My dear sweet mother-in-law took us to Pizza Hut again tonight. Bless her, she knows we don’t have any money now and she treats us whenever she can.
We used to eat out several nights a week; that was our main vice. Yeah, we’re wild ones. Those days are over, but we still manage one on our own, and one with her, most weeks. Our son is visiting again this weekend, and we had a lovely time.
In spite of it all.
We do have a knack for hitting the Pizza Hut when all the Socially and Behaviorally Disadvantaged are there. Last week it was Witch Hazel with the dimpled thighs and cleavage all the way down to her toes, and her entourage. Tonight, it was several groups of ten-year -old boys, each with parental units that might as well have been nonexistent as far as control went. I sat entranced at their cuteness and at their energy and at their sweet smiles. And I sat appalled at their manners. Or rather, their lack of manners. To be out of control like that at home or on the football field is one thing, but to behave like that in public is quite another. They plowed through the Pizza Hut like a pack of feral hogs in a field of sleeping babies. And that’s no exaggeration.
The table of little girls sitting across from us was disgusted. (Don’t get your hopes up, girls; things won’t improve all THAT much with time.)
To be perfectly frank, I love kids. I love their energy and their enthusiasm and their bright innocent faces and their questions and their jokes. I think a well-mannered kid is great company. Kids are awesome. I LOVE kids. But I don’t like inconsiderate, boorish behavior in a public place, from anyone of any age. I’m talking about you, too, Grandpa.
Allowing your kid to run wild in a restaurant is in itself inconsiderate, boorish behavior. Get a clue, Mom and Dad. Nobody else thinks your kids are cute when they act like that. And everybody thinks you are pathetic stupid losers for allowing it.
In a public place, shared by others, everybody has an obligation to exercise self-control. And if you don’t have any, stay home. If your kids don’t have any, don’t inflict them on other people. I mean it. Keep your brats (however young or old) penned up where they can’t hurt or annoy other people. We’ve paid money to be here. Take your screaming child and get OUT. Nobody else on the planet thinks the way your kid picks his nose is cute. And nobody else wants to watch him run around in circles, or burp the alphabet, or sing, or dance, or recite naughty limericks, or pinch people (come a little closer, kid. . . .) or honestly do anything besides sit there like a sentient being and eat. And if your child is an infant, we don’t want to smell anything, either. Go home.
I am not talking about childhood’s sweet giggles, or even some audible conversations. I think a child who talks in low tones and knows how to use a fork is one of life’s most beautiful sights. I think we all know what I’m talking about.
Any mothers who don’t believe in raising kids who know how to behave in public, come on over and fight. Bring it on, sissies.
I’m happy for you that you have very loyal readers, that is great. Some may be a bit rabid, but nothing wrong with that. Although some of those guys telling me to lighten up with such venom, its like screaming at your kid to stop yelling.
Obviously I took your post too seriously, I’d like to say that I’m the first to admit when I’m wrong, but it seems that a dozen or so readers did that before me.
There is no need for you to apologize publicly or privately. I think that, much as you believe that I misread your intentions, I believe that you misread mine. You didn’t offend me, I was just speaking my mind. I guess that will teach me to voice an opinion.
As for the commenter who thinks I have no sense of humor, read the last line of my comment on my site. It’s funny, or it is meant to be.
And I apologize, Mamacita, that my assumptions were hurtful. Not my intention.
I guess we got off on the wrong foot, I actually like your writing very much…Take care.
Gary M.
jmoos1@tampabay.rr.com
https://roughdraft.typepad.com/virtualrants/
I’m happy for you that you have very loyal readers, that is great. Some may be a bit rabid, but nothing wrong with that. Although some of those guys telling me to lighten up with such venom, its like screaming at your kid to stop yelling.
Obviously I took your post too seriously, I’d like to say that I’m the first to admit when I’m wrong, but it seems that a dozen or so readers did that before me.
There is no need for you to apologize publicly or privately. I think that, much as you believe that I misread your intentions, I believe that you misread mine. You didn’t offend me, I was just speaking my mind. I guess that will teach me to voice an opinion.
As for the commenter who thinks I have no sense of humor, read the last line of my comment on my site. It’s funny, or it is meant to be.
And I apologize, Mamacita, that my assumptions were hurtful. Not my intention.
I guess we got off on the wrong foot, I actually like your writing very much…Take care.
Gary M.
jmoos1@tampabay.rr.com
https://roughdraft.typepad.com/virtualrants/
First off, Gary M. is full of crap with a capital ‘C.’ Secondly, there IS an option that most parents who can’t seem to get a grasp on the concept of disciplining their child/children have, and that’s a babysitter. If you can afford to eat out, you can afford a babysitter. Unfortunately, as a fellow patron of the occasional restaurant, most people with cattle, er children, don’t seem to have grasped the concept. I think my favorite is the new mom with her 2 week old screeching infant shopping at the local Target. Wouldn’t wanna miss those sales! Babies love to shop!
