Last night, we were fortunately wrapping up when the brat squad came in: first of all, who bring four little kids (all under 6-7) to a Thai restaurant at 8:30 pm on a Saturday night? Not shockingly, they couldn't seem to sit in their seats, the parents screamed at the staff for not having high chairs (it's not that kind of restaurant), the kids climbed on the chairs, laid across the chairs, tripped the waitress, and then started screaming while the parents wanted PLAIN chicken and rice PRONTO (did I mention it was a Thai restaurant?) I just don't get it, I don't get people. The place does take-out: if you're dying for Thai, send one parent to get the food and take it home. Or, well, I don't know, DON'T bring your little kids to an adult-oriented restaurant when it's obviously past their bed time much less their meal time...
“Sometimes we just need someone to show us something we can’t see for ourselves.”
Yeah, crazy, right? The poor woman who sat beside this kid tried her best to keep him in check. She was just an unrelated passenger trying to be a mother figure to the kid. He really didn't listen to her much. He just kept on bugging EVERYONE around him, but more me than anyone else. Crazy.
I love the summer months!
I understand your frustration at these particular people, but at your first sentence-- WE are those kinds of people. We have a large family of all young kids, and we occasionally go out to eat and wherever we go, our kids go. We are also night owls and often out late. Just because we are a family, I don't feel we should be shunned and limited to only certain areas.
The difference between them and myself, though, is that my family and I are not as rude and demanding. I would never scream at wait staff (unless they did something out of line), and I would never let me kids complain and order people around like that in a restaurant of any kind. The other day we were trying out a new restaurant for lunch, and I had to pick everyone up and get out of there before we even ordered. As starving as we were, Cian was cranky (no nap? no food?) and he wouldn't stop loudly protesting everything with me. It was embarrassing. As soon as things get awkward or uncomfortable anywhere, I remove the kids as soon as possible. This is also how they learn to behave. If they'd really like to go places, and if they really want to eat some food, they'll quiet down and be proper or they'll have to leave. Unfortunately it's a lot trickier with a strong willed toddler like Cian... his emotions rule, and he's just really beginning to comprehend how his flying off the handle will effect his situation negatively. As mad as it makes me, I feel bad for him. But, he'll learn.
So patience... is nothing...
Alright
Tap the lightpole and we'll be jammin all night
And ain't nobody callin' the cops
'Cause everybody's here freakin', if they're older they're doin the rock
And every block from all around
Comes runnin' to the park when they hear the sound
And soon the word's spreadin' through our part of town
"Yo, 40 Park y'all, Jam-On's gettin down"
Yeah...
Jam-On Productions:Website Forum
Alright
Tap the lightpole and we'll be jammin all night
And ain't nobody callin' the cops
'Cause everybody's here freakin', if they're older they're doin the rock
And every block from all around
Comes runnin' to the park when they hear the sound
And soon the word's spreadin' through our part of town
"Yo, 40 Park y'all, Jam-On's gettin down"
Yeah...
Jam-On Productions:Website Forum
*sigh* ever misunderstood.
Meet my kids sometime, and you'll understand. :P
So patience... is nothing...
Doesn't matter who the kids are or how good they are. Knowing when to curse and when NOT to is a crucial life lesson.
Alright
Tap the lightpole and we'll be jammin all night
And ain't nobody callin' the cops
'Cause everybody's here freakin', if they're older they're doin the rock
And every block from all around
Comes runnin' to the park when they hear the sound
And soon the word's spreadin' through our part of town
"Yo, 40 Park y'all, Jam-On's gettin down"
Yeah...
Jam-On Productions:Website Forum
I went on a whole big ramble about this where I better described or defined us, but I feel like I'm kind of repeating myself so I deleted it. I was just giving a bunch of cute anecdotes which may not even be understood, so I'll keep it simple. My kids seem to understand when to use certain kinds of language, but they are not mandated as such. If we are in a store and my child falls down and says "shit", I have no problem with that. However, they're more likely to say "oh shucks", which I am both confused and amused by. If they are at a funeral and loudly tell a loved one to go fuck themselves, yeah, I'd step in... but that's so out of their characters that way-inappropriate behavior is not a concern of mine.
But, they aren't greeting people with "nice to fucking meet you!" (although... that would be funny...). And, if they're upset about someone, they're more likely to call them a meanie than an asshole. My biggest concern is they try to actually say what they mean and be fair. Don't call Mommy an asshole just because you are mad (yay, this hasn't happened). But, if some person just comes up and pushes you, I have no problem with you calling them an asshole. This is potentially where I would get calls from school (if they attended), and I would not punish my child for this. Everything is really on a case by case basis, but I rarely have to correct them for appropriateness. We are quiet and discrete people, and so far I'm really pleased with the way the kids choose to use their speech (right now they are 7 and 2). There is no stigma for them on what society deems as "bad words", and I think without that level of novelty attached, it will serve them well.
So patience... is nothing...
Alright
Tap the lightpole and we'll be jammin all night
And ain't nobody callin' the cops
'Cause everybody's here freakin', if they're older they're doin the rock
And every block from all around
Comes runnin' to the park when they hear the sound
And soon the word's spreadin' through our part of town
"Yo, 40 Park y'all, Jam-On's gettin down"
Yeah...
Jam-On Productions:Website Forum
Will do! :P
So patience... is nothing...
I guess I don't think we all need some manners list to be appropriate enough.
So patience... is nothing...