I agree with the article. There is nothing wrong with children expressing themselves, but running around the room, bothering other customers and just making an ass out of themselves is not "expressive" it's just some little kid acting like an idiot hopped up on speed. Still being a teenager I act my best in a restaurant, I don't play with my food, talk loudly or whatever I sit there and eat my food. Because I was RAISED to be courteous of other people, it may be a difficult concept for a six year old child to understand but parents should instill that kind of discipline at an early age otherwise the child will continue to grow up that way and maybe never grow out of it. I don't know if it's just my luck but I hate kids that look over your seat (the kind of cushioned adjoining seats in a row where people can sit behind you or in front of you in another section) and just act SO damn annoying you want to punch them in the nose. It's like a kid kicking the back of your seat in a movie theater, but now with annoying voice to add insult to injury. But I don't experience alot of this since I don't go out to eat as much, I prefer a home cooked meal myself. That's why I also believe waiters/waitresses should be treated with respect. The vast majority of them are more then likely not giddy about their job since it's a thankless one and have to put up with things. Lazy parents who have their kids run around acting like brats does not make it any easier, parents should automatically know when their kid is acting like that, make them stop. You don't have to get excessive force into it, but a deep commanding voice and serious look could go a long way to plow their asses back into their seat.
I also don't see why some people were angry about it, he isn't saying NO KIDS PERIOD! He is just pointing out what should be painfully obvious to a parent. Console your kid this is a public place that other people come too, not your home. A restaurant, cafe, fast food place etc. Is not your children’s bedroom where they can run around and act all crazy. I know this is off topic but I seriously hate it when I get a kid behind me in a movie theater that constantly keeps talking OR KICKS MY FREAKING SEAT and the parent does nothing about it. I mostly stay quiet and watch the movie since the parent might wig out when I point out their child is acting up. OH NOES!! BUT MY CHILD IS AN ANGEL! HE CAN DO NO WRONG EVER!! But that’s the thing, you see the worst children in public places it seems when there are alot of good kids out there, but the worst always seem to sit behind you in a restaurant and act that way, such is the way of life I guess.
But the kind of kids that anger me more then anything are the kind that freak out and throw temper tantrums in public places. I mostly see it in retail stores like blockbuster or wal-mart where the kid starts making a big scene because he won't get to rent something or get some little toy because he already has so much to play with already. They start freaking out in front of everyone in the store, whining, crying, yelling and making a big scene and thus embarrassing the hell out of the parent and pissing off everyone else. It angers me beyond anything else. It's why I'm glad I mostly visit blockbuster at night, you see very little of those kind of children at that time.