“Somebody better do something about those kids.” – Restaurant Patron Criticizes

On Saturday, we had made some changes to our normal routine and we decided to do a light workout at the gym. All three kids enjoyed hanging out in the play room. Afterwards, we decided to go to lunch in Rowlett at Burger Island.

Immediately, when we arrived I could tell that our two year old daughters were getting rowdy. The kind of rowdy they would get just before nap time. The open restaurant is pretty loud from patrons in general and the noise bounces off the bare floor and walls.

At this restaurant patrons can find their own seating. So we chose to sit at the back of the room that is on the opposite side of the kitchen and nearby a glass door exit. Our waiter came to take our drink order as we were getting our twin daughters situated in highchairs. It took a bit to get the drinks. Between the time of the drink order and adjusting the size of the straws so that we won’t have drink spills. My daughters began a cry fest. I wasn’t moving fast enough to get their drinks prepared. Or one wanted a cup verses another cup. It got to the point that I am repeating over and over for them to stop the crying bit and that they are getting a drink.

So while I am managing this and finally ended up taking one of my daughters out of the exit door to calm her down outside. My husband overhears a very older patron giving our family dirty looks, scoffing, making critical comments and even went out of her way to say something to the wait staff. One of the comments she made was, “Somebody better do something about those kids.”

Of course, it wasn’t within earshot that I personally heard this. But I will say that I am the type that would have said something.

“Those kids.” she said. Those kids are my children and they are human. Not robots or animals. As much as a wreckless mouth that this senior citizen had to say such a wise ass remark to a family who managed the situation it was out-of-line.

It’s not often that my husband would say something, but he apparently did speak to the woman and welcomed for her to come and try to share her infinite wisdom to fix our problem. Of course, she sat there with a hateful face and eventually left with the ladies who brought her.

I’m thankful that the wait staff were kind and gave us quality service. The crying lasted for approximately 10 minutes and our kids happily got over their hanger of being thirsty and hungry.

They enjoyed the corndogs and sweet potato fries. My husband and I enjoyed fully loaded mushroom cheese burgers.

I don’t enjoy my children acting out at a restaurant. I will leave if I feel that it is necessary. I’m very conscience about our surroundings. I have been on the side of the fence of before children. Maybe you are on a date or maybe you happen to have an angel baby where he doesn’t cry. My firstborn wasn’t big on crying. He was a love bug. Our twin daughters were the direct opposite. It took a while for me to start venturing out with my kids alone without another person or my husband. It can be very stressful to go out in general. Whether that is to the store, gas station, walking to and from your parked car or another restaurant where you have to wait in a line. I have to constantly think about logistics. Constantly. And yes, it can be exhausting.

Maybe it is the sign of the times that we are living in that more and more people are just hateful. Maybe their misery is looking for more company. If that is the case, I hope that they will consider their remarks to be helpful. I’m open to criticism and maybe showing me a better way of doing things.

I believe that we have to train up our children in the way they should go…So we have to start where they are. Our children will eventually be great little patrons. We don’t have that many cry fests in fact I am noticing it is less often.