Back to the O.P.:
This is precisely why I hardly ever go to the movies anymore. I’d like to, but you just can’t rely on others to be considerate and leave the little knee-biters with a sitter—or to be mindful of the fact that the movie theatre is not their own personal living room.
And now for another hijack:
The last time I was at a Kaiser clinic, I saw signs by the stairs which clearly stated that children are not to play on the stairs. And what did I see? Kids playing on the stairs, of course, while their stupid , irresponsible, oblivious parents sat by and did nothing. If a kid or anyone else ever gets injured as a result, you can bet the damn parents will sue even though it was their own fault.
Lego, I’m with you on the movie rant. If your child is not old enough to appreciate the movie then leave them at home. The only exception, as others have pointed out, is rated G movies. Kids are their target audience.
Restaurants vary. Common sense tells us that any restaurant with primary colors and a clown as its theme is going to be running amouk with kids. Rule of thumb: If fries are on the menu, don’t bitch about the kids. Nicer restaurants are different not because they are more expensive, but because of the time spent there. It’s not unusual to spend 4 hours at a 4 or 5 star restaurant.
Here’s a general guideline for how long a child can be expected to be well behaved at a movie/restaurant/etc.
0-9 months - 1 hour (they sleep and eat a lot)
9 months - 3 years 15 - 30 minutes (i.e. stay at home or hire a sitter)
3-5 - 30-45 minutes
5-7 1 hour
7-9 1 1/2 hours
9+ they should behave like young ladies and gentlemen at this age for an indefinite period of time
Note: these times INCLUDE wait time! Parents should keep this in mind when choosing a restaurant.
Now, about Lego’s bitching about kids walking in his yard, let me just say that you had a valid complaint with the movie thing. Bitching about kids walking in your lawn because they “leave sticks” in your yard is pushing the limits of your credibility. Grouch.
I remember a couple of kids running top speed up and down a few times while the Mom fased out. After the 3rd pass, I finally lost it and yelled “Either sit the houseapes down or I will staple them to the wall”. This gets a bit of scattered applause. The mom gathers them and walks up and has the temerity to complain about me!
From my understanding (she was talking to a guy I know who worked there) it went like this
Mom: Some guy in there yelled at my kids! He is wearing the white t shirt with some writing and had long spiked blonde hair. You should go pull him out.
Friend: What did he yell at the kids?
Mom: He said my kids were bothering him. All they were doing was playing.
Friend: Playing? During the movie?
Mom: Yes they were quietly playing tag
From what I understand he lost his shit laughing at that sentance and refunded her money.
Quietly playing tag…thats like saying Softly beating someone with a bat
As far as the kids in my yard, let me explain further. By sticks, I pretty much mean branches. There’s atree in my yard that sheds branches like crazy after it’s rained or been windy. I try to collect them up as soon as I can so they don’t blow into the street or elsewhere. However, if I’m not home, I have found that the kids have dragged the branches into my driveway, into the street, onto my porch, and elsewhere. They’ve littered my yard with food and candy wrappers. They’ve taken sidewalk chalk and chalked up my porch, brick on my house, and my driveway. I’ve had matchbox cars go flying out of my lawnmower that were left in my lawn by them that I didn’t see.
I don’t have kids, and yet my yard looks like a playground because the parents of these kids won’t keep an eye on them. I’ve told them repeatedly not to do these things, but the kids are very young and have the attention span of a fly. We’ve spoken to the parents who are very apologetic but continue to do nothing.
None of these actions are life-threatening, but this is my home. I don’t chalk on my driveway because I don’t want chalk there, nor do I want others putting it there. I don’t go messing up anyone else’s house either. My dog is always on a leash so he doesn’t mess in anyone else’s yard.
…is what used to be common courtesy. That might come back in style if consequences are once again tied to actions.
If a kid “acts out”–i.e. displays behavior unacceptable for an adult–and won’t cut it out, parents need to remove the child quickly. Yeah, maybe it wasn’t a good idea to bring Junior in the first place, but I give parents like this a lot of credit. Far more so than those who think good parenting consists of a few ineffectual “shhes” in toddler-Montessori tones. People like them–and their children–are doing nothing more than pissing on the rights of dozens of others, and as much as they think they have the right to be there, NO ONE has the right to ruin EVERYONE else’s good time. Theater owners, let 'em know this! Ban repeatedly disruptive individuals of all ages–this includes not only bratty grade-schoolers and oblivious parents, but also bellligerent drunks and other adults who can’t behave.
I just wanted to say that I’ve had a $100 dinner for two once in my life, and that was only because it was the last night my wife and I were in Hawaii on our honeymoon. I dream of the day when I can afford to pop $200+ for “special” dinners without my wallet shrieking in agony (and for $200, it better be special!).
And I have never taken my two-year-old son to the movies because I think he won’t sit still for the whole movie and end up a nuisance, and I don’t want to bother others. Though given how he stares at the teevee with rapt fascination, I may have to reconsider my theory…