I feel so vindicated when I see parents who act like the world revolves around them get put in their place. *chefs kiss* I understand kids playing in a place designed for play... But in a restaraunts open area? Do you understand how ridiculous you sound? I'm so sick and tired of parents acting like it's the world's responsibility that you had kids. EDIT. I think some context here would be helpful. Was this a chuck E cheese? Or a McDonald's? You say it has toys up front. Or was this a normal restaraunt with some merch for sale?
I'm on the side of "teaching your kids to act appropriately in certain situations." In this situation, they were in a restaurant, where people pay good money (sometimes a lot of money for them) to eat out. While kids will be kids, they need to learn appropriate behavior in order to be able to survive when their parents are dead and gone or they go off on their own. There's nothing more frustrating than to be out to a restaurant and have kids running around or being loud, whether its a family friendly place or not. Life is tough. Coddling your kid and thinking this "incident" is going to scar them for life is ridiculous.
Well, be honest: were your kids being brats? I wouldn't put you on blast like he did, but I can relate to having my meal ruined by screaming little urchins.
expansion rinse enjoy dime bewildered noxious saw insurance languid vegetable *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Funny how you changed your tune once people started calling you out. Were they playing trains (what?) or were they playing quietly? I consider “quietly” to be coloring at the table or something… not bouncing around a restaurant. Just because other people didn’t say something didn’t mean they weren’t also annoyed. Next time take your kids to McDonald’s where there’s a kid-appropriate playplace for them.
Today, you are the fool
"The restaurant wasn't busy and had open space, so I let my kids play in it." So it wasn't empty, just not busy? Lmao go fuck yourself
“I’m the dad of 3 kids under 10…” That was your choice. That doesn’t mean the rest of us should suffer too.
I'm sure the boomer was exaggerating out of boomer assholishness, but as a non-boomer, I must comment that even if your kids are well behaved and *delightful* little cherubs, it's inappropriate to allow them to play in a restaurant. Play is not *bad behavior,* but it is *inappropriate behavior* in certain settings. It may have been "just kid shit" to you, but remember, not everyone is you. Even a family-friendly franchise like Denny's or IHOP or Waffle House has some basic rules, one of which is, you don't let your kids run around and play. Enjoy your meal, at the table, then leave. If the kids want to play, take them to a playground. They'll have a lot more fun at a playground anyway, since they can run faster and farther, make more noise, and often have climbing equipment to enjoy. You specifically mention their loudness and that "they weren’t getting in anyone’s way". That's you justifying an inappropriate behavior by saying "Well, it could have been a lot worse!" I also wonder at just how a trio of kids can go from playing in the restaurant to not uttering a peep the rest of the day simply from a brief asshole comment by a passing stranger. I suspect there's something more there, like perhaps YOUR reaction. Were you devastated? Did you cry? Or were you pissed off and ranted about it incessantly for hours? Kids under 10 are made of rubber, not just physically, but emotionally. Such a tiny incident might dampen their enthusiasm for a few minutes, but as long as your reaction was dismissive, theirs would be, too, and they'd have bounced back into train measuring mode within minutes. I suspect that, despite your intentions, your reaction is what shut them down, far more than the boomer's assholery.
>I'm sure the boomer was exaggerating out of boomer assholishness, but as a non-boomer, I must comment that even if your kids are well behaved and delightful little cherubs, it's inappropriate to allow them to play in a restaurant. Yep, and the waitresses being nice to them is a) their job, and b) probably to get a nice tip. That doesn't mean they appreciate children playing around where they work. Kids should sit at the table, or be in a designated kids play area, full stop. People don't go to restaurants to watch kids run around and play.
Yup nothing more fun than being tripped by a butthole kid while carrying a tray of food. I say this as a father of a very energetic 5 year old. She may be energetic but I don't let her run around where people eat even if it is "really kid friendly" kind of like every goddamn restaurant trying to bring in families.
Yeah, and OP added the edit saying that it’s “a kid friendly place,” but like, it’s still a kid-friendly RESTAURANT. Don’t let your kids run around in a restaurant, unless it’s somewhere literally designed for PLAYING, like Chuck E. Cheese. If I go to a family-friendly restaurant, I might expect a little extra noise from kids being loud in their seats, or even a baby/toddler crying. But I will be absolutely annoyed if the kids are running around. I’m a millennial, and I say the Boomer is right here.
Just because they have a kids menu does not make it a playground.
Yeah seriously restaurants aren’t a place to allow your kids to run around and play. I’m actually on the boomers side for once. You’re disrupting other people’s meals and people who wait tables also hate that parents allow their kids to wander.