I, like most of the people with common sense who read you’re post were not offended and found the humor in an all too familiar scenario. Fuck the offended, they’re exactly the ones who need the biggest dose of reality. Like the saying goes “Jesus loves you, everyone else thinks you’re an asshole.”
First off, Gary M. is full of crap with a capital ‘C.’ Secondly, there IS an option that most parents who can’t seem to get a grasp on the concept of disciplining their child/children have, and that’s a babysitter. If you can afford to eat out, you can afford a babysitter. Unfortunately, as a fellow patron of the occasional restaurant, most people with cattle, er children, don’t seem to have grasped the concept. I think my favorite is the new mom with her 2 week old screeching infant shopping at the local Target. Wouldn’t wanna miss those sales! Babies love to shop!
I, like most of the people with common sense who read you’re post were not offended and found the humor in an all too familiar scenario. Fuck the offended, they’re exactly the ones who need the biggest dose of reality. Like the saying goes “Jesus loves you, everyone else thinks you’re an asshole.”
You should get HaloScan so people don’t have to comment as ‘anonymous!’ I so agree with you, it’s like you are speaking for everybody on the planet. Maybe except for Gary, that is. I love your sentence about “childhood’s sweet giggles.” That is simply a beautiful image. I don’t know you personally but I can tell you are a kind hearted person who just says what the rest of us think, and you do it in a very funny way. I know tons of people who read you daily! I think Blog Explosion loves you! Except for Gary, of course. (Sorry Gary, I don’t love you at all. You’re a dumbass.)
–StickFigureOlsonTwin
You should get HaloScan so people don’t have to comment as ‘anonymous!’ I so agree with you, it’s like you are speaking for everybody on the planet. Maybe except for Gary, that is. I love your sentence about “childhood’s sweet giggles.” That is simply a beautiful image. I don’t know you personally but I can tell you are a kind hearted person who just says what the rest of us think, and you do it in a very funny way. I know tons of people who read you daily! I think Blog Explosion loves you! Except for Gary, of course. (Sorry Gary, I don’t love you at all. You’re a dumbass.)
–StickFigureOlsonTwin
Gary, get a clue. Go back and read the post carefully. It’s HUMOROUS, you oversensitive dolt. She’s not talking about kids like yours, although frankly I wonder sometimes if parents like you even HAVE a sense of humour. My child has many problems, and one of them is sitting still and holding his voice down, but when we eat out in public, by golly my son knows that three strikes and he’s out in the car watching the rest of us eat through the windows. We’ve only had to do that once, by the way. But he knows we’ll do it however many times HE chooses to make us do it. There is no way we would ever force other people to endure what we endure on a daily basis. We have far better manners than than. Plus, I can still appreciate a funny post for what it is: a funny post. True, but funny. My wife is looking over my shoulder saying ‘tell the guy to grow a sense of humor or his kid’s situation will destroy him and the rest of the family.’ to which I say, ‘Amen.’ And to which I add: Gary, grow up.
Gary, get a clue. Go back and read the post carefully. It’s HUMOROUS, you oversensitive dolt. She’s not talking about kids like yours, although frankly I wonder sometimes if parents like you even HAVE a sense of humour. My child has many problems, and one of them is sitting still and holding his voice down, but when we eat out in public, by golly my son knows that three strikes and he’s out in the car watching the rest of us eat through the windows. We’ve only had to do that once, by the way. But he knows we’ll do it however many times HE chooses to make us do it. There is no way we would ever force other people to endure what we endure on a daily basis. We have far better manners than than. Plus, I can still appreciate a funny post for what it is: a funny post. True, but funny. My wife is looking over my shoulder saying ‘tell the guy to grow a sense of humor or his kid’s situation will destroy him and the rest of the family.’ to which I say, ‘Amen.’ And to which I add: Gary, grow up.
you’ve just hit on one of my biggest peeves. I agree so strongly with you!! In my oh-so-humble opinion, what we usually see in restaurants is the behaviour that is permitted at home. So, since my 2 year old is not allowed to scream at the table, throw food, etc at home, it doesn’t occur to her to do it in public. Plus, she knows her ass will be in the car so fast she won’t know what happened.
you’ve just hit on one of my biggest peeves. I agree so strongly with you!! In my oh-so-humble opinion, what we usually see in restaurants is the behaviour that is permitted at home. So, since my 2 year old is not allowed to scream at the table, throw food, etc at home, it doesn’t occur to her to do it in public. Plus, she knows her ass will be in the car so fast she won’t know what happened.
We have a toddler. We’ve had to quit eating out for a while!
Btw, your banners crack me up!
We have a toddler. We’ve had to quit eating out for a while!
Btw, your banners crack me up!
We are not all blessed with little darlings. I was one, so was my wife, but my child is not. We don’t let him run around and annoy people on purpose, but he does pick his nose, and he is loud sometimes. I could keep him “penned-up,” as you suggest, but then he wouldn’t learn all of the valuable lessons that one as forgiving and gracious as you might teach him. Obviously my wife and myself are “pathetic stupid losers for allowing it,” (his “inconsiderate, boorish behavior,”) to happen.
