Originally Posted by
WillCAD
You're missing the point.
There SHOULD be a time in children's lives when they won't go out to eat (except at places that cater to children like Chuck-E-Cheese and various fast food establishments), because they are not yet properly trained in table manners.
It is the responsibility of the parents to not only properly teach kids how to behave, but also to refrain from foisting their children upon anyone else until such time as they are capable of such behavior.
Any whining from parents that "What am I supposed to do, stop going out just because I had kids?" presupposes that babysitters do not exist, and epitomized the selfish, self-centered, narcissistic (SP?) behavior that has led parents to abrogate those responsibilities, to the point where well-bahaved kids are the exception rather than the rule.
There's where we disagree. We live in a city and eat out 4-7 nights a week in places of various levels. Parents should do what they can to avoid imposing on others, such as by eating early and at places where you can get out quickly if you need to (i.e. no TFL or Alinea). But it's not reasonable to expect children to disappear from public life until they are old enough to have adult manners.