Quote:
Originally posted by ltl/fb
It's amazing to me how suddenly children aren't annoying after people have them and become used to shrill screaming. Taking turns taking the kid out of the dining area is an appreciated response of parents with children who behave inappropriately for a restaurant. I certainly don't expect you to "beat them senseless" but just because you have become inured to the noise doesn't mean everyone else is.
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Airports and airplanes (etc.) I figure I've assumed the risk. I hate it when there's a screaming baby on board, but if I wanted to insulate myself from screaming children I should charter a plane or something. Misbehaving kid with parent making no effort to correct it is a different story.
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I think you've taken me out of context. I just think I have become more sympathetic to how difficult it can be to "make children behave." Children do not automatically come into this world knowing appropriate behavior, and parents cannot teach it overnight. I don't automatically blame parents anymore for being awful parents when their kids are misbehaving. And I don't automatically view every child as a brat until proven otherwise, as it seems many here do. Clearly, I don't bring my kids into Le Cirque, but there are occasions where we hit the Mexican Restaurant down the street, or bring them on planes, or even into fairly nice stores (with nothing breakable at toddler height of course.) Some people are increasingly intolerant of kids though -- and surprisingly, it is the 20 to 30 somethings as often as the old folks. In fact, many older folks love seeing little kids around.
I'm not sure whether you expect them to suddenly emerge from their homes at age 18, fully formed and ready to have tea with the queen. They have to learn behavior, and the only way to do so is to get out in the world with adults.
That being said, all good parents, ourselves included, should have a low tolearnce for children that repeatedly annoy others or interfere with other people's enjoyment of a meal, flight, etc.
