How do you feel about kids being banned from places such as restaurants or airplanes?
Excuse me while I step up on my soap box. Banning kids from places such as restaurants or airplanes effectively discriminates against parents in general. Who exactly do they think is paying for tickets or a meal? It is the adults. I have always taken my kids with me every where ever since they were born. If I went, they went also. I have never had the luxury of having a close relative’s house to dump my kids at every time I wanted to step out of the house. Once my husband and I had children we wanted to include them. We were a family unit and the unit went every where together.
I know several people that dump their kids at a babysitter so they can rush off to a hotel to have $ex, go to a movie, or go out to the bar to get wasted. I have also known folks who leave their kids at a babysitter’s while they march off for vacation. I guess I am an oddball because if my kids can’t go somewhere with me, then I am not going either.
When you get down to asking a question about kids being banned, that really goes against my skin. Wouldn’t businesses and airlines lose a lot more money by excluding people who have children? People with kids have to eat and people with kids like to travel. That doesn’t change when the baby is born so why would these same people all of a sudden be banned simply because they have their kids in tow? Once your kids come along, it is time to grow up and take responsibility. Priorities change. It is up to you as a parent to teach your kids how to act and conduct themselves in public. If places ban kids, where will they get this valuable experience from?
Kids grow up all too soon and become adults. Sure a lot of them can be brats and would be better left at home. Think about this though, if they are always left home they will only ever learn how to behave while at home. It is never too early for them to learn what is expected and how to behave while in public until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
Your last thought really speaks to me. I'm always thinking about how fast my kids will grow. I hope, even though I do have weak moments, that they will feel we've made the most of life. We certainly are together a lot!!
ReplyDeleteAmy, I know what you mean. I have been with my kids 24/7 since conception with very rare moments away. Like you I hope they look back on it and feel like they have had a good life and their life was that much better because they had me with them all the time. Thank you for stopping by and for your comments!! ♥
DeleteWell, first I love this post. It's really good.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I will now step on my soap box...there. This question is really not different than banning smoking or banning 32 oz sugared drinks. It is another area where one person is dismissed because another person prefers life without them. You may re-read that statement now.
We are a country who is now choosing certain elite groups to cater to and that is at the expense of another 'lesser' group.
Those who are annoyed by the noise of children, will love the idea of banning children from airplanes and restaurants. Restaurants that sell liquor would be an easy first target, they can claim the child's well-being...like the overweight persons well-being or the non-smoker's well-being. Someone will always benefit while someone else suffers.
I seldom eat out anymore, though we used to eat out 3 to 5 times in any given week. If I can't smoke, I don't wanna go there. I don't mind sitting outside in good weather, but winter is a problem for me. In Michigan, I can't even smoke in the patio sections of a bar! It's crazy, but it's true.
Just saying, it's one man's freedoms given for someone's gain of comfort.
It's nutz and it's happening everywhere!
I will also say, management has the right NOW to remove anyone from their establishment who is causing a disturbance. If they wish to remove children who are out of control, they have that right. That should be enough.
But then, I thought separate smoking and non-smoking areas was enough, too. So you see what I know. :-)
Jo, so many good points made on so many levels!! It is a pity that everyone can't just get along and be happy together. I agree with you on so many of your points. Thank you for stopping by to read, getting up on the soap box with me, and giving your two cents. It seems you and I are on the same page. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post and that it inspired you to speak out because quite frankly all these little rules are a crock. ♥
DeleteMy childfree BFF and her hubby went to dinner to celebrate their anniversary, they were subjected to a family where the woman changed the baby's diaper on the booth seat instead of the bathroom. I have had to listen to unruly, loud kids in restaurants and on planes too. Then there was the night I went to see a documentary at an artsy theatre in San Francisco and someone brought their newborn that squalled thru the entire movie, ruining it for everyone, but it being liberal San Francisco, no one dared to speak up. So many parents are disengaged and have no control over their kids. If this kind of boorish behaviour wasn't such a rampant problem these days, the banning of kids wouldn't even be an issue. When I was in 6th grade, one of my older cousins got married and had a childfree wedding reception. I went to the church service, but stayed in the hotel room, upstairs from the reception, that evening, with my parents and other relatives checking on me constantly. It wasn't a big deal that kids weren't invited and no one complained about it. It was Diana's wedding and that's what she wanted.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, the big thing to it all is a lot of people have absolutely no control over their kids and even less common sense. I can't imagine taking a newborn or even a young child to the movies in the first place. Most of what you talk about is more the parents fault than the kids. Sometimes you have to have a little common sense and clearly these people you use for examples had none. Unfortunately you don't need to have a brain in your head to have kids. All you need to have is enough brains to figure out how to have $ex. You brought up some very good instances of why kids should be banned however, if the day ever came when you had a baby or your childfree BFF had a baby both of your perceptions would change. Of course both of you would know from experience what NOT to do. For example taking an infant to a movie or changing your baby's pants right there where people are eating. You live and learn. Thank you for stopping by to read, comment, and voice your perspective. ♥
DeleteI went in to a steak house in Florida a few years back. On the entry door there was a sign that read "Absolutely No Kids."
