Yesterday, we were having lunch out, not unlike any other Saturday. Me, Ken and the girls, just enjoying a late lunch at Islands. Love, love, love their frosty mugs for their frosty cold beers. Definitely the coldest beer in town! Food was great too and our waitress was seriously outstanding!

You see, I’m off duty on Saturdays [at least as far as cooking goes}. Oh, I do cook, but not to the extent that I do on the weekdays. And I love to eat out, but not fast food, restaurant style. Because I just love it when someone takes my order, cooks my food, serves me, but most importantly, cleans up everything and leaves me to wallow in my “food coma“. Yup, that’s my idea of relaxing.

And because I enjoy these restaurant outings so much, I’ve made darn sure that my children enjoy them as well and that they know how to behave while in the restaurant. Because it wouldn’t be very relaxing if I had to deal with screaming, crying, ill mannered children, now would it?

Oh, I still have to deal with it sometimes. My kids aren’t perfect, especially MJ. Babies have their moments. And, there’s always that “one” brat in the restaurant that is the token child for all other parents to teach manners to their own. “The Brat” is the one I point out to “my” kids and say, “Now THAT is NOT appropriate, is it?” Or, I’ll say something like, “Wow, he sure isn’t making his Momma proud.” I haven’t had to point much out lately, see PJ is 7 now and pretty much catches these things on her own. In fact, she’ll lean over and whisper the same sentences to me. She gets the drift. Now we have to work on MJ. [she has a lot of spirit, but so far so good]

But every now and again, even I’m surprised! Some behavior will shock me so much, that I can’t even comment. And it’s hard to comment on misbehavior when the parents obviously condone it. I can’t very well tell my kid, “See, her Momma is upset now.” Or, “Boy