Would You Be Upset if We Take Our Three Year Old With Us to Dinner Tonight for New Years Eve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all about could versus should. Could you bring a toddler out for dinner like this. Sure. And you did. Should you? No. Not if you are child-centric and/or aware of American culture. I'd be pissed if I spent $ on a babysitter and had to be bothered in the least by your darling DS on that night at that time. Wonderful that you felt you needed to go out but it was all about YOU.

And who else should it be about? YOU? That's rich.

I'm American and find the lack of tolerance for children to be disgusting. I say good for you, OP. Those who would be "pissed" or angry can suck it. Stay home in your bubble if you don't like it. You don't get to dictate who goes out to a particular restaurant or whether kids are there. In fact, I would just loooooove to see your complaints, to me or to the restaurant. And see where that gets you.

I did stay home on New Year's - I don't want to celebrate the holiday with children.

Great. It worked out for you then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing: if going out to dinner is so f-cking important, you hire a sitter. Just like the table next to you did. Which is exactly why they don't want to hear your screaming kid. Are you that dense?

Who says you are the only one that matters here? You are not. Hire a sitter just like the table next to you. They don't have family or friends and are new to the area too. Not just you. Maybe they went out to discuss a dying parent, or worse, in quiet. Maybe they have pressing matters that do not necessitate having a little person chiming in, for better or worse. Get over yourself. Its not all about you.

Is this the same family that insists on bringing their small "perfect" children to others adult only weddings and receptions? Why do you think the rules don't apply to you? Are you ten? Is this what you are teaching your children? Really?

Here's the thing, if you want the experience of your choice, don't go out in public to dinner. Stay home like other posters on this thread did. Are YOU that dense?

Who says YOU are the only one that matters here? You are not. Who says your preferences matter more? They do not. Get over yourself. It's also not about you.

As for who is ten, you're the one acting like a child. Like you are entitled to some perfect night out, where you get to dictate the attendance. Um no, that's called a private party. Eating in public means you take the hand that is dealt you.

While I agree that screaming kids whose parents are not doing anything are a nuisance, just having kids around is not that big of a deal. Kids are people. They have a right to be out, and whether you like it or not, esp if they are well-behaved. (BTW, I stayed home with my child so keep your snide remarks about who I am and what I'm teaching to yourself.)

[Anonymous]

hell yes I would be upset.is this a serious fucking question?

[Anonymous]

hell yes I would be upset.is this a serious fucking question?

[Anonymous]

I hope the steak jumps off the plate and bitch slaps your dumb ass, op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing: if going out to dinner is so f-cking important, you hire a sitter. Just like the table next to you did. Which is exactly why they don't want to hear your screaming kid. Are you that dense?

Who says you are the only one that matters here? You are not. Hire a sitter just like the table next to you. They don't have family or friends and are new to the area too. Not just you. Maybe they went out to discuss a dying parent, or worse, in quiet. Maybe they have pressing matters that do not necessitate having a little person chiming in, for better or worse. Get over yourself. Its not all about you.

Is this the same family that insists on bringing their small "perfect" children to others adult only weddings and receptions? Why do you think the rules don't apply to you? Are you ten? Is this what you are teaching your children? Really?

Here's the thing, if you want the experience of your choice, don't go out in public to dinner. Stay home like other posters on this thread did. Are YOU that dense?

Who says YOU are the only one that matters here? You are not. Who says your preferences matter more? They do not. Get over yourself. It's also not about you.

As for who is ten, you're the one acting like a child. Like you are entitled to some perfect night out, where you get to dictate the attendance. Um no, that's called a private party. Eating in public means you take the hand that is dealt you.

While I agree that screaming kids whose parents are not doing anything are a nuisance, just having kids around is not that big of a deal. Kids are people. They have a right to be out, and whether you like it or not, esp if they are well-behaved. (BTW, I stayed home with my child so keep your snide remarks about who I am and what I'm teaching to yourself.)

NP here, the bolded is the sort of attitude that makes you the wild card in public. Other people are considerate of others and don't adhere to the "oh, well, shit happens and people have their own opinions and let's all run amok" attitude; we follow the rules so that you can break them and still have a halfway decent time. If everyone was running around being an inconsiderate asshat all the time no one would risk "the hand that is dealt to you."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the children in these scenarios usually described as screaming and shrieking? In those instances, of course, take the child out. Otherwise, why should you care? If anything, I'd find a well-behavaved baby/toddler cute to watch.

Because even when a toddler is being well-behaved it could be a loud distraction. A child banging silverware or asking lots and lots of questions in a high pitched voice (outside voice instead of inside voice) or getting in and out of the chair, even without running around, is very distracting. I'm one who things that children should be involved in our everyday lives, but there are exceptions. There are appropriate times and places and 10pm on a holiday traditionally celebrated in a very adult fashion in a location typically reserved for adult company and over a long window of 2.5 hours is neither the time nor the place.

While you may be very acclimated to your child's everyday behavior and not be bothered by it, to subject other patrons to your child in such a setting is both self-centered and rude, without even questioning your parenting skills taking a child out for dinner at 10pm when you don't expect to be home until well after midnight.

Thank you, PP. You summed it up perfectly, case closed.