Some children are born with problems, such that they drool, or jerk their hands and neck around uncontrollably. Should they be penned up? Some people have ghastly skin diseases that are hideous to look at but which pose no risk to others. Should they be kept from restaurants because it is uncomfortable for you to eat while seated in sight of them? This world is filled with people of differing abilities, and frankly, I would rather dine with a person who lacked some table manners than a person who lacked tolerance, empathy and compassion. I wholeheartedly agree that parents should not let their children run wild, and that the children should use the best manners that they are capable of using. I also believe that children should be kind and considerate to others. These are qualities that we struggle to teach our child, but which, because of his brain chemistry, are incredibly hard qualities for him to adapt.
When I see my child play with kids around his age, I see that most of these kids have learned their manners, and easily pick up on social cues, much more easily than my son does. But I also see that some of these same children willfully break the rules when they know, (or think) that they can get away with it. It is a conscious decision and that is behavior that I find most appalling. One of the truly good things to come out of learning about my son and his disability, is that I’ve learned that he has a good heart and that he really does want to do the right thing, even though he is not always capable of doing it.
I don’t know what you look like, or smell like, or how loud or shrill your voice is. But chances are good that there are people out there that would find something about you that annoyed them. I can only hope that if one of those people were my son, that he would still treat you with respect and realize that under that cold facade of yours there beats the heart of a human who doesn’t know any better.
Gary M.
jmoos1@tampabay.rr.com
https://roughdraft.typepad.com/virtualrants/
We are not all blessed with little darlings. I was one, so was my wife, but my child is not. We don’t let him run around and annoy people on purpose, but he does pick his nose, and he is loud sometimes. I could keep him “penned-up,” as you suggest, but then he wouldn’t learn all of the valuable lessons that one as forgiving and gracious as you might teach him. Obviously my wife and myself are “pathetic stupid losers for allowing it,” (his “inconsiderate, boorish behavior,”) to happen.
Some children are born with problems, such that they drool, or jerk their hands and neck around uncontrollably. Should they be penned up? Some people have ghastly skin diseases that are hideous to look at but which pose no risk to others. Should they be kept from restaurants because it is uncomfortable for you to eat while seated in sight of them? This world is filled with people of differing abilities, and frankly, I would rather dine with a person who lacked some table manners than a person who lacked tolerance, empathy and compassion. I wholeheartedly agree that parents should not let their children run wild, and that the children should use the best manners that they are capable of using. I also believe that children should be kind and considerate to others. These are qualities that we struggle to teach our child, but which, because of his brain chemistry, are incredibly hard qualities for him to adapt.
When I see my child play with kids around his age, I see that most of these kids have learned their manners, and easily pick up on social cues, much more easily than my son does. But I also see that some of these same children willfully break the rules when they know, (or think) that they can get away with it. It is a conscious decision and that is behavior that I find most appalling. One of the truly good things to come out of learning about my son and his disability, is that I’ve learned that he has a good heart and that he really does want to do the right thing, even though he is not always capable of doing it.
I don’t know what you look like, or smell like, or how loud or shrill your voice is. But chances are good that there are people out there that would find something about you that annoyed them. I can only hope that if one of those people were my son, that he would still treat you with respect and realize that under that cold facade of yours there beats the heart of a human who doesn’t know any better.
Gary M.
jmoos1@tampabay.rr.com
https://roughdraft.typepad.com/virtualrants/
Does Pizza Hut qualify as a restaurant? I think that such quasi-restaurants are to blame. If you let your kids play and run around at McDonald’s – don’t expect them to behave right elsewhere.
Does Pizza Hut qualify as a restaurant? I think that such quasi-restaurants are to blame. If you let your kids play and run around at McDonald’s – don’t expect them to behave right elsewhere.
here’s a still from my early parenting:
(Muffin Break, noon craziness in background)
calm mother voice: “Do you see anyone ELSE wearing noodles on their head?
No?
Then perhaps that isn’t good restaurant behaviour.”
It worked.
here’s a still from my early parenting:
(Muffin Break, noon craziness in background)
calm mother voice: “Do you see anyone ELSE wearing noodles on their head?
No?
Then perhaps that isn’t good restaurant behaviour.”
It worked.
We’ve been having the same conversation prior to entering a restaurant ever since our oldest was old enough to understand: “You WILL stay in your seat. You WILL behave. You will NOT get up and run around. You will NOT yell and scream or fuss with your brothers. If you do, I will NOT hesitate to bring you back out to the car.”
And you know what? It works.
-G
We’ve been having the same conversation prior to entering a restaurant ever since our oldest was old enough to understand: “You WILL stay in your seat. You WILL behave. You will NOT get up and run around. You will NOT yell and scream or fuss with your brothers. If you do, I will NOT hesitate to bring you back out to the car.”
And you know what? It works.
-G