I don’t even know where to begin with this one… wait – yes I do. Steups.
The family comes into the restaurant at around 9:15 at night, sits down with menus, orders. Eventually the kids begin to run around the restaurant. The father admits to KHOU News that the kids can be “a handful at times”. Management calls the police, they are escorted out and receive a warning. The news crew comes out and does the story. Applebee’s headquarters says that management didn’t react appropriately – “mishandled the situation”, and the family is invited to come back by management.
First of all…
There are so many things wrong with this. Let’s start with the time of night. 9:15, and they are JUST eating dinner? They are 1 and 3. At 9:15, why aren’t they in the bed? It is a Sunday night? Okay, let’s say you just came from church. That happens, but children who are hungry, admittedly “active”, and up way past a reasonable hour for their age, act insane. On top of that, if they are supposed to get 11 hours of sleep, you are ordering at 9:30, by the time the food comes, they eat it, you pay, gather yourselves, leave, get home, get kids washed up and in the bed, it is midnight at the earliest. So the kids are getting up at 11:00 am? No. They are waking up way too early, and spending the day half crazy and tired.
Second…
The kids begin to run around the restaurant. Wait. How did they get out of their high chairs? Don’t those things have seat belts? If your kids are “active” they should be in high chairs for their own safety. So many things can go wrong when you let your kids leave the safety of your table. Kidnapping, falls, burns if they pass under the legs of a server carrying hot food and drinks, and other injuries are definitely possible for kids that age. It is just unsafe.
Third…
The father admits they can be a “handful” at times. Okay, so knowing this, you have some work to do at home before you take them out, sir. If your infant can’t swim, you don’t throw them in the pool and see what happens do you? No, because they are not ready, and haven’t learned what it takes to function in that environment… a dangerous one. It’s the same thing here. If you know your kids aren’t ready to sit, eat, and behave in public, begin to train them at home. When they are ready – take them out to a restaurant at a reasonable hour, around their normal meal times, and let them test out their table manners.
Fourth…
You called the news crew, and went BACK to the restaurant in the daytime to film a news segment – one where your kids showed that they are near impossible to control. Yes, I said it – control. You’re in a parking lot! There are cars! The kids are running off, falling out, pulling away – again – for their own safety they need to be taught to behave. Look at this picture… WHAT THE @#$% ARE YOU SMILING AT? You have just embarrassed yourself on the news. None of this is amusing. None of it.
He says, “They’re active… they act like children… not adults.” I’ve seen adults be unruly at restaurants, and my kids and I have seen one slammed on a table and escorted out by police for his behavior so…. bad behavior is bad behavior. You must be taught how to act in public. Age is no excuse.
Reporter says, “He says everything seemed fine, until the kids began to wander away from the table.” Yep – I’d say that’s when “fine” ended. Sounds about right.
Wife says, “I feel disrespect, because this never happen in my life.” Don’t lie. People just haven’t called the police. They’ve acted up before – the husband said they took the menus and ordered, “as usual.” They’ve taken those kids out before. She must have meant that was the first time someone called the authorities.
I can’t believe they brought their kids on TV and embarrassed the family like this. I think that says a lot. Dad’s last words… “I feel heartbroken. I feel very sad.” Me too, fella. Me too.