[Anonymous]

okay, I'll buck the trend. I think it's fine to bring your child if he/she will be well-behaved. I was self-concious about bringing my first child to nice restaurants, and wondered if I'd be stuck going to Dennys and the like for the next 15 years. But I was happy to find that all the expensive restaurants I might care to go to also have booster seats and are welcoming. (We don't go out to dinner much at all. Just maybe 4-5 times a year, if that.) We have not yet had a bad experience. But our kids never got in and out of their seats or threw a tantrum. They were happy to be going out, and interested in their surroundings. We never brought books/toys for them, as we felt that set the wrong tone. I'm just saying that people can make their own decision as to whether or not to bring the kids. Maybe some people won't be happy, but what kind of control freak thinks they should be in charge of what other people can eat in the same restaurant as them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing: if going out to dinner is so f-cking important, you hire a sitter. Just like the table next to you did. Which is exactly why they don't want to hear your screaming kid. Are you that dense?

Who says you are the only one that matters here? You are not. Hire a sitter just like the table next to you. They don't have family or friends and are new to the area too. Not just you. Maybe they went out to discuss a dying parent, or worse, in quiet. Maybe they have pressing matters that do not necessitate having a little person chiming in, for better or worse. Get over yourself. Its not all about you.

Is this the same family that insists on bringing their small "perfect" children to others adult only weddings and receptions? Why do you think the rules don't apply to you? Are you ten? Is this what you are teaching your children? Really?

Here's the thing, if you want the experience of your choice, don't go out in public to dinner. Stay home like other posters on this thread did. Are YOU that dense?

Who says YOU are the only one that matters here? You are not. Who says your preferences matter more? They do not. Get over yourself. It's also not about you.

As for who is ten, you're the one acting like a child. Like you are entitled to some perfect night out, where you get to dictate the attendance. Um no, that's called a private party. Eating in public means you take the hand that is dealt you.

While I agree that screaming kids whose parents are not doing anything are a nuisance, just having kids around is not that big of a deal. Kids are people. They have a right to be out, and whether you like it or not, esp if they are well-behaved. (BTW, I stayed home with my child so keep your snide remarks about who I am and what I'm teaching to yourself.)

I agree. The outrage on here is hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope the steak jumps off the plate and bitch slaps your dumb ass, op.

plus 1

hahaha

[Anonymous]

This sort of question would only be posed in Washington.

[Anonymous]

I find this thread incredibly interesting because while I agree with all the people saying "hell no, do not bring your 3 year old to RC on NYE," I was the kid taken to restaurants way past my bedtime. I am American and so are my parents and grew up in the Midwest, so we aren't talking about the European model here. My dad loves to go out to eat and I was taken along and expected to behave. I usually ate and fell asleep. My dad used to brag that I have fallen asleep in some of the finest restaurants in Chicago. (grew up in the burbs outside) I am pretty sure, however, that dinner didn't start at 10 and I was left home with a sitter on NYE. I might have had a coloring book and carayons or a book but I don't ever remember having lots of entertainment when I was in a restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing: if going out to dinner is so f-cking important, you hire a sitter. Just like the table next to you did. Which is exactly why they don't want to hear your screaming kid. Are you that dense?

Who says you are the only one that matters here? You are not. Hire a sitter just like the table next to you. They don't have family or friends and are new to the area too. Not just you. Maybe they went out to discuss a dying parent, or worse, in quiet. Maybe they have pressing matters that do not necessitate having a little person chiming in, for better or worse. Get over yourself. Its not all about you.

Is this the same family that insists on bringing their small "perfect" children to others adult only weddings and receptions? Why do you think the rules don't apply to you? Are you ten? Is this what you are teaching your children? Really?

Here's the thing, if you want the experience of your choice, don't go out in public to dinner. Stay home like other posters on this thread did. Are YOU that dense?

Who says YOU are the only one that matters here? You are not. Who says your preferences matter more? They do not. Get over yourself. It's also not about you.

As for who is ten, you're the one acting like a child. Like you are entitled to some perfect night out, where you get to dictate the attendance. Um no, that's called a private party. Eating in public means you take the hand that is dealt you.

While I agree that screaming kids whose parents are not doing anything are a nuisance, just having kids around is not that big of a deal. Kids are people. They have a right to be out, and whether you like it or not, esp if they are well-behaved. (BTW, I stayed home with my child so keep your snide remarks about who I am and what I'm teaching to yourself.)

NP here, the bolded is the sort of attitude that makes you the wild card in public. Other people are considerate of others and don't adhere to the "oh, well, shit happens and people have their own opinions and let's all run amok" attitude; we follow the rules so that you can break them and still have a halfway decent time. If everyone was running around being an inconsiderate asshat all the time no one would risk "the hand that is dealt to you."

You obviously did not read the entire post.

[Anonymous]

OP, did you take your kid out? (FWIW, my friend unexpectedly brought her baby because she just couldn't leave him with a sitter). The baby was great, but my other friend's drunk wife was embarassingly distracting. Lesson being, when you go out in public, "the hand that is dealt to you" can be anything so chill out and learn to enjoy the unanticipated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the vitriol this post engendered. You should try going to Barcelona some day - it would open your eyes to alternative - and more fun - ways of living.

Alias we are not in Barcelona but, Bethesda.