Crying Toddler In Restaurant Really Butters my Biscuit

I have something I need to get off my chest and I am sure there are a lot out there that won’t agree with me, but I have to say it. I got the chance to be part of a blogger opp where I had to go shopping at a popular store. First, let me say I don’t get to go shopping very often. It is a true luxury for me. Secondly, this popular store happens to be at the Mall, which is another huge luxury because the mall is over 30 minutes away. I decided to go all out and not only shop but treat myself to lunch. I was so excited about going out to lunch because, you guessed it, another luxury for me.

So while Nana Helen and Roxy were shopping I treated myself to Chinese. I chose a nice corner booth, took out my Kindle and settled in to enjoy my nice lunch. Not even 5 minutes into eating here she comes, a mom with a toddler about 18 months old. She ordered, sat down, got the toddler out of the stroller and that is when it started. This baby did not want to be there. She didn’t want to sit in her lap, she didn’t want to sit in the stroller, and she didn’t want to sit at the table. She cried, she threw things, and then proceeded to throw the biggest temper tantrum I have ever seen and I have seen a lot! What got me was the mom ignored her and kept right on eating. All of us in the restaurant could do nothing but watch this horror take place. It was like a train wreck, you couldn’t help but watch. Then I got mad, no, I got pissed. My nice lunch, my luxury was ruined. I couldn’t eat with this child screaming bloody murder and people actually got up and left. Not being able to take it anymore I also packed up my lunch and left. Sitting on a bench in the mall eating and people watching I started thinking. Was I right for being pissed? Was she right for ignoring her child and eating? It isn’t like she didn’t try. She had enough supplies for three toddlers but this child was tired and she was super cranky. I honestly believe the mom was trying to teach her a lesson but it didn’t pacify my anger in the least.

Look, I have been that Mom. The one that has to go out and then tries to eat but the kids are just not having it. But I did not let them sit in the restaurant and scream their head off. People paid for their food just like I did and to me they had a right to enjoy their meal. When my kids acted up I politely got my food to go and left. Sometimes the people in the restaurant actually thanked me. I used to get so mad at them for being so huffy, didn’t I deserve to sit and eat too? But now that my kids are teenagers and don’t throw temper tantrums in public, I understand because I became one of those people today. I was mad at the Mom and I was huffy about it. Was I ashamed, no because I had looked forward to this lunch and because I honestly felt she should have been more considerate of the other people trying to eat.

I have often made the statement that Walmart should have a no child zone during school hours because as soon as I get there, without my kids so I can shop in peace, there will be a kid somewhere screaming. However, even then I shrug it off but sitting there in that restaurant I couldn’t. I was seeing red mad and I blamed the mother for ruining my lunch. I did enjoy the rest of my shopping trip but I can’t help but feel cheated out of my lunch and I am still mad over it. Before world war three starts in my comments let me just say I do understand that leaving with them may not be an option. Maybe you took the bus there or there honestly isn’t anywhere to go. I understand that as moms we have stuff we have to do and a screaming toddler or not, it has to be done. However, if you are in a restaurant please take your child outside or to the bathroom. We paid for our meal too and deserve to eat in peace without getting an ulcer.

Have you ever had an important event ruined by a screaming child? If so, how did you react? Were you upset or understanding?