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11-14-2005, 07:51 AM

I heard about this on the radio and I had to get to get opinions from you all:

Angry Moms Boycott Eatery That Asks Kids To Keep Quiet
Parent Says Restaurant Offers Kid Food, So It Should Cater To Kids
POSTED: 10:50 am PST November 10, 2005
UPDATED: 2:41 pm PST November 10, 2005

CHICAGO -- Dan McCauley has been running his Andersonville bakery and coffee shop, A Taste of Heaven, for 14 years. People of all ages enjoy the treats, but he says some kids acting devilishly have made A Taste of Heaven less divine.

"We were surprised at how many times we would see children really out of control," McCauley said. "And we actually had people leaving the bakery because the children were so out of control."

So, he put a sign on the door at kids' eye-level, asking children of all ages to use their "indoor voices."

"We thought it was just a friendly reminder to people that when they come here, just be considerate of the people around them. We had no idea the kind of controversy that was going to explode out of this," McCauley said.

But some parents who spoke with NBC5's Natalie Martinez took immediate offense to the sign. The angry mothers said there are plenty of places in the Andersonville neighborhood where they can take their kids, even if they're acting out.

"I've e-mailed friends and said, 'Just so you know, this man has a sign up. I know there are lots of other options, and I'd encourage you not to go there,'" parent Kate Bremmer said.

When she spoke with Martinez, Bremmer and her kids were picking out goodies at a Swedish bakery, where all kids are welcome.

"Our custom has been to offer a cookie to every child that comes into the store for as long as I can remember," said Kathy Stanton-Cromwell, the co-owner of the bakery, which is just a few doors down from A Taste of Heaven.

Stanton-Cromwell said the cookie serves as "a good calmer" for kids who are acting up.

Bremmer said A Taste of Heaven "is not a five-star restaurant," so she thinks it should cater to kids, not the other way around.

"They offer ice cream cones and cookies and lots things that kids love, and therefore, I don't think that they should make such an issue of it," Bremmer said.

Other parents enjoying lunch with their kids at A Taste of Heaven were more diplomatic.

"I have mixed feelings about it. It's a little off-putting," one mother said.

Linda Wallace, also a mother who eats at A Taste of Heaven, said she thought McCauley was "sort of brave" for putting up the sign.

"It did cross my mind that he might offend some people," she said.

McCauley said he loves kids, although he has none of his own. He said he has no immediate plans to take the sign down.

SD

11-14-2005, 08:16 AM

I say good for him.

There are few things I hate more than going to a nice place to eat and having to deal with screaming kids that the parents either can't or don't want to control.

In most cases if the managers don't speak with the parents about it I'll ask to be reseated.

***Lmo*** · 11-14-2005, 08:46 AM

I agree with you entirely. Just because they think these ill mannered little darlings are so cute, does not mean everyone else does. How about the parents that take the little snots to church and allow them to talk, run around, cry and fight with siblings; when you suggest the cry room, they say they dont use it because they 'cant hear the service due to the children in there'.

***Archibald J. Cox*** · 11-14-2005, 09:11 AM

It's a great idea and I wish more places did it. There used to be a time (let me wax rhapsodic for a moment) when parents knew how to make their children behave in public.

My parents, for instance, used the line "Do you want me to take you to the car?" When you hear parents say that these days, it's only a hollow threat, because that means that the kid, and the parent will be sitting in the minivan watching a DVD. When my parents said that, it meant that I was about to be dragged out of the store by my ear and subsequently get my a$$ welted. Then I was told not to cry.

You know, after that first time, they only had to ask if I wanted them to take me to the car -- and I'd become the best-behaved child in the place.

Pirates_Ghost · 11-14-2005, 09:25 AM

First off..this guys in a lot of hot water of his treatment of this woman and her family after this story broke....
It's also hurting his business somewhat as may parents in town are heading the call for boycott.

NOW....I can understand the want to put up something saying "Hey...Keep it down a bit eh?" but I take issue with it being at kids eye level...they're KIDS! Want to bring up this issue? Put it at PARENTS eye level, or not at all....just mention it to the parents when the kids are getting out of hand....

I recently went with my family to a restaurant on "Da Soit Side" known for it steaks.....and was SHOCKED beyond belief when they wouldn't allow us to dine there because we had our children with us!

No, this wasn't an "Adult Club", or a bar, but a restaurant.....and because they "wanted to maintain the quiet dinning atmosphere" the weren't going to allow my children to join us.....
That really irked me because my kids KNOW how to behave in a restaurant, and I have NO issues removing them when they act up (to the point of asking for the check and canceling the order for food when we need to leave).

I don't want my kids to have to grow up thinking McDonalds and "Bob's Big Boy" are the only restaurants around, and without being able to get them to other places, how are they going to learn what type of behavior is acceptable in the "fancier" fares? To me it's like saying "OK...here's acceptable behavior for the circus, now here's acceptable behavior for a funneral.....We're in a funneral"

I say, take down the sign, or shut down the place....Kids are your customers (if indirectly) so have a little more tact about it....

11-14-2005, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArchibaldJCox

My parents, for instance, used the line "Do you want me to take you to the car?" When you hear parents say that these days, it's only a hollow threat, because that means that the kid, and the parent will be sitting in the minivan watching a DVD.

Oh no, when we use it the threat is far more akin to what you experienced. I have no patience for poorly behaved kids. We have four kids from 11 to 4 years-old and I am so pleased when people praise their good behavior in public. It took som pain and suffering to get their behavior that way and I wish more parents would do it. I personally would have campaign to support this guy if he were local. It about respecting other people - kids need to learn that, plain and simple!!! We are born selfish and as kids that selfish nature needs to be re-educated to the fact that other people exist and have rights too. I have no sympathies for the whiny selfish mothers!!!

SD

***Archibald J. Cox*** · 11-14-2005, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirates_Ghost

I say, take down the sign, or shut down the place....Kids are your customers (if indirectly) so have a little more tact about it....

Yeah, but he's not saying that kids aren't allowed in. Just that they should use their "indoor voices". I have no problem with that. Had he banned children from his bakery, that would be a different story.

slagburn · 11-14-2005, 09:34 AM

We need 4 sections... the quiet non smoking section, the quiet smoking section, the non smoking screaming kids section and the smoking screaming kids section.

That should just about take care of everyone.

The worst family I dealt with had this kid who liked to reach over the booth and grab my hair... and the parents found it funny then took issue when I asked to be reseated.

***John_In_Dakota*** · 11-14-2005, 09:42 AM

"Angry Moms Boycott..."

Why is it the angry moms? Why not angry parents?

My kids are older but I can see some issues with smaller kids. Why would any parent let their kids run and scream and be a bother to other people? If I as an owner of any place can see that little Joey and little Jenney are running a round and making the other paying patrons uneasy I say to the kid's parents "please keep your children under control." If they continue to be a problem I ask the parent to leave. It's that simple. Some people may not like that, to bad.

I know there are far many more parents that control their kids in a place other than their own house. That’s what makes going to places like this a treat for any kid. Be a parent and take control of YOUR kids

Ancient1 · 11-14-2005, 09:47 AM

Even parents of my age had adopted the "can't spank the child, ruin their development" crap back MANY years ago. But, I was suckered into going to dinner with them one evening against my wishes. There we all were, and their "kid" was acting like an untrained monkey and the "parents" acted like everything was normal, and it probably was for them. The screaming and wailing and acting up was too much for me. I leaned over the table, grabbed the kid by the arm ( gently, of course) and explained to her that if she continued to act like that I would take her a$$ outside and give her a reason to cry. She had a horrified look on her face but she instantly settled down and I was able to enjoy my meal. What was even weirder, the "parents" had a look of horror on their face but NOBODY argued with my "taking control of the situation". Maybe the "parents" feared I would take them outside too!!

I had several "sessions" with this child. In the long run, we became good friends and i had more "control" over this brat that her parents could ever dream of. That is because they did NOT TRY. If you are a "parent" then act like one. Raise your child, don't make the rest of the world do your job for you. Remember, you are not the ONLY ones in whatever location you are in, there are probably others that do NOT enjoy dealing with a brat that was "raised" / "developed" by LAZY parents.

And, NO, my rant is not over but I will pause for a bit.

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