I say good for him. I recently posted a plea
on my blog, begging parents to train their children to behave well when traveling, since I focus on luxury travel with children. I don't understand why parents these days are loathe to teach their children some manners. I think kids should be part of every day life - travel, eating out, whatever. I believe in having a good time and enjoying the best when I travel, and I think my daughter has every right to share in much of that. And I totally think children should be allowed to laugh and play and have a good time and be children. But I also believe that they should be taught that in certain settings, you have to behave a certain way, just tone it down a notch, the same way (most) adults do. How the hell else will they learn it? I scream and bellow when I watch sports in my house. If someone tells me a joke in my house or theirs, I laugh raucously. I would not do either of these things in a fine restaurant or on an airplane. I know the difference. And I try to make sure my daughter does too. This can be accomplished without yelling or tears; we've found that if we explain it to her and emphasize that we're trying to be considerate of other people, she completely gets it. We also do our part to keep her entertained so that she doesn't feel the need to be loud and run the aisles. If more parents would train their children on proper etiquette, we wouldn't be subjected to the backlash of children's sections, people hating to fly with children, and the like. We're not doing anyone, including the children, any favors by not teaching them how to behave in public. I think this restaurant owner was completely right to ask children to behave, the same way some restaurants ask people to wear shirts and shoes. The problem is, these parents feel "judged" or they realize the onus is on them to do something about their unmannerly children. If I saw a sign like that I wouldn't be the least bit concerned, because I've done my job as a parent.

Leian
http://www.childofleisure.com/2007/03/get-on-bus-gus.html

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I kinda understand because I used to be one of "those people" who would give parents, of even slightly obnoxious children, the hairy eyeball. But, now that I'm a mother of a slightly obnoxious child, what me and my hubby did was, go to kid friendly restaurants,i.e., pizza joints and fast food places, and we taught our daughter MANNERS!!! a concept that is fast becoming unpopular in todays world. I also go armed with a bazillion different snacks, drinks and toys and duct tape if things get really hairy (okay so I don't use duct tape, but sometimes I wish I could). once our daughter was a year old we were able to take her pretty much anywhere with us. As long as we keep her on some sort of a routine for naps and meals and drinks and booty changes she is great.

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This is an old story that got beaten to a pulp on Blogging Baby a year or so ago. Search for "A Taste of Heaven" in the archives.

I don't take my kids out a lot, and when I do I expect them to behave, and if they don't behave we leave.

Nonetheless, I did have a problem with the tone of this particular sign. It is a "guilty until proven innocent" sign that assumes children will misbehave. Not long after this story was posted the first time, another was posted with a sign that said something like "Misbehaving children will be given three cups of coffee and a puppy." Same message, but with good humor and friendliness.

Given the choice between a sign that says "Children are welcome IF they behave" and one that says "IF children misbehave they are not welcome," I'll take the second. The first implies it is unlikely they will behave.

There is nothing wrong with expecting children to behave. There is something rude about assuming they will misbehave.

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I have two kids that I eat with often b/c they behave well, sit quietly and don't make a nuisance of themselves. There were many years that we didn't eat out with them at all b/c they were too young to understand how to be courteous patrons. I think parents who don't use good judgment, taking kids to non-family oriented restaurants when they are too young, make this an issue. If your kids spill, yell and throw food stick with Fuddruckers. When they become conscious of other people and display table manners, branch out. If you're a family that feels it's your God given right to ruin everyone else's meal then expect to earn some disdain.
~cce @ http://www.madmarriage.com

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I read the article. I would be interested in knowing what type of restaurant Dan McCauley owns.

If it is a white table-cloth type of place, I see nothing wrong with expecting customers, whether they are adults or children, to behave their age. Climbing the walls was likely a potentially dangerous situation for both parties.