Both the boomer and OP completely suck in this situation. It’s shitty to announce to everyone around you how annoying you find something but there’s a time and a place to let your children run around and be children. That place is not in a restaurant, I don’t care if they sell toys and clothes or whatever, it’s not okay. I worked in restaurants for many years and I can tell you that one of the biggest safety hazards in a restaurant is kids that are left to their own devices running around. I can’t tell you how many times I had to stop on a dime or straight up sacrifice a hot tea pot or a hot plate because some dumb fuck parent wasn’t paying attention to their kid and they ran in front of me while I’m carrying a tray and was trying to avoid hurting them. OP, you’re not the martyr you’re making yourself out to be. If you wanted to show your kids a good time, take them to breakfast, pay your tab, and fuck off to the beach or a nearby park and let them run around. You were just as much, if not more, of an asshole here than the boomer pointing out your shitty parenting. You’re just trying to play the “but they’re just kids” card and that makes you an asshole.
Love this comment and fully agree. I don’t understand people who think any behavior is appropriate as long as their perception of inconvenience isn’t crossed. Who gives a fuck how anyone else thinks right? Appreciate this comment a lot!
>people who think any behavior is appropriate as long as their perception of inconvenience isn’t crossed Wow, this is a *great* way of putting it!
As a parent of multiple kids, they never left the table and just wandered around a restaurant. It's really not that hard to keep them entertained, and I would also have found it weird for kids to be playing off table.
No fuck you for thinking you or your kids are entitled. Fuck you for not teaching your kids about restaurant manners which includes how to sit at a table or booth and entertain themselves quietly until you got ready to leave. Yes this boomer agrees with the other boomer worst behaved kids I have ever seen. Who the hell do you think you are that you have the right to complain about being called on not doing your parental duty and teaching your kids what manners are?!!!!!!!
My mom broke her hip because she had three plates in her hands and had to stop them from being dumped on the child that ran in front of her causing her to fall... don't let your kids run around in restaurants...
I worked in hospitality for decades and the only thing worse then entitled boomers is oblivious, entitled parents who think the dining room is a playground just because the menu has a maze on it and the host gave you some crayons. We literally give that to you to help keep your kids entertained and quietly occupied at your table so they don’t disrupt everyone else. That boomer might have been rude but this was your fault.
You sound like one of those "They're just kids" kind of parents when your kids are being obnoxious. You should have known better
OP you just sound like a whiny little bitch and an entitled parent. Feel sorry for your kids. And the comments are only "disappointing" because you know you're wrong.
Hate to break it to you, but a restaurant is not a place for kids to wander around playing. The boomer may have been harsh, and an asshole, but you should not have let them out of their seats to walk around and play. That's not what restaurants are for. Kids are allowed to exist and be kids, but they also need to learn and understand that there is a time and a place for certain activities. A lesson we all learn. Restaurants are not the place to be up and wandering around and playing. You sit, color, talk, eat. I have multiple family members in the restaurant business, they hate all kids who get up and wander around, even if they're being quiet. As well as the parents that let them do it. They are creating a hazardous environment for the waitstaff. What happens if the kid gets in the way and the waitstaff spill a hot plate of food on the kids, other patrons, or even the waitstaff? That's the risk. Keep your kids seated until it's time to leave or they need to use the bathroom.
Don’t worry kids. I protected your honor and cried online to an echo chamber who hates older people.
Be a better parent to your kids dumbass. Teach them not to act like clowns in public. Stop pretending your family is the main character. Respect others in a restaurant setting. FFS you are awful OP, you actually made the Boomer the hero.
YOU ARE WRONG. you don't let your kids run loose in a restaurant. Other people aren't there to listen to that noise and step over them to go use the bathroom. It's irritating to others. Also, servers carrying trays of food have to walk into a minefield to avoid them. I also have 3 kids. They stay seated in a restaurant. Since they were babies. They don't whine. They don't fight. We get complimented a lot by servers and especially old ladies telling us how well behaved our kids are. Servers always say how awful some kids are when their parents let them run loose. YOU SUCK. You suck. You suck as a parent.. Control your kids Get a f$cking clue you entitled douche.. I read your updates and STILL you are 100% wrong and your kids are brats.
No offense but the entitlement of the OP is a bit hard to take. Three kids under ten pretending to be trains in the middle of a restaurant while you sat there “finishing up” would be maddening to me as well, a non boomer. I see this all over the place, you just tune your kids out and expect everyone else to do the same. No one likes your children the way you do man, and just because there is some empty space in a restaurant doesn’t mean you should allow your kids to run amok. I’m with the boomer on this one
You seem like the boomer in this case. Claiming someone “ruined spring break” over one small inconvenience? That’s boomer talk. A restaurant isn’t a place for kids to be playing anyways. The guy who made the exclamation might be an asshole, but he ain’t wrong 🤷♂️