Cafe Resorts To Banning Noisy Children Since Parents Can’t Be Bothered To Care
An Australian cafe owner let parents know that their loud children were not welcome in her establishment via a Facebook response to a one-star review she had received because her cafe wasn’t “child friendly” enough. As you can imagine, all internet hell broke loose, because some parents hate being told that their precious child is not welcome somewhere. I also imagine that some parents hate writing a scathing review, only to be told that the owner doesn’t care.
On Monday, the following post appeared on the cafe’s Facebook page. It’s since been removed. From The Herald:
”˜”˜If you are looking for a cafe with a children’s menu, baby chinos, a play area, lounges for your children to jump on, vast space for your prams, an area for your children to run rampant, and annoy other customers, whilst you are oblivious to them – then the short answer is No we are not child friendly,’’ the post read.
”˜”˜HOWEVER, if you would like to bring your children here, and they are happy to sit at a table with you, while you enjoy a coffee, and are well behaved, please come in. Otherwise, there are plenty of places that are specifically designed to entertain your children.’’
Fair enough. You and your quiet, well-behaved children are welcome here. Your loud spawn is not. As a mother of two children — one who is just over a year old and going through quite the vocal stage — I’d stay away. This way, we’re both getting what we want; I’m not giving money to someone so intolerant of children that she needs to make a Facebook post declaring how unwelcome they are in her space, and she’s not being annoyed by my spawn. It’s win-win, really. Most of the Facebook commenters on her page seem to fully support her choice.
When you are the parent of small children, there comes a time when you need to realize that there are places you don’t need to be. One of those places, is a private establishment who has decided they want to be known for not being tolerant of rowdy children. I respect restaurant owners who make this move. Rather than taking money from parents and then being passive-aggressive assholes about their loud kids, they make their policy clear from the get-go. Also, if I ever want to have some kid-free time, I know where to go. There is nothing worse as a parent than trying to escape your own loud children and being met with someone else’s screaming kid.
Parents are becoming less and less aware of how disturbing their loud children can be to others. Not quite sure what to blame it on, but cafes like this are actually providing a solution. If you are offended that people don’t have the patience you do to listen to your child or to watch your child make a mess — sorry. There are plenty of places I’d like to go but refrain since I have a four-year-old and a one-year-old as my dining companions. There are plenty of places that are kid friendly. Rather than attacking one business owner that doesn’t want to deal, just find another place to go. It’s really a simple solution.
(photo: Twitter)