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I love the sign. Didn't anybody else notice that while it obviously is meant for the parents who don't bother to require proper public behavior for their children, its wording includes obnoxious people of all ages!!!!! I've had many a meal ruined by ill-mannered adults, screaming into cell phones, arguing politics or religion, or who are just LOUD. I agree with the sign, completely and absolutely. No matter what your age, you have no right to ruin something for other people. Whether the obnoxious one is three or 93, if they can't behave properly in public, they have no business being there. Take them home and practice 'indoor voices' and 'sitting still' and continue to give them chances to behave well in restaurants, etc. And the very second they start to bother others, go back home, and make it clear to the person WHY they have to leave.

There is nothing more beautiful and awesome and cool and wonderful than a child who behaves in public, and fewer things that are grosser than a child who doesn't. Unless maybe it's parents who think they have a 'right' to take kids to places and allow them to annoy others.

I would patronize a restaurant with this policy regularly. I also love the 'kids room' policy of the other restaurant.

Now, how do you all feel about people who take babies and children into the smoking section? We still have those in Indiana, and there are always little babies in there, wheezing and bleary-eyed, because Mommy and Daddy can't enjoy a meal without a few cigarettes.

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I like how it read of all ages, I have been to many events and the parents were worse then the kids. Prime example is at kids' school concerts. Even though the principal says at the begining of the program to turn off cell phones, don't talk, stay seated until the end of the section, there are always multiple adults that break one or more of the rules. I have 4 kids, and we did not go to restaurants until our kids were able to behave. I did not want my dinner ruined or others around me. I wish more people were more considerate of others.

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The only problem with the wording "IF children misbehave they are not welcome" is that no parent will stop at the door and think to themselves "hmm... that sign makes me realize that my child misbehaves, so I better not take them in there." The parents of the children who misbehave don't think that they (the parents) are responsible for changing anything. They think that the establishment and those who patronize it should just deal with the behavior of their child because, in their opinion, it isn't "misbehavior".

I like the wording on the sign for Taste of Heaven because it gives specific instructions and expectations -- Children of all ages have to behave and use their indoor voices. I've recently discovered that I can't just tell my child (he's two) what NOT to do and assume that he knows what TO do. I also have to tell him the appropriate thing to do.

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I like the idea in a lot of ways. It depends on the kind of restaurant, of course, but children do need to learn the difference between any sort of restaurant and eating at home. Even a family friendly restaurant deserves better behavior than some parents require of their children.

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I see nothing wrong with a business owner requiring that his other customers have a peaceful environment. On the rare occasion my husband and I get away on our own the last thing we want to hear is a child crying or throwing a tantrum, even though we can certainly relate. That is what take out is for and we have many times found ourselves in the midst of a tantrum while waiting for our meal. One of us takes our daughter out while the other asks for the food to go. However I have witnesses parents allowing their children to run around screaming while the parents are engrosses in their own conversation; seeming to be totally oblivious to their children's behavior. I say good for him and it doesn't bother me one bit. Parents need to understand that loud children are not appropriate everywhere.

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I was a resturant worker for 34 years, and it's about time someone actually had the guts to do this. I am a mother and a grandmother. But there is a time and place to playing around. I used to get so upset at the Hostesses for sitting a couple or a group of adults maybe trying to have a bussiness meeting next to a crying baby or unruly kids. It seems like the kids run the parents life these days. It's not very pretty. And it makes the parents look foolish if you ask me.And you the really the one it reflexes on is the server. There goes the tip!!!!!! I would tell the hostess "USE YOUR HEAD" take notice of the surroundings on where you are sitting your guests. Or put yourself in your guest place, it might have been a long time since that couple has had the chance to go out. They might have 10 kids at home. They just need a quiet night out. But thats just my opinion.

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Awesome!
Really simple rule - don't behave and we will leave. Use it. Enforce it.
We've only had to leave a public facility once or twice and my kids got the message.

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Here is an article from today's Guardian providing a British perspective on the topic:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,2040487,00.html

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Now if only more resturant's and movie theaters would do this! It would be heaven.

Hek I dont allow my daughter to misbehave at the Golden Arches! Yet there are always kids there climbing on the seats and tables and running around. My daughter is expected to behave. Simple.. and ya know what? She DOES

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