Whipped them all soundly, and sent them to bed. A nation of child haters.

Orpheo

Sapphire wrote: »

Children of people abroad are generally much better behaved than those of Brits, probably because they have discipline and rules set in their lives, which incidentally help them to become disciplined and polite adults.

Raising your children like this is called love.

Orpheo

ILW wrote: »

Not if they are sat at the table next to me and I am paying £100 or so for a meal for two.
If I want to hear screaming kids I will go to McDs or Pizza hut.

I recently enjoyed a meal for two, there wasn't a child in sight. I guess I chose the right time and place for a child free occasion.

Generali

ILW wrote: »

Not if they are sat at the table next to me and I am paying £100 or so for a meal for two.
If I want to hear screaming kids I will go to McDs or Pizza hut.

To be fair, if my kids were having a tantrum in a restaurant I'd haul them out to the pavement and let them have a fit out there.

Having said that, I don't think my kids have ever had a tantrum in a restaurant. That you seem to assume kids will do that speaks volumes and really underlines the OP's point, to which I am sympathetic, that many Poms hate kids.

Orpheo

Generali wrote: »

To be fair, if my kids were having a tantrum in a restaurant I'd haul them out to the pavement and let them have a fit out there.

Having said that, I don't think my kids have ever had a tantrum in a restaurant. That you seem to assume kids will do that speaks volumes and really underlines the OP's point, to which I am sympathetic, that many Poms hate kids.

Agreed. My daughter has never misbehaved in a restaurant either.

I have much enjoyed how I have been lambasted for saying that many Brits hate children juxtaposed with posters demonstrating their child hate.

ILW

Generali wrote: »

To be fair, if my kids were having a tantrum in a restaurant I'd haul them out to the pavement and let them have a fit out there.

Having said that, I don't think my kids have ever had a tantrum in a restaurant. That you seem to assume kids will do that speaks volumes and really underlines the OP's point, to which I am sympathetic, that many Poms hate kids.

I have not assumed anything. I have no problem with kids in restaurants and used to take mine, but I would not allow them to disturb others enjoyment using the argument of "well they are just kids". If they did play up they would be taken outside until calmed down and if that was not going to happen I would settle the bill and leave. Guess I am just old fashioned.

ILW

Orpheo wrote: »

I recently enjoyed a meal for two, there wasn't a child in sight. I guess I chose the right time and place for a child free occasion.

Please tell me what these times and places are.

Orpheo

ILW wrote: »

Please tell me what these times and places are.

http://www.loves-restaurant.co.uk/

It was a Tuesday evening, around 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Lovely evening.

Additionally, in Lincoln, where I live, there are at least two pub-restaurant type places (pub food prices) that do not accept children. There are many places that do accept children, but I have a choice if I want a child free meal.

lostinrates

Sapphire wrote: »

Children of people abroad are generally much better behaved than those of Brits, probably because they have discipline and rules set in their lives, which incidentally help them to become disciplined and polite adults. In Latin countries, children often eat with their parents late into the night, and it's a pleasure to have them around because of their polite behaviour. From what I can see, many Brits allow their children to run riot, which is unfair both to them and to the people around them who have to tolerate this.

I also cannot abide screaming kids when I'm trying to have a meal or commuting – under such circumstances, parents should have consideration for others. (My cousin related to me how she witnessed a woman changing the nappy of a child in a pub garden, which my cousin had to leave after expressing her disgust. That sort of behaviour by parents is completely inexcusable.)

I don't give a toss what parents do with their children in their own homes, but do object to having them thrust on me when I do not desire this.

As I've said before I LIKE having kids about when eating out. A well behaved and intelligent child, or even just a cute one is a ''natural'' and peasant dynamic to an environment. Children are children everywhere in the world, but parenting and social attitudes are different. I've had many a chat with a toddler on continental public transport, and chatting to a child who is adequately supervised carries none of the panic lead overtones found when children aren't ''under control'' i.e. well supervised and behaving.

social responsiblity of adults must also play apart. in public spaces elsewhere adults will tell noisy teens to hush or move along, and similarly chat to and sometimes help quieten noisy/upset/tantruming littles. usually following the parents lead...often by turning in to a joke. I've seen middle aged and older men pull the most amazing sulky and sad gurns to sooth a quiet kid they don't know. The response from these parents is not defensive as found in critical Britain, but grateful, pleased and apologetic. I don't mind kids having a safe stretch legs or looking at the art around a restaurant..its sometimes lovely to hear children imagining they are in a mediocre print of somewhere pretty enough. I don't think I've been anywhere in UK where that particular shrill scream of crescendo of tantrum is allowed to continue indoors in a public place, without exception a parent will remove a child, and smile apologetically to other people as they pass. This simple recognition of others' ''discomfort'' is sufficient.

In UK often enough if a passing man stopped to a pull a face at a tired and starting to act up kid he'd probably be made to feel filthy or at the very least ''unwanted''. If you so much as smile at some people's kids they get bustled away. Not always though, and its always nice to see happy children being entertainingly educated by their parents. I'm one of those people who compliment parents on nice, polite kids.

SingleSue

Mine have had tantrums in a restaurant...well really only youngest seriously (and mainly caused by ex husband getting eek about the ministry of funny noises) and I have taken him outside but on the understanding that he would have a minute or two (quite literally) chill out time and then back in again.

This is one of his coping mechanisms now actually, he knows he HAS to stay at the place we are but I built in a strategy that if he was feeling stressed, he could go to the toilets, a quiet corner or outside (with me in tow) for just a minute and then come back.

That way, he knows he has to deal with the situation, he knows that mum will not just take him home (where he feels safe) and he doesn't have the tantrums as he has had the opportunity to get the stress levels down a tad.

For my eldest son's birthday last year, I purposely selected a venue which had a little area by a locked door which could be closed off from the party by another door (like a little inside porch area), I could still see him, he could still see me, he couldn't get out onto the street but it sufficiently dropped the noise level (and the crowd level as he was in a crowd of 1) to allow him to cope with the party.

Same at my parents at Christmas, he knows when it gets too much, to take himself off to a room upstairs away from everyone.

Mind you, I will never forget the man in Clarkes who told me that autistic children shouldn't be in normal shops for normal people or shop at the same time as normal people.....my now ex husband told me I went a particularly angry shade of colour but kept my manners very well.

Orpheo

lostinrates wrote: »

In UK often enough if a passing man stopped to a pull a face at a tired and starting to act up kid he'd probably be made to feel filthy or at the very least ''unwanted''. If you so much as smile at some people's kids they get bustled away. Not always though, and its always nice to see happy children being entertainingly educated by their parents. I'm one of those people who compliment parents on nice, polite kids.

Ah. The pa-e-d-o-fear. (Can you really not write !!!!!phile on here! How British.)

Not to be confused with peadofear - the fear of small vegetables, or pedofear - the fear of walking.