Why do people not tell their children to SIT DOWN at the booth in a restaurant?

We've had that experience, we actually had a young boy hanging over into our booth and throw up on my daughter who was 8 at the time...

The manager let us go out back and get her all cleaned up, he also moved us to a new booth and brought us all new food and he covered the check. The mother said, and I quote "It must have been something he ate." There was no apology or anything...I was furious.

I have 6 kids, I know they throw up, sometimes at the worst times but this never would have happened if he had been sitting in his seat, or at least staying in his booth.

--My kids know better than to stand up at all in the booth, going out to eat is a privilege and I WILL take it away if they can't behave.

My husband and I try very hard to control all 3 of our children when we go out to dinner or anywhere for that matter. We have one at 11, 5 and almost 2. The one at 5 likes to copy the 11 so that creates problems on its own. Our almost 2 has cerebral palsy so that is another issue again. I'm not looking for sympathy, but how about thinking how other parents feel when their children aren't the best behaved.

I would like to know too!! I have a 4 year old who is usually very well behaved when out to eat. One time, I said just loud enough (as if I was only talking to my child) that the parents can hear. "Honey, we are out to eat, I would like to enjoy our dinner, could you please not pay attention to that girl/boy who is disrupting our special night." If the other parent didn't like it, too bad. One time in a restaurant there were 2 siblings about 3-5 who were playing chase, going under peoples tables while they were eating, running thru everywhere, talking or yelling loudly, the whole while the parents of these children sat and ate their supper in peace and quiet, not paying any attention to their kids or the other patrons around them. It was a buffet style dinner, people walking with plates of food, servers filling the buffet with hot foods, etc. The parents didn't even notice/pay attention to the comments etc. that they must have heard. It was awful, but I would bet that if one of these kids had had a hot container of food dumped on them as they tripped someone, the parents would have been the first to yell/scream/sue!!! I would guess that these kids aren't well behaved much of the time, and if the parents tried to have them behave in a restaurant, the situation could go from bad to worse with the kids having a tantrum.. Its just irresponsible parenting.

I do not know. Some younger parents seem to think they are the only family the restaurant and I have seen kids doing "heelies" down aisles and wait staff bending like Beckham to avoid scalding a child with hot coffee or soup.

Parents are so self absorbed, talking on their cells, etc that they literally do not see their kids are out of control. And they get mad if anyone else quiets the kids down.

I have a hard time with bad manners (parents) and wired kids when I am paying good money for a meal.

Most waitstaff has been instructed NOT to say a word to the children because they are customers kids. But it is driving people away from eating out. I think it just selfish behavior on part of the parents.

I also had a mother threaten to "knock you on your 'rear-end' (nice version) because I dared ask her shrieking 6 year old, who was standing on a chair screaming at her brother, to use her indoor voice. Dad got all huffy with me too but he made no threats. I backed off, but wondered how her kids would have liked seeing mom taken to jail for assault if she _had_ hit me.

Tell the parents that your children are being disrupted by their children's behavior and ask the waiter to move you if they don't stop. Or you could do as I would do: I'd turn around and tell them myself to sit down and behave since obviously the parents won't do it. I don't care if it offends the parents; someone has to tell their children how to behave and maybe that will be a wake up call to the parents.

I don't know why some parents let their kids run the show in public, but not me. My children will be taught to respect others and their personal space and that means everywhere they go. Kids can be difficult, no doubt, but that is never an excuse to let them do as they please. Even my 2 year old doesn't do that because I don't allow her to.

My son has way too much energy, its kinda why we get the booth so he can stand a little, but we never let him mess around with other families at other tables, I find that unacceptable especially when the child is obviously being a bother.

My stepdaughter is FAMOUS for turning around and I hate it so much because it’s my biggest pet peeve. You turn around and face forward, just like you would do in your own home. And maybe that’s the problem, that these kids aren’t even taught manners in their HOME nevermind how to act out in public. And this is the parents to blame. I often tell my stepdaughter to please sit down and face forward and she always says “why?”.

For my son, he’s 16 months old, he’s obviously still a baby but I still teach him even now to please sit down and face front. Just so that it’ll be into his brain by the time he’s 4 or 5. LOL.

I know sometimes kids are restless. But that’s where it comes down to parenting and they parents may need to just step outside with the child for a few minutes. But to let it go unknown or unsaid is kind of wrong. Worst case, I will always apologize to the people behind me if I think it’s becoming an issue and we usually rush through our meal to get out of there.

To be honest, I hate going out in public with my kids until they’re “trained” because I don’t want to hear any crap like this while I’m out. Especially because I’m typically very courteous to others when it comes to kids and manners. And I know how I feel when it happens and I don’t’ want others to feel the same.

Well~Well do you ever share common grounds with many! However, in todays day & age...the mindset of 'time-out' parenting has over-ruled the centuries of child raising techniques! Unfortunately, your gripe is probably going to be viewed as senseless & insignificant...That does NOT mean all those who practice 'time-out' my adorable little hell_raiser is right...It just means that you among many others are now considered the minority....Yes, unfortunate as it may seem, it is even far more detrimental that most realize. Simply take a 'brief' look at the news nowadays...Have you ever seen such ironic behavior of 'younger' generation as today reveals? Ask yourself; "Youngsters threatening school authoritive figures(teachers,bus drivers,cafeteria workers,etc) & even threatening physical harm? Hmmm, small hint that our youth could possibly be traveling the wrong path in life? I could elaborate more, however, I trust there are plenty reading right now who may like to express their opinion, as well as those who would choose to defend the little hellions in their family line...Advice: Leave the restaurant like most of us end up having to do...fair? No...oh well~

I think some parents attempt to tell their kids, but do not enforce the importance of listening to their parents. Many parents just slack on the discipline section of parenthood, and just let their children run wild. Because they would rather act like they aren't parents.

You must be talking about my kids. They have good manners are very sweet, but they are hyper like me and love to talk to everyone. I actually don't like booths for that reason. We sit at a table and if neccessary use a high chair to keep them still. Try to be patient, they are just trying to get to know you or have parents who aren't very sensitive to those around them. Good luck eating out!

I love, the water gun idea from gypsy. Except my kids would probably like it.