With these type of children, why did she take them out to eat? My sons were very active and I always took them to children friendly eateries that came with playgrounds or arcade. She should have left them at home and fed them there. At least, with the baby, she could leave her in a cradle or in her crib.
One time my husband & I were at a Taco Bell with our daughters. The girls were, to us, “cutting up” and we had to tell them to settle down (for the record, they were in their seats). A family came in with 3 kids about the same ages as our girls. The kids were literally running around the restaurant; one kid came close enough to our table to tromp on my husband’s foot! We had a huge dose of perspective; our girls weren’t anywhere near that bad!
My parents have 5 kids in 9 years. We would have never acted up in public because if we did, we sure didn’t want to go home! We were taught there were unpleasant consequences for bad behavior, something many of today’s parents don’t’ bother to teach their children.
I remember one time, although I had young children, hubby and I happened to eat out without our children. We were dismayed that a family brought disruptive children who were running around, bothering diners and waitstaff. The diners gave the parents dirty looks but the parents ignored us and continued to let their children run around. One man came to their table and told them if they don’t discipline their children and have them sit at their table, he was going to call and manager. The father laughed and said there was nothing a manager can do because his children were not doing anything criminal. The guy said, “Oh yeah? Watch me.” He went to talk to the manager and in 15 minutes, two cops came in, proceeded to the table and told the family they were disrupting the peace which is a lawful offense and they were offering them to leave the restaurant otherwise they were going to arrest the parents. The father got up and yelled at the cops they were making up the offense when the guy came back with his cell phone listing the statue describing the disrupting the peace offense. The father was genuinely surprised. it was clear none of the managers in the past ever attempted to throw this family out. So the family left – and when they did, the whole restaurant cheered. I think the disrupting the peace law should be part of any manager’s job training.
Templo S.U.D. almost 7 years ago
oh, that poor lady in the background of Elly and Connie
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 7 years ago
She had too many kids too fast. Even the American Indians knew to spread them out more. And birth control is ancient.
Carole Athena Costa almost 7 years ago
Just wait until adolescence really kicks in; it’s like 4 to 6 years of the “terrible twos!”
capricorn9th almost 7 years ago
With these type of children, why did she take them out to eat? My sons were very active and I always took them to children friendly eateries that came with playgrounds or arcade. She should have left them at home and fed them there. At least, with the baby, she could leave her in a cradle or in her crib.
BlitzMcD almost 7 years ago
A moment of candor in that last panel, which no doubt many believe but are reticent to express.
Rosette almost 7 years ago
I dunno – teens can make that much of a fuss, and then some!
Sir Ruddy Blighter almost 7 years ago
Hee hee! That dance! It’s all a matter of perspective, right?
M2MM almost 7 years ago
I’ve always said that kids get better with age, no matter how “bad” they seem at times, they were worse when they were younger.
Wren Fahel almost 7 years ago
One time my husband & I were at a Taco Bell with our daughters. The girls were, to us, “cutting up” and we had to tell them to settle down (for the record, they were in their seats). A family came in with 3 kids about the same ages as our girls. The kids were literally running around the restaurant; one kid came close enough to our table to tromp on my husband’s foot! We had a huge dose of perspective; our girls weren’t anywhere near that bad!
JPuzzleWhiz almost 7 years ago
If I were in a restaurant, and this situation came up, I’d be calling for the manager to do something about it.
Kalkkuna almost 7 years ago
Yah well, when they get to be 25 or so, and start being helpful, responsible adults, it’s all worth it.
MIHorn Premium Member almost 7 years ago
This is why the word “child-free”, rather than “childless”, was coined.
Lee Cox almost 7 years ago
Don’t get too comfy just yet, Elly. By my calculations [SPOILER], April will be coming along in just a couple more years!
BiathlonNut almost 7 years ago
The problem with chiodren is that they act too much like adults.
DanHamlin almost 7 years ago
If a Parent can’t handle it, what can the Manager do?
sbwertz almost 7 years ago
Enjoy that first year before they become mobile. It is the easiest one of all and it just gets more difficult after that.
pchemcat almost 7 years ago
My parents have 5 kids in 9 years. We would have never acted up in public because if we did, we sure didn’t want to go home! We were taught there were unpleasant consequences for bad behavior, something many of today’s parents don’t’ bother to teach their children.
chain gang charlie almost 7 years ago
The little morons obviously watch too much “evening news” and Politics as practiced in WashD.C….
gigagrouch almost 7 years ago
I think it was somewhere in this comic when Elly told someone critical of her mothering, “Yeah, i did my best child rearing before i had kids, too.”
It’s pretty plain to see which of the commenters above never raised children- or perhaps should never been allowed to reproduce.
capricorn9th almost 7 years ago
I remember one time, although I had young children, hubby and I happened to eat out without our children. We were dismayed that a family brought disruptive children who were running around, bothering diners and waitstaff. The diners gave the parents dirty looks but the parents ignored us and continued to let their children run around. One man came to their table and told them if they don’t discipline their children and have them sit at their table, he was going to call and manager. The father laughed and said there was nothing a manager can do because his children were not doing anything criminal. The guy said, “Oh yeah? Watch me.” He went to talk to the manager and in 15 minutes, two cops came in, proceeded to the table and told the family they were disrupting the peace which is a lawful offense and they were offering them to leave the restaurant otherwise they were going to arrest the parents. The father got up and yelled at the cops they were making up the offense when the guy came back with his cell phone listing the statue describing the disrupting the peace offense. The father was genuinely surprised. it was clear none of the managers in the past ever attempted to throw this family out. So the family left – and when they did, the whole restaurant cheered. I think the disrupting the peace law should be part of any manager’s job training.