During a recent family getaway, I stumbled upon a rather blunt sign at a local eatery that read:
- NO STROLLERS
- NO HIGH CHAIRS
- NO BOOSTER CHAIRS
Got it, I thought. This place is clearly not designed for families with little ones. But then, just to make sure there were no misunderstandings, the sign continued: “Children making noise are distracting to other diners and therefore not welcome in the dining area.”
Initially, I took it as a joke. The restaurant was situated in a bustling tourist area teeming with families. Wasn’t this just stating the obvious? Kids can be a bit distracting, sure, but what about the adults? If we’re targeting distractions, why not start with the obnoxious grown-ups instead of the kids who are, quite frankly, just being kids?
I snapped a pic, and my daughter, Mia, read the sign aloud.
“So they don’t want kids here?” she asked.
“Looks like it,” I replied.
“Why?”
“Because kids can be… loud and distracting.”
“True,” she chuckled, her laughter echoing a little too loudly in the quiet.
As we strolled away, I couldn’t shake my annoyance. What about the inebriated adults stumbling around tourist hotspots? Or those oblivious folks who barge past toddlers like they’re in a race to the restroom? And let’s not forget the raucous bachelor and bachelorette parties who think the world revolves around their celebration, dropping F-bombs like confetti. Oh wait, that’s me sometimes. Oops.
Now, I’m not arguing that my kids should be exempt from these ‘no kids’ policies or that they shouldn’t exist at all. I get it—kids can create chaos, and many people prefer a peaceful dining experience devoid of that noise. Parents, too, just want to enjoy a meal without being interrupted by “Mom! He’s touching me!”
But aren’t these signs a tad hypocritical? Yes, kids can be annoying—especially mine—but more often than not, it’s the adults who are the real distractions. It’s not just the noisy kids; it’s the parents who think their children’s mischief is adorable and allow them to act out. It’s not crying babies that ruin the vibe; it’s the loud, obnoxious signage that makes families feel unwelcome.
If you don’t want kids around, that’s perfectly fine—just don’t be a jerk about it, because you might be the real distraction here.
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In summary, while ‘no kids’ policies may be understandable, it’s important to approach them with a little kindness and humor. After all, it’s often the adults who create more of a disturbance than the children they wish to exclude.