ReplyDeleteI shrugged and went in regardless. I was a thirty something. lol
The waitress arrived and she was nice and thus I eventually asked her if they lost business behind the ban. She said they had actually increased business by about 8% on average.
I love kids, but when I take my lady out, I want a peaceful, fun meal, and not one spoiled by brats that won't behave. That happened to me at TGIF Fridays right before I left Manila. I never finished my meal. I left.
Jeremy, parents know better how their children behave at mealtimes. You can't blame the kids for parents who don't care or don't have the balls to keep their children in line. They learn by observation. People who don't have kids have little tolerance for them no matter how much they proclaim they like kids. It would have been a cold day in hell when I would have let someone else's brats run me off. Management should have stepped in. The parents should have removed them and corrected the situation, but you should not have left. That is the chance you take when you venture out in public. Not every parent has control of their kids, and not every parent cares how their kids behave. They are more interested in their own agenda and ignore it. If my kids would have acted that way I would have removed them, corrected them, and returned. If they still were acting up, I would have left and it would have been a long time before I would have taken them out to eat again. Not all kids are hellions and bad, but you must remember that the kids are a direct reflection of their parents. If the parents are irresponsible a$$holes that are only interested in their own good time, then yes...they are going to have brats from hell. Having a peaceful, fun meal at a place where kids are welcomed is unrealistic. It could happen. It may not. You take that chance. If you want a quiet meal with no distractions you head for a place kids aren't allowed or stay home. Obviously the parents of those bratty kids didn't give a rats a$$ about anyone else's enjoyment or how the behavior of their kids reflects how pi$$ poor they are as parents. If my kids acted like that in public their lives would not go on as they know it. Fortunately my kids don't and know better. I don't put up with much. Unfortunately places can't pick and choose who will come to patronize their establishment. It is open to the public in most circumstances. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.
DeleteI don't believe children should be "banned" from places. It is up to the parents to teach the children in these situations how to behave. It is a crucial learning experience. If the child has a "melt down" then they should excuse themselves and take them out side for a moment. Certain restaurants are kid friendly and a good way for them to learn. Kids need to fly to go to families and stuff, yes, they will cry, but that is life. I have a "quiet" car on my railroad that is supposed to be "quiet", no cell phones, no loud conversations etc...Well, the adults are on the phone, carrying on, clapping, joking and ignoring the "rule". Two groups of adults make the commute home for 100 others miserable. So it is just not an issue of children. I wonder if their parents never taught them how to conduct them selves while out in puplic?
ReplyDeleteWinnie, I think you hit the nail on the head. Bratty kids grow up to be a$$hole adults. It is all about how people are raised. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your insights!
DeleteI have two thoughts on banning. Restaurants...kids need to be taught (at home) how to behave in a restaurant. That means family time at the dinner table each and every night. It is my guess that unruly kids at a restaurant table are probably not getting enough time with the family at the dinner table at home. My kids love to go to a restaurant--and I always make it very clear that the need to be on their best behavior. They haven't let me down so far.
ReplyDeleteAs for airplanes--the only time I've read where an airline has banned a child or asked a family to leave a flight is when the child was so unruly they refused to sit in their seat with the seatbelt on for take off. Unfortunately, that parent needs to tell that child to listen or they will remove the child (family)from the plane, because it is not safe for a child to fly during take off and landing without it on. The only issue I have with this is when they remove a child for being different--such as when they removed autistic child or two a few years back because the child was crying or having a meltdown. That I don't agree with--and for the other passengers..just have them put on their IPODS. LOL.
Cheers, Jenn
Jenn, I agree completely. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!
DeleteFascinating reading of both your post and all the comments. Parenting and learning respect for others is the bottom line, I believe.
ReplyDeleteBetty, I believe you are right. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments. ♥
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