Embarassing. Insulting. Outlandish.

Why is it that it seems the majority of parents these days allow their children to treat restaurants like their own personal playgrounds?

This particular subject has been gnawing at me for quite a while now. Are parents lazier now then they once were? I think they must be, no? When I was a 3 year old kid dominating the southern shores of Long Island were their 3 year old kids treating the local restaurants like a jungle gym? And if so were their parents laughing and ogling over “how precious Sammy and Jessica are” during their egregious act of disregard?

The other night I was having dinner at a local casual restaurant that has your typical outdoor patio area. A nice little area which makes your Pork Chop special taste all that much better…unless you happen to be dining alongside 4 mother’s drinking wine while their 4 toddlers run around in their madras shorts and popped collar polos annoying the hell out’ve the other people trying to eat dinner.

It was embarrassing. Insulting. Outlandish. I don’t know for certain but I do know one thing – if I so much as got up from my seat during dinner when I was a kid I would get in trouble. If my sister so much as chewed her steak too deliberately she’d be given The Look of Utter Disdain. Now I’m not saying The Look of Utter Disdain is the way to treat your child when they struggle to chew on a large piece of steak but you get my point. My point is there should be some type of discipline and there seems to be none of it these days.

About an hour into our dinner the father’s showed up to the restaurant. I was hoping to all hell they’d come and right the ship. The scene was playing out that they would. At least in my head it was. The men would come and be annoyed at their drunken wives for allowing their bratty kids to take over the outdoor dining area.

Dad #1 – Kept his mouth shut but you could tell he was embarrassed by the way he was subtly looking around at everyone else outside. Gave his kids a look or two but didn’t open his mouth.

Dad #2 – Bingo. The dad I was looking for. He was not pleased at what he walked into. Paid very little attention to his annoying wife and began reprimanding the children. Did the children listen to him? Not really. But that’s currently not the point. At least he tried and realized the actions were unacceptable. Dad #2 then apologized to Michelle and I as he was taking the kids out’ve the restaurant. He saw my death stare so he knew I wasn’t pleased. I of course acted like it was no big deal since I wasn’t in a feisty mood. I wanted an apology and he gave one.

I just don’t understand the mentality of allowing your children to run around and be loud in a public place. Its lazy parenting. I’m not a parent just yet but I know for damn certain that will not happen under my regime. And another thing, not to veer too far off topic, but it annoys the hell out’ve me when I hear current parents say to non-parents, “oh you’ll see! You say that now but wait until you have kids!” No. No thank you. I know for sure I have certain beliefs that a child will not change. I’m sure there are instances where you get a little lazy and let things go. Obviously there are and there will be. Just like there is in anything in life. But some are not up for debate. Like this one.