I am a little late here--but here our my thoughts on etiquette.
Specifically, I want to ring in on Children and restaurants. In the last three years I
have acquired two grandson's. Things happen! Like my only child, I take them
everywhere. In April we spent two weeks in Paris with the not yet two year old!
He is a pretty well rounded museum goer--he can pick out EVERY Mother and
child at Norton Simon,-- and unfortunately did so at the Louvre.
My theory--children should be able to go everywhere--provided you find the
right spot to sit and are willing to get up and walk if they cry, get over
stimulated, etc. It is really not difficult to have a time out with a small one
when you know in the long run you are building a well mannered child. It works
only if you are willing to put the time into it--if not --you ought not be
taking your children to public places.
As to the restaurant management, if child and/or adult is too loud or unruly
it is the managements place to talk to them. I have seen many managers come
over and suggest the child might want these crackers, or this special this or
that trying to assist the parents and convey to them that someone has to
"manage" the child. But managements charge is to keep the restaurant environment
consistently the same inviting place.
China
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