On unruly two-year olds who are simply two-year olds

Two nights ago, Sprite and I went to Souplantation for dinner. We sat down in a booth in front of a corner booth. The group occupying it consists of an old couple probably in their 50's and a younger couple in 30's and 40's, with a two-year old.

About half way through dinner, the younger woman came back miffed and annoyed because the manager beleaguered her regarding her little one. Sprite and I couldn't help but overhear the conversation since she was loud and sitting right behind us. According to her, the manager told her to control her child since customers have been complaining about him running around out of control. She said, "Anybody who complains about a child obviously has no children themselves!...He's a child! What do you want me to do? Put him in a bag?!...He said that I couldn't control him." Before I go any further, let me say that the child is very cute, and even though now I know it has been him crying off and on through the whole dinner, I don't blame him at all. So on to my rant about the mother.

First of all, how is not having kids relevant to anyone's right to complain about a child running amok in a restaurant? Are we supposed to stand by and avoid your child or perhaps watch him for you so that he doesn't endanger himself or others? If you are going to use that argument then you know that having kids is your choice, which obviously involves sacrifice...such as not being able to sit down and eat at a restaurant when your child is simply having "one-of-those-days." Also, even though some people don't have kids, some of us grew up with little siblings or other extended family and know exactly what kids are like.

Secondly, you are right, a child is a child. No one expects your child to be a perfect angel all the time. That would be creepy. However, we do expect you to be an adult and control your child's behavior...such as taking him outside when he's crying since no one really wants to hear a child's tantrum scream. Again, sacrifice. Again, your choice.

Having raised my younger brother by 11 years, I can tell you this much: kids are intelligent. They will push your boundaries as far as they can go, which is why they need to be established early on. True, there are some things that cannot be controlled, but as adults, we have something the kids do not: self-control and patience. If it were my child, I would tell him nicely that we are out with guests and that he needs to be good and eat at the table. If he wants to get anything from anywhere, let me know and we will take a trip together. If he doesn't listen at all after warnings and bribes, then I am taking him outside or home. I don't mind missing dinner. I can grab something to eat later. It's even: he doesn't get to have fun running around and I don't get dinner. However, I carried out my threat, so that he will know next time that I am good for my word.