I’ll be the first to admit I can’t stand screaming kids. As a previous diner owner, I absolutely couldn’t stand the sound of a screaming child. Now, if I had to listen to 45 minutes of it, I honestly don’t know what I would have said to the parent. I probably wouldn’t have said anything and gave a dirty look. I understand the whole “different parenting approach” parents are taking these days but some things gotta give.
I raise my children with discipline and yes, it starts as early as 2 years old. Take your screaming child outside the restaurant and handle it. No one wants to hear your screaming child while you’re browsing on your smart phone.
Parenting approach:
Do you ignore your screaming child in a public place and let it continue for ever?
OR
Do you discipline your child and make it stop?
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Good Morning Gloucester 
I wouldn’t like it either like that? That long? Those parents should have taken the child outside for goodness sakes to be polite.. I can’t blame the owner on this… She may have went about it wrong but I can’t blame her either. The parents are mad at the owner? Other patrons are too? I”m so glad the owner isn’t losing much business over it (I have heard on news on updates). Good.
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totally agree!!!
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Okay, so I admit I do not have any kids…but my parents had a very fussy child (not me, I swear) and simply did not take him to restaurants, movies, etc. until he was able to handle himself without having a tantrum. I feel I would do the same. That being said, and while I admire the diner owner’s honesty and understand her frustration, I think her reaction was highly unprofessional. My two cents!
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how would you of handled that if you were the owner or the patron having breakfast next to her?
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If I owned the place, I probably would have asked the parents to take their meal to go. If I’d been sitting next to them, I would probably have said “Are you F**KING KIDDING ME?!” and found another seat far, far away.
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Take the child outside and let the other patrons enjoy their breakfast, as far as the owner, she did say some nasty things. I think she could have gone over and politely ask the parents to bring the child outside. My kids were not allowed to scream anywhere.
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I posted this elsewhere today, so it doesn’t exactly fit this question, but here’s my comment: Children are not small adults. They are always, always responding to their situations and trying to get their needs met. Of all the evidence-based strategies and interventions that (as a Behavior Analyst) I have recommended to parents, teachers, and caregiving adults, exactly NONE have included “tell them off, and be sure to raise your voice.” That is so clearly about serving the yelling adult’s needs, maybe some observers’ needs–definitely not about teaching this child anything.
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I think you may be wrong – I think this child was actually taught something. I think she was taught that if you scream for a long time and your parents don’t stop you, another adult may shout loud enough to shock you into stopping screaming. She may even have learnt that if she does that in future, someone else might shout at her, so she may have learnt that it’s not a good idea. Good teaching and good learning, I would say.
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Why was she screaming in the first place through your observations that may offer a clue to quiet the child down? Many times it’s to get attention Kids learned that louder voice got more Love and attention. “Discipline is a must along with parent interaction with the child live and let live in young years is not good! This went on way to long tell the parents first then management. The child also may have some kid of medical condition in that case the parents should know the triggers. I do know one thing I would never recommend is saying to the child that policeman will arrest you if you don’t quiet down, that is not cool at all I saw this happen one too many times by some especially in the foundation building years.
I would say take the child outside and explain that if she continues to do that we are all going home…The Native Indian culture has some interesting ways of dealing with this through traditions when young where you learn through watching and observing examples, while remaining quiet until the task or lesson is done full attention is afforded to adult or those who have walked the path ahead of you!
These are my personal thoughts only! 🙂 Dave & Kim 🙂
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If I ever go to Portland, I will be sure to go eat at that place every day, safe in the knowledge that all the people who were ‘outraged’ on Facebook won’t be there…
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Lol agreed Stuart
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As someone who eats out a lot, I can state that MOST parents these days are clueless and simply selfish when it comes to bringing infants and toddlers to restaurants. If your child cannot behave in public, STAY HOME. That’s what my parents did, so they tell me.
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Also want to add the worst place this can happen is when we want it for a quiet church service.
It has happened several times in my beloved church where a disruptive child runs amok in the aisles and / or screams from a stroller or pew… and thank goodness some parents will take the screaming child out but not always as with the case of the ones that run amok during service.
Parents in church need to be aware of this as well. Because that’s the ONE time we want solitude, no?.
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Absolutely!
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What a lovely smile you have Alicia lol 🙂
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Why thank you! 😎
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I think it is silly that the two options you give are ignore it or discipline and make it stop. I don’t do either. I would show empathy and compassion, find out what the problem is and try to solve the problem and comfort the child. Adults and children alike have big emotions, and sometimes they are hard to handle. Its always nice to be shown some grace rather than to be yelled at.
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Would it take u 45 min to figure it out?
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