xmbts said:
Sansha said:
xmbts said:
That sounds like an awful idea, if you can't put up with a kid then maybe you should be the one to leave.
Yeah I'm not going to walk out of a movie or restaurant I paid for because someone else's worm is making a little shit out of themselves, don't be absurd.
Responsibility ultimately lies with the parents. They should know the deal when they have a kid - that your life isn't yours anymore, that parenting is a full-time job and if you want a break, you pay for a sitter.
My sister is just now learning this with her first son, but she's adapting well.
A lot of parents say they can't afford a sitter. To this, I reply:
"If you can afford a $10-20 movie and/or $40 - $80 meal, you can sure as hell afford a sitter."
I do find it kind of funny that you imply selfishness on the part of the parents when you're perfectly willing to force them to pay for a sitter (Not cheap) just to make yourself more comfortable.
This whole thread reeks of hypocrisy.
If you ask me, I think it's more selfish out of the parents to bring their kid to wherever they're going for the night; knowing that the kid will either get bored, hungry or sleepy and will eventually throw a tantrum.
Look, let's say I wanna go to the opera. Let's assume I have a kid. So my choices are:
-Miss the event. Sorry, it sucks, but I'm a parent now. Can't go around doing stuff I'd do if I was single. I have a kid now that depends on me.
-Find a babysitter. Yeah, kinda expensive. But it's the opera and it's just one night. Could be worth it. How about asking a friend to watch over my kid? If I really wanna go to the opera, then staying one night away from my kid won't be the end of the world. Thus, I'll be doing the kid a favor by leaving him home and allowing him to sleep, play or whatever while I also have fun. Hey, I need a night out too!
-Bring the kid to the opera with me. Now, I know that if I do, my kid will start talking and asking questions because he's a kid. Then he might get tired and he'll start crying because he wants to home (Not his fault). Then people will start staring at me, but I can't leave because it's the final act. If only I can endure this for 5 more minutes. Then someone will ask me to leave the building. I'll have to stand up all embarrassed, take my kid and leave. I won't even see the end of the show. On top of that, my kid is too tired, the poor thing.
So I don't see how asking their parents to refrain from taking their kid to SOME places is selfish. Some parents do this. Why can't all parents do this?
I'm not saying kids should belong in a cage, of course not. And I'm not saying parents should jump through hoops just to keep strangers happy. But it's common courtesy. It's the same reason why I don't talk on the phone while I'm at the movies or why I try not to yell while I'm having dinner with my friends; because it would suck if someone did the same to me so I won't do it to others.
Imagine a couple that goes to a fancy place and the guy is about to propose. And as he's speaking those words, you hear a kid crying and bellowing at his mom. Wow, what a romantic evening!
Now imagine the same couple doing the same kid. Except the kid on the next table is minding his own business, perhaps talking to his parents and having fun too. I'm unaware of him and likewise.
It's just common courtesy.