Originally Posted by
Boraxo
I implore you to stay focused on the original topic, which was to provide suggestions for dealing with the situation that is often encountered.
Admonishing a few of your fellow FTers to keep their children at home does not provide a meaningful solution.
That being said, you seem to be unable to understand that there are many many situations including the one described in my original post, where children cannot be left at home. Like when you are on vacation staying in a room that does not have room service or cooking facilities.
I understand that perfectly well, and as I've said multiple times in this thread alone, I am not admonishing people to keep their children at home EXCEPT when their children are not yet capable of behaving appropriately to the venue.
If your kids can behave appropriately to the venue, bring them. If they are NOT yet able to behave appropriately, either don't bring them or choose another venue where they are able to behave appropriately.
And we are, truly, dealing with the original topic right now - by informing folks that there are places where their children's behavior is innappropriate, we are attempting to heading off such temper tantrums and ruined meals before they begin.
But, I think possible courses of action have all been laid out:
1) Speak to the parents, ask them politely to take the child outside till he calms down
2) Complain to management and request that they instruct the parents to take the child outside till he calms down
3) Give up on the whole thing and leave the restaurant as soon as possible
4) Sit there and take it because children are our future and anyone who can't stand listening to other peoples' kids cry or squeal in a public place is a heartless monster