I was one of those who used to judge parents very harshly when the kids were not on their best behavior. And then I gave birth to a wonderful, adorable little boy with non-visible special needs. We rarely go out to eat, but sometimes my husband's relatives basically force us by taking offense if we don't come to their events at restaurants.

My son cannot sit still and becomes easily agitated. He calms himself by running up and down the aisles of restaurants and through tables. Everyone takes a turn going to follow him and make sure he does not get in trouble, but I know he still disruptive to other diners. He is trying his best and so are we, his parents. But it is very hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My brother lets his 2 year old do this because my brother thinks *everyone* thinks that kid is the cutest kid in the world. So surely all restaurant goers should be a witness to his adorable glory.

Your brother's two-year-old probably is adorable. Most two-year-olds are. My personal to-do list is too long to have room for complaining about people who let their two-year-olds run around at restaurants (though not, evidently, too long to post on threads where other people complain).

He is adorable, I completely agree, I never said he wasn't. But as a former server and a parent myself, I think it's irresponsible to let your child run around inside a restaurant where servers are trying to do an already challenging job. It's dangerous for your child and makes the server's job much harder. If your kid is antsy and can't sit, fine, take them outside to run around. But my brother won't do that because he doesn't have an audience outside for his adorable child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My brother lets his 2 year old do this because my brother thinks *everyone* thinks that kid is the cutest kid in the world. So surely all restaurant goers should be a witness to his adorable glory.

Your brother's two-year-old probably is adorable. Most two-year-olds are. My personal to-do list is too long to have room for complaining about people who let their two-year-olds run around at restaurants (though not, evidently, too long to post on threads where other people complain).

Don't complain then when you see an injured 3 year old or a bratty 8-year-old, or an entitled twenty-something. These things add up.

PP you're responding to. I don't. I do complain about entitled 50-year-olds, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My brother lets his 2 year old do this because my brother thinks *everyone* thinks that kid is the cutest kid in the world. So surely all restaurant goers should be a witness to his adorable glory.

Your brother's two-year-old probably is adorable. Most two-year-olds are. My personal to-do list is too long to have room for complaining about people who let their two-year-olds run around at restaurants (though not, evidently, too long to post on threads where other people complain).

Don't complain then when you see an injured 3 year old or a bratty 8-year-old, or an entitled twenty-something. These things add up.

The running and the shrieking. My god, the shrieking.

I agree with OP. I see this all the time and it really annoys me. Many of today's parents just don't care to teach their children pubic manners.

Anonymous wrote:My brother lets his 2 year old do this because my brother thinks *everyone* thinks that kid is the cutest kid in the world. So surely all restaurant goers should be a witness to his adorable glory.

Your brother's two-year-old probably is adorable. Most two-year-olds are. My personal to-do list is too long to have room for complaining about people who let their two-year-olds run around at restaurants (though not, evidently, too long to post on threads where other people complain).

My brother lets his 2 year old do this because my brother thinks *everyone* thinks that kid is the cutest kid in the world. So surely all restaurant goers should be a witness to his adorable glory.

Anonymous wrote:My child has a free spirit and I wouldn't want to offend him by limiting it.

Lol good one

My child has a free spirit and I wouldn't want to offend him by limiting it.

I wouldn't dream of letting my 2.5 year old DD run around a restaurant. Although I did let her bring her fishing pole to a seafood restaurant the other night.

Many people don't seem to teach appropriate behavior anymore. As if it's going to traumatize little Larla to be given rules and limits in public places.

PP is right. See the thread from the mom worried to ask her little boy to stop playing with his asshole if you need proof. People constantly comment on how well behaved my kids are. I usually just say thank you, but if they can't drop it or make a bunch of comments about how lucky I am, I usually get annoyed and say something like "they are expected to behave." Most people apparently expect their kids to act like chimpanzees at all times. I can't even imagine living in a house like that.

People have given up on actually parenting their kids. Of course they will be posting on the teens and older kids forum when little Susie who wasn't given any boundaries at 4 is now a complete train wreck at 16

I sat in a restaurant watching a little girl who was probably about 6, walking laps around the table her family was seated at. One of the adults took her to the bathroom at one point and when she returned, she came sprinting into the dining area with the adult walking behind her watching. What is up with people? Why is it somehow not cool anymore to teach your kids how to behave and what behavior is ok for what place. Running and skipping is great at the playground or other play venues, not at a restaurant where several servers had to dodge to avoid running into her.