You people are so rude and offensive to kids. People will take their kids out where they want to. If you are a waitress you have to deal with it. Anyone that is rude to a kid has major problems. If you don’t like it, get another job. It was funny to hear someone say it was their resturant just because they serve people there. Honey, you don’t own the place. People like you shouldn’t have kids.

I think Alabama and Landon are very cute and Travis looks like a hands on daddy! good for him!

As far as the restaurant. Who knows what went on inside? Maybe he had a private area away from the other patrons. Maybe his kids like spicy foods (not so much Alabama but the older two). My nephew is 5 yrs old and since he was about 2 he’s been eating spicy foods of all kinds!

Quite frankly kids at restaurants don’t bother me unless of course they’re out of control and the parents don’t take control of them. I was at a restaurant once and the kids were under the table, then they were jumping in the booths, and the next thing you know they’re throwing spoons and forks and what did the parents do?…nothing! I also have been at a restuarant myself w. nieces and nephews that haven’t been to thrilled but we def. try to entertain them and make them be quiet and behave. But unless the restaurant says, No children under [insert age] is permitted then it pretty much means anyone can go to this establishment and the other people eating there just have to know that it’s not a kid free zone all the time.

Xan wrote “In cases where the eatery is clearly for adults (no child menu/no kids seats), it is best for all involved for children to remain at bay.”

This is a very American view. Europe does not follow this at all, and the kids learn from an early age how to act.

Reeni and Lauren want to make comments like that here, but they aren’t brave enough to take my e-mails. If your job is to serve people then do your job, keep your mouth shut, or go home!!

I love kids as much as the next person, but there are defininitely some restaurants that are adult only. And even at the family restaurants it is not acceptable to allow your kids to cry while others are trying to enjoy their meal. Take them out to the lobby like you do at the movies or at church. It’s common courtesy.

Thanks for coming to my defense Lauren.

I just truly believe that there are some places that are kid friendly and some that aren’t. Nobu is a restaurant made for adults, not children – not only do adults there probably not want to deal with other people’s children, but I really can’t imagine a child having much fun there –it’s LOUD and cramped and the menu is mostly spicy and raw fish. I have eaten there many times and have yet to see a young child there during dinner time, so it’s definitely not the norm. People are obviously free to bring their kids wherever they want (though Nobu may actually have a no babies policy – I haven’t checked), but then they should not be surprised when people get annoyed if their children cry.

However, if you take your kid to a place like California Pizza Kitchen and people complain about your child, then IMO it’s kind of their problem for going to a place that is family-oriented – it’s designed to serve families and children. If you bring your children to a place like Nobu, you do so at your own risk.

I’m actually shocked that there are people who feel it’s appropriate to take their child anywhere they want. Your world may revolve around your child, but THE world does not. I say this as a mother to a young toddler, whom my world revolves around.

As someone who doesn’t have kids yet but was one not too long ago, I can say that I belive there is a time and place for children to be out with parents. Just as most of us would be appalled to see a toddler at a concert late at night, so might we be slightly miffed (no matter how much we love kids–as I think everyone on this blog does)if you were out for a dinner with friends and found that there was a table with kids next to you. As well behaved as they may be, it may place a strain on otherwise natural adult conversation because of the fear that the kids might overhear a curse word, or something inappropriate.

In cases where the eatery is clearly for adults (no child menu/no kids seats), it is best for all involved for children to remain at bay. I know my own parents didn’t take me out to adult restaurants until I was old enough to do long division:)

Beautiful family, beautiful kids!
Enough said!

Power to you, Lauren, for putting jen in her place.

Jen, I work in food service and constantly have to put up with crabby children and inattentive parents. I’d like to see you survive one day working in a restaurant with a small child screaming and crying in your ear. Maybe then you’ll come to your senses.

“You know, I think that comment about the kids not being there to eat diner was the rudest i’ve seen here.”

You know, I think your entire post was the biggest, worst case of overreacting and over-sensitivity I’ve seen here. Do you always get so taken aback and offended when other people politely state opposing opinions?

“I can’t stand when someone says things like that when my family are out and my 2 youngest are crying. There just kids… You don’t have the right to complain about anyone’s kids unless you’re paying their bill.”

Wow. Just…wow. I work in a restaurant, so I’ve known all along that parents like you who basically allow their children to act like they are at home when they should be expected to behave accordingly exist, but seeing a parent so blatantly admit that the world revolves around their children and to hell with anyone who doesn’t want to tolerate their obnoxious behavior is extremely disheartening to me. Guess what, sweetheart? Unless you’re dining in a restaurant with only one table, other patrons ARE paying their bills, and they go out expecting to enjoy a nice meal-not deal with toddlers screaming, throwing tantrums, and disrupting other guests. You have NO right to dictate to other patrons whether they should just put up with your kids’ crying. If your kids aren’t going to behave, don’t take them out. Period.

“I’m glad we won’t be seeing you next time we are out.”

And I hope you never come to my restaurant. It’s attidudes like yours that make me thank God I only work in this industry temporarily.