Nettie’s House of Spaghetti, a restaurant located in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, is banning children under 10 from dining in their establishment.
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Recently, an establishment called Nettie's House of Spaghetti in New Jersey announced they will no longer allow children under 10 to dine at their restaurant.
The move caused controversy, with some respondents applauding the policy and others accusing Nettie’s staff of being “child haters.” But the top commenter at MSN.com summed the issue up succinctly:
“We don't hate your kids,” she wrote. “We hate your parenting.”
Congratulations, madam, you won the Internet today.
If this seems a tempest in a teapot, know that it has implications for our entire society, because it reflects a deadly modern problem:
-WiscoDave
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When my dad was stationed in Germany, we went to out to eat at least a couple times a month, starting with us 3 kids being between 3 and 8 years old, because Dad thought it was important for us to be exposed to a different culture. We were also under threat of a prolonged and painful death if we did misbehave or raised our voices beyond a normal conversation level.
I say that but I don't ever recall him threatening us to mind ourselves. We were taught table manners from the time we were old enough to sit in our own chairs and were expected to use them no matter if we were at a restaurant or eating at home.
As an Air Force brat, I know exactly where you are coming from....
ReplyDeleteWe were taught that little kids should be seen but not heard and that is advice seldom followed these days. One I admire is my cousin who stopped to visit with his pre teen daughter. When she wanted to speak, she held up her hand and waited until he acknowledged her. Sweet kid and a good dad. On the other hand, my step son's sons, run around talking and screaming at a high pitch seldom being told to be quiet. Except by me when I told them to keep it down to a dull roar and got a look from them that told me I wasn't liked and I didn't and don't care. Parents' duty is not to be liked, but to be respected.
ReplyDeleteAs a young kid, we went out to eat weekly at the original drive-in version of McDonald's. It was on the way to my Memere's house and that way she would not have to make a big supper. There was no fuckin' around in the car because making any mess would piss off Dad. We also would go to IHOP, Ho-Jo's, Friendly's, or Big Boy, and even fancy places like Valle's Steak House or the hoity-toity Mountain Laurel in Enfield. Regardless of where it was, restaurants were about the only places we kids did not misbehave. I remember my parents telling us the compliments they received from management about how well behaved we were. I don't remember doing anything special, just not getting into it with my siblings.
ReplyDeleteMeal times at home however, were a totally different event.
Parents whose children behave should be arrested.
ReplyDeleteIt is parents like that who create well behaved responsible adults who'd never be dumb enough to vote for the left.
Shame on them.
My stepmother would serve Sunday lunch after church with the fine China, fancy silverware, and one water goblet and a separate for milk. There were always four kids and frequently six. These were formal manner lessons with the best food of the week. Everyone who did well got an extra large serving of dessert! The few times we did eat out, she was always complimented on how well behaved we were!
ReplyDeleteThat once a week formal dinner was also a great use for that "special dinnerware", better that than having it never get used.
DeleteWe too were civilized and socialized at a young age. Had we behaved like many/most kids (and some adults) I see out and about, my dad would have followed through on his threat to "pinch your head off and flush you down the toilet". I applaud the restaurant's policy and if one around here did that, I'd make it a point to go just to support them and enjoy a peaceful meal.
ReplyDeleteEd
We'd take the kids out to the car, lock them in, and wait 5 minutes, leaning against the car (window open if needed)
ReplyDeleteIt only took once or twice; they learned fast. We could take them anywhere.
When you choose to have children, you are moraly obligated to raise them to be contributing members of society
ReplyDeleteBackwoods Okie
Parents of us old farts knew the importance of being polite and social graces. good on the restaurant management for this decision, hopefully it will help to spike their business.
ReplyDeleteIn 2023 the best place for little assholes is in cages. At least that's what The magic Negro Obama indicated when he mandate kid's cages at the southern border,
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like somebodies ill behaved crotch goblins to ruin a nice meal out . All of the high pitches screaming and running around like ferial animals recently uncaged .It can be mildly entertaining though when one of the ill behaved little bastards smashes its head into the corner of a table(and knocks about fifteen points off its I.Q.) and its kind of funny when one of them trips and lands on its face while running around. Other than those rare instances, dining out when someone's fuck trophies are in the place usually is not a good time.
ReplyDeleteTried to civilize my munchkins but the wife was all into some Spock nonsense. Kids turned out OK over all but I missed the chance to put the fear in mine I had for my folks. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteLived in West Germany 80's. Was a rare sight to see children at Ristorante Ciao outside of Rhine-Main AFB. Instead it was more common to see extremely well behaved dogs there. Cigaretta chain smoking and meals that lasted over 2 hours. Exchange was over 3$ to deutshe mark. 10 bucks for two people to eat a fifty dollar meal.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. Had the same rules of engagement when my Dad was stationed in Germany. Likewise, we had already learned my parents' expectations and knew to toe the line! Kids get rowdy in public just like they have learned at home.
ReplyDeleteAdult age kids "raising" kids. Lord of the Flies, at the speed of the internet. This is the advice I give first time parents--
ReplyDeleteBuy a stud finder. Make small surreptitious marks on your walls where the studs are. When your little darling gives you that first look of "Who died and made you King?", grab them by whatever passes for lapels on their clothing, pick them up, and plant them in the sheetrock, between the studs. Three things will happen--
1) They will stay.
