The few remaining child-burdened friends that I still have agree. They don’t want their evening ruined any more than childfree folks do; in fact, since they have kids, they dine out (at “good restaurants”) less frequently than childfree people do, so it’s more of a rare treat for them. Noisy, disruptive children should be removed from the venue IMMEDIATELY. That includes restaurants, cinemas, museums, art galleries, libraries, etc. — any public place in which people expect peaceful quiet in which they can communicate with one another without having to resort to yelling.

And children should never be taken into smoky bars. Second-Hand Indoor Tobacco Smoke (appropriate acronym there) is a major cause of asthma and ear infections in children. If the bar is smoke-free, then it will not pose the same health hazard to children.

And I agree that ANYONE who misbehaves in a public place and disturbs others should be removed IMMEDIATELY — child or adult.

Jerry Steinberg
Founding Non-Father of NO KIDDING!
The international social club for childless and childfree couples and singles
http://www.nokidding.net; info@nokidding.net

How about adding this to your rule about restaurant attendance: “Adults should not be brought to good restaurants unless they are quiet and obedient.”

I don’t think adult-focused establishments should not be turned into playgrounds. In my experience, however, I’ve been more bothered by misbehaving adults than by misbehaving children. I don’t know that we need special rules for children, but rather, better rules (and compliance) by all restaurant guests.

So do you just have such a large axe to grind that you did it even where it didn’t really make sense to do so? Personally, I largely agree with the points you made, but the manner in which you push your agenda definitely needs some work.

If a child misbehaves in a restaurant (such as by making loud noises, throwing food, crying, banging on the table, etc.), the child must be removed immediately. Removing the child promptly reduces the impact of the child’s misbehavior on innocent bystanders, teaches said child that such behavior is not appropriate and results in the instantaneous termination of an enjoyable activity.

Jerry Steinberg
Founding Non-Father of NO KIDDING!
The international social club for childless and childfree couples and singles
http://www.nokidding.net; info@nokidding.net

Just goes to show how different cultures can be, in Belgium bringing the kids to a restaurant or even a pub isn’t considered not-done at all, in fact it’s pretty rare (at least around 7 or 8 pm) for a busy restaurant not to contain some families with kids eating out – even the fancier restaurants.

Not all that many “21-and-over” (more likely “18-and-over” here) establishments where you’d want to take your kids (or even your wife, if you catch my drift ;) ) here…

Bart

Despite this we take the Small Person to anywhere unless it is actually against the law, the end result being she is very well behaved when with a group of adults and most of our local eateries know her well now and don’t look quite so alarmed :)

Hmmm… seeing that there are several people in the same boat. What if I hosted a cookout? We’ve got a trampoline, playscape, enough toys to start a Toys-R-Us, and a bunch of frozen margeritas from a party my wife hosted last night.

Somebody touch base with me and lets give it some thought.