zoemack

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

If I am taking out my godson for a meal I take him to one of those places that have a playcentre attached. He is generally well behaved but if not his mother removes him to the ladies or outside and reprimands him. He comes back to the table and behaves well. I would NOT expect him to go to the kind of places I go for a quiet relaxing meal as he would get bored and therefore would not behave so well at his current age. I also do not want to encounter badly behaved children when I go out to relax with my husband, and would welcome some adult only restaurants. We have actually had to leave once due to children crawling under our table, running round, licking the window next to where we are eating, throwing food and pulling my hair. I believe just as children now have pubs catering for them, why can't I request a restaurant catering for me??? this does not make me a bad person. Children can "learn" to eat out at a huge range of establishments with special facilities, yet there is nowhere I can eat without children. The best I get is a separate zone where the parents allow the children to run in and do what they like without any supervision and this is where I do have a major problem. I do not have children so why should I have to supervise someone else's child while they are off in another room with their mates (I do this because I think a child could hurt themselves or even be taken off by a stranger)- it is not the kids I have a problem with actually it is lack of parental supervision and guidance, and the expectation that the rest of the world is there to look to them when you can't be bothered. **this applies to a minority of parents generally, but sadly a vast number in the area in which I live**

:lol: :lol: , why didn't I see that coming

inflated

:lol: :lol:

Rolling