This morning when I opened my email box, one email jumped out at me right away. It was from a Huffington Post email address with the words “Booking Request – TODAY” in the subject line. I was in complete and total shock as I read the email – apparently they found my blog, had a parenting segment running today, and wanted to know if I would join and share my perspective. A producer from Huffington Post Live found me and wanted me to share my opinions on one of their segments!
How could I say no?
But I had to. I had to work today and, besides being a crazy busy day, I didn’t have an iPad and there’s no webcam on my desktop. There was no way for me to video conference into the chat. As much as it pained me, I emailed the producer and politely declined. Only to receive an email back asking if it was possible for me to send in a video comment. That I could do.
The topic was far from a simple one – You took your baby…WHERE? Based on the scene from the movie Sweet Home Alabama where Reese Witherspoon’s character questions someone who has their baby with them in a bar, it raised questions about the controversial places that parents bring their toddlers. It’s a great topic because the responses that I’ve heard range from “my child goes absolutely everywhere with me” to “toddlers should be kept in cages and not let out until they reach adulthood”. Only a slight exaggeration on that last one, but sufficed to say, it can be a real hot button issue.
And I’ve blogged about some of these very same issues before, like here and here.
The problem is, I only had 30 seconds to introduce myself, introduce my blog, and convey my thoughts on the issue. And if it’s one thing I’ve learned today, it’s that 30 seconds isn’t much time at all. Anyway, you can find my extremely brief and somewhat oversimplified answer around 13:25.
Bottom line is, I don’t think all places are (or need to be) kid friendly. And as a parent, there are places that I’d prefer my kids not be.
So what do you think? Is it appropriate to bring a baby to a bar? How about a toddler to fancy restaurant? What about little kids to the movies?
when I spend a lot of money at a restaurant, I don’t want to take my kids there because I know they won’t necissarily enjoy it. But, we took them lots of other places so they learned how to behave around other people.
I can’t watch the clip from work and this is completely unrelated, but you need to update your banner at the top of the page and your “About Me” profile to include your little boy! 🙂 Can’t wait to watch the clip later!
Yes, I totally agree! Everett needs to be represented. Unfortunately I don’t do any kind of graphic design, web design, or blog design…and my experiences with designers in the past have been terrible. Honestly, I’ve kind of been putting it off…but it needs to be done! I’m going to update my About me area now though!
Well said. I completely agree that not everywhere is kid friendly and out of respect for the other patrons and your own child you should evaluate if you want your child at certain establishments or places. Congrats on the notice from Huffington Post, that’s huge 🙂
Thanks! And I agree, it’s a parenting call. But you need to evaluate it based on your child, not what you want to do that night…know what I mean? If you’re child melts down at 7pm every night then a restaurant at 8pm is probably a bad idea.
We have taken our kids everywhere including nice restaurants, movies and pubs (in Ireland, I wouldn’t do it here since I don’t go here myself!) I am confident in my children’s behavior but won’t take them a place they might be disruptive if they aren’t in a mood or stage to handle it. I am also always prepared to handle disruptions, if they do occur by having things that will be calming or distracting or taking the child out. I don’t parents need to change their ways when they have kids, they just need to be aware and considerate of others.
I agree, being aware and considerate are key. There are always going to be those people that you just can’t please and want you to keep your kids in the house all the time (so they can miraculously emerge from your home in adulthood fully prepared to handle fancy situations…I never really understood how that worked) but the vast majority of people just want kids to be respectful and not disruptive. I think that’s more than reasonable and I, personally, have absolutely no problem taking my child out of a place if they are being disruptive.
Unless it is a dire emergency and there were absolutely no other restaurants around I would not take a baby or a toddler to a fancy restaurant. It is not the child’s fault-but they get bored and there is nothing like trying to eat an expensive meal and have a conversation with a baby or toddler screaming their heads off! A Bar–no way do children belong in one. If the movie is kid friendly and if the parent is willing to take the child out of the theater when they start crying-then sure-no problem with children in movies!
You know, I think that fancy restaurants can be done, but they have to be done the right way. For example, my husband and I often take our girls out to what is considered a fancy steak house but we go right when they open and plan to only spend about an hour there (we normally talk to the waitstaff about this and they are always more than accommodating). We also take snacks, activities, and games for them. And of course, if they act up we take them out. With that said, I probably wouldn’t take my girls to that same steak house late in the evening – it’s past their bedtime and they’re grouchy, plus, I wouldn’t want to upset/annoy any other guests.
I Must Of Lucked Out My Kids Very Rarely Cause A Scene I Take Them EVERYWHERE!!! You Do What You Have To Do & Don’t Worry About What Others Think!!!
I love Huff Post Live and have been a panelist several times. Glad you were able to at least send a video comment in. I took my kids almost everywhere … but then again, I didn’t go out much! I wouldn’t take them to a play, or somewhere they would be disturbing someone. I also wouldn’t take them on a red-eye when there is a day flight available. I get that people need to sleep and work the next day. But if I didn’t have a choice, I would go anyways, though I am th done that probably wouldn’t enjoy it because I would be worried. LOL #peoplepleaserissues!
I recently tried to take my toddler to a movie…wrong choice, too soon…but I didn’t feel bad about it, I went into the situation knowing I would have to remove us if it didn’t work out. We’ve also taken him to a “fancy” restaurant, but we did it before the evening rush. At the end of the day, it’s your prerogative, but I always make sure to be courteous to those around me…I don’t want to be “THAT” Mom! 🙂
As someone who lives in bar country — Wisconsin — I’ve seen a lot of kids in bars. Bars around here all also often connected to restaurants and bowling alleys. But I love that you think you don’t need to brin your kids everywhere!
I couldn’t get the sound to work on your video! Anyway, I think it’s up the parent, but they should be considerate of others. Whenever I take my son to a restaurant (fancy or not), I’m prepared to leave immediately if he’s acting up. I make sure he’s fed and well-rested before we go, and I take toys and my iPad to distract him. I’m actually thinking about taking him to his first movie tonight, but it’s a family/kids movie, and again…I’ll leave if I need to, in order to be considerate of others. I wouldn’t take my kid to a bar unless it was a bar/grill that basically is a restaurant.