Just Try to Tame Those Brats

Thanks to a reader who told me about this column in the Chicago Tribune. It is unbelievable that our society puts up with any bratty behavior that children want to display--with no consequences. It's no wonder they grow up to be David Ludwig (and perhaps Kara Borden, who may or may not be a vicitm) who cannot hear the word no. The article describes a restaurant owner who put up a sign to ask parents to keep their children under control:

"McCauley, owner of A Taste of Heaven restaurant, was fed up with shrieking, bratty kids climbing on his fixtures or flopping on the floor blocking waitresses carrying pots of hot coffee, while the parents remained relaxed and infuriatingly indifferent."

The moms were outraged about the sign and decided to boycott the restaurant while the dads just kept their mouths shut. Contrast this to what happened when I was a kid. My parents brought their five kids to a place called the "Lazy Susan" which served the food in a buffet style set up. We did not know how to act and were putting our hands in the food, and not staying seated. The management came up to my parents, told them to take their kids out, leave and not come back. We were all embarrassed and never acted that way in public again (we were all under 8 at the time). Actually, my parents hired a babysitter and did not take us out as often.

The mothers boycotting the restaurant gives a clear message to kids that it is ok to act like a brat. Congratulations to these selfish mothers. Dads are afraid to speak up which is a shame--given that as the Nanny State takes over the raising of our kids--parents will have less and less say so in their upbringing.

This story does have a happy ending--the restaurant owner's business has tripled, despite the boycott and he no longer has to endure the endless shreiks of poorly behaved children.

Update: Dadvocate has a typical example of how spoiled children lose out by not being invited to hang out with family members.