I'm ready to write one of "those" threads.

[Radical Activist]

One of those about kids that always causes a flame war.
I'm sitting in a cafe using my wireless internet. Just my luck, the second couple in a row is sitting near me that are making no attempt at all to keep their kids quiet and in their seat. No, I don't mind seeing kids in public, but they could at least make an attempt at making the baby not cry for a while and the toddler to stop running around the place and yelling about his shoe. ugh Yes, you parents may be used to the constant noise your kids make, but I'm not.

There, I vented but I tried not to be insulting about it.

[Book Lover]

1. Why don't you get up and ask them if they could control their kids

if it bothers you that much? I do and I'm a parent.

[Radical Activist]

2. They're finally leaving now.

Shouldn't it be obvious that people around them don't want to hear it though?

[Book Lover]

4. Well, it depends on where you are

I have had my child on my lap in Cafe Trieste (snooty North Beach, SF cafe), and have had patrons say that it was OK to let him run around and jabber (and it really *was* which was nice). It really depends on the place and the people - one can't just tell.

[kedrys]

5. Apparently not

I've actually had to tell parents (in public) that their kids were not cute, not welcome if they were fiends, and not everyone thought screaming kids running around out of control are precious.

It deflates them a bit, but I don't think it sticks.

Inexplicably, pretty much all my friends' kids are remarkably well-behaved in public. Of course, I happen to think all my friends are smart. Go fig.

Disclaimer: I don't have kids by choice, for endless reasons.

[txwhitedove]

3. Well put and not insulting. I too try to help mothers with, er, grumpy

or disruptive children, because I remember what it was like having to shop/dine with 3 small kids. Two kids worked okay, but you only have 2 hands so after the 3rd child there was always one of them escaping....

[Radical Activist]

7. I'm glad you didn't find it insulting.

Trying to help probably would have been a nice gesture instead of me sitting here being annoyed. Being a single man though, I don't think I would do that with strangers. People are naturally suspicious.

[kiraboo]

6. I've got three children and I wouldn't think of flaming you.

There are times when a parent's hands are tied... on an airplane for example. But in a restaurant, out shopping... there is no excuse and I don't understand the lack of concern for other people that some folks exhibit when they allow their children to run wild. Two of my kids were reasonably quiet and well-behaved as youngsters though of course they had their moments. The third was a terror. With my little terror, we just didn't go out to eat until he was old enough to behave himself. If he was badly behaved in a store, I took his butt home (which he always hated). Sure it was an inconvenience but it wasn't nightmare difficult.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

8. ONG U R DA MEENEST PERSON EVA!!111!! 4 SERIES11!!1

Wha' do u meen, i kant let me kids run all ovur da plase???11!1!

Librul eeletest!

:eyes:

:sarcasm:

;) ;) ;)

I don't blame you an inch, RA.

:hi: