This is reminding me of the family falling out at our wedding. We fell out with my OH's sister because we did not invite her children (aged 7, 4 and 6 months) to our wedding. She refused to come which was OK but then influenced her father to add his comments in the middle of our speeches and ruin our wedding.
Her actual comment to us was that all the relatives were getting together and it was a good time to show off her children to them. i.e our wedding day was a stage for her kids. Sadly I feel that some parents are so utterly absorbed in their children that they assume everyone else wants them centre stage too.
We have now been labelled "child haters" by the family which is extremely annoying. As a child sitting through a ceremony, a 3 hour meal and speeches would have been my idea of hell, (they were invited to the evening do)
Why do we have to be labelled a "child hater" for thinking that there are events, places, etc which should not include children? I also think that shopping after midnight is a good idea anyway as it is generally quieter
Some people start tutting at kids, some tut at what someone is wearing or how they speak.....its all the same in a free society children are not a special case. Everyone has to put up with people passing judgement or comments about a whole range of things.
The news article is interesting, it did not point out how many other child friendly establishments there were available as an alternative though? In the UK we have a choice, and NO we are not psychologically damaged for occasionally wanting a bit of peace and quiet - I resent the implication that it is "not normal" to avoid places with children.
I like kids generally, I just couldn't eat a whole one