Leave the Damn Kids At Home!!!!!

Okay! Okay! I can hear the groans and read the comments already. But I have reached the end of my tolerance. My nerves are shot. My stomach is tied up in a knot. I have had it with parents who insist on bringing their little darlings to everything. Please. Leave the kids at home. Enough already.

Call me Scrooge…but I have had enough…especially in restaurants that are not designed for kids. Here is a news flash. No two year old wants to sit at a table while Mommy and Daddy eat expensive food and drink and talk on their cell phone. Of course the crumb grinders will be crabby. THEY ARE TIRED AND SHOULD BE HOME IN BED!!!!!

A white table cloth restaurant is no place for a kid on a Saturday night at 8:30 PM while people at adjoining tables are spending in excess of a hundred bucks for nice, adult night out. What are you thinking?

Modern parents seem to live in their own little world. When I was small, my parents called one of my cousins in to babysit me when they went out. When my son was small, we took him to grandma’s or hired a kid to sit for an hour or two while we went to get some peace for ourselves. If we couldn’t find or afford a sitter…or it was going to be a late night…we stayed home. It’s part of being a parent. It's called R-E-S-P-O-N-S-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y!

Not today. A case in point was this past weekend when my wife and I went to a relatively expensive restaurant to have Saturday night dinner. We were shown to our table, and immediately to the left of us were Mom, Dad, and a two year old little girl. Mom was drinking her wine and talking on her cell phone. Dad was trying, and failing, to keep this obnoxious little kid occupied by throwing her up in the air and traipsing her around the restaurant. This was an adult establishment, with average menu prices of 30 – 40 bucks. What could possibly be on the menu that would interest this poor little girl? While she screamed and carried on, and Daddy tried to shush her…Mom continued to drink and talk on the phone. It took just a few minutes for me to arrive at my breaking point, patient though I may be, and we paid for our drinks and left the restaurant, advising the management I hope the little darling would spend as much money there as we would!!

This is a problem generally in our society. Whether it is in movie, or grocery stores, or the theater, or church, it isn’t the kids fault. THEY ARE KIDS. Mom and Dad, you chose to have your children…stay home and take care of them!!!!! Did you not think that the little ones would crimp you social life? They do!!!!!

Today at lunch, Mom and Dad were several booths down from where I and my associate were sitting. Their little adorable two year old carried on, and I mean at the top of her lungs, for almost 15 minutes. It was clear the little girl was tired and needed a nap. The parents were oblivious. “Now, honey, let’s behave!” “NOOOOOOO” “Now honey, let’s be quiet!” “NOOOO!!! I DON’T WANT TO EAT THAT!!! AAAAAAA!” Ad infinitum.

Finally, I turned around and gave the look. I said “Jesus!” The mother snipped at me that the little girl was only two. “That,” I responded, “is exactly the point!” They left in a huff yelling at me that I hoped I enjoyed the rest of my lunch. I did. It turns out the mother was related to one of the waitresses in the joint. Too bad!!!

All kids are going to misbehave at some time, and I have no problem if the parents attempt to do something about it, like put down their cell phones and booze and take the kid outside for a walk. But I have come to the conclusion that the management of these places has to take a stand after a period of time of unacceptable behavior by unruly children with ignorant parents. Other patrons are spending their money too. So I have decided to let them know my displeasure. Will they say I grumpy? Will they call me a mean old man? Will they say I am a curmudgeon? You’re damn right they will. But you know what? At least I will enjoy my hamburg!!

Please address all hate mail to Barack Obama. And thank you for your support!!!