2) They will listen. You will not have to raise your voice.
3) When the conversation is over, pop them out and dust them off. Won't leave a mark on
them.
Like the other commentators, grew up as an Air Force brat and believe me, even as dad was an officer, he was worse then a Marine DI when it came to manners at home and at restaurants, church or even just in public. Now girlfriends can take me out to a fancy eating place and I behave...
ReplyDeleteThere is Chuck E Cheese, and then there is everywhere else. If you are not at CEC, make your children behave...period. My dog, who is not allowed inside a restaurant, is far better behaved, and absolutely would have left ZERO food debris under the table, than most children and their worthless parents. My parents took me everywhere and I knew better than to misbehave.
ReplyDeleteI think the discrepant parents don’t detect any difference between the rowdy behavior in a restaurant and what their offspring do at home, so it’s “Isn’t he cute” or some such stupidity. My wife & I suffered through a meal at a nice restaurant back in the ‘80s on the Outer Banks NC as this little shitbird ran around screaming and making a nuisance of himself. Today, I’d tell the manager to either stop that shit or I’d be out of there. Italian restaurants are especially terrible, e.g., “Hey kids, who wants to go get some ‘skeddie’ [spaghetti]?” Another time we planned on dining at an Italian place that friends had recommended. Hostess led us over to a section of the place that was populated with parents & manymany children. I just told the hostess, “Sorry, we won’t be eating here this evening.”
ReplyDeletePeople at the adjacent tables would cringe when the hostess seated my wife, myself and our 5 children. Usually one of the couples/families ended up complimenting us about how well behaved our children were. We only had to leave once or twice after being seated for the kids to know we were serious about their behavior. Whoever acted up had to deal with 4 pissed off siblings. Gotta teach 'em while they're young.
ReplyDeleteNifter
Kids should grow up in a FAAFO environment.
ReplyDeleteWe have asked specifically to be seated where there are no screaming kids.then they shove you in a corner where the kitchen door is and most likely spit in your food. I agree with restaurant owner. Bravo for telling them it's the parents fault. Oh the old dreaded truth how it stings.
ReplyDeletei once tripped a running and yelling brat because the parents ignored the little bastards behaviour. the people sitting next to us saw it and said thanks.
ReplyDeleteI was on a job in a town about 4 hours from home. I was tired and come dinnertime, I stopped at a steakhouse for a nice quiet meal by myself. It was late and the place was near empty. However, there was one couple at a table on the other side of the room that had a little girl. She appeared to be about 4 or 5. The girl, for some reason, decided to start running around the restaurant willy-nilly. It was getting really annoying and the parents weren't doing anything, not even verbally. They were both ignoring her. She eventually ran over to my side of the dining room and decided to run orbits around my table. I had had enough. Without warning, I reached out and grabbed that girl and stuck my face right into hers. In my loudest grinch voice, I yelled: "GET YOUR ASS OVER THERE AND SIT DOWN!!"
ReplyDeleteThat little girl - who was cute by the way - gave me a look of sheer terror and couldn't run fast enough back to mommy and daddy. She was very quiet the rest of the time I was there.
I expected push back from the parents and to be truthful, I also expected I might have to go to battle stations with daddy. But at that point, I didn't care. Surprisingly, nothing happened. Nothing at all. (The tone and loudness of my voice probably scared them too.) So I was able to enjoy the rest of my meal in peace and quiet. Later, when I went to pay my tab, the hostess thanked me.
My ex and I were very explicit with our kids from the age of 1 that there were certain behaviors that are just expected from normal human beings. My parents did not like that we expected so much from such young kids. We even swatted them on their back sides as they got a bit older, to reinforce the lessons.
ReplyDeleteMy parents also owned a restaurant for over 30 years. When they had a family gathering there, for Christmas, etc. the rest of my siblings kids would be running around being animals. My kids would be sitting down with us, unless they asked if they could go play with their cousins, and then only to a standard of behavior that was acceptable.
Going out to eat at a restaurant, I bet we got at least 10 different compliments on how well behaved our kids were. We never had to spank them after perhaps the first few times. They learn very quickly when they are young what is expected and what will happen if they screw up. And sometimes, we would not spank even though they earned it, to show that we could be merciful, as well. I was involved in attending Bible College at the time, and trying to teach them the lesson that God is also merciful and that He often with holds punishment from us even though we deserve it.
In any case, if you discipline your children when they are very young, you won't have to worry when they get older. It works, and your children will love you for it, trust me. Knowing the boundaries and the penalties up front saves a lot of confusion and worry later.
I remember many years ago we (me, wife, 3 kids) went to a restaurant as we started eating the eldest decided to throw a fit. At that point I paid the bill and left without finishing. The kids remember that to this day!
ReplyDeleteIn another instance, at my son’s wedding, my siblings brought their children. We all stayed at the same hotel which had a restaurant. When we all showed up for the buffet breakfast I could see the expression on the hostess was “Oh! No! Kids.” However, everyone was well behaved with the older “children” assisting the younger. After eating the children, the oldest “leading/in charge” left to watch TV. The hostess came to the table and told us she had never seen such well behaved children. We looked at each other and laughed – our parents/family would never permit bad behavior at home or especially in a public setting.
With few exceptions a child’s behavior is an indication of the parental skills or lack thereof!
Manners are taught at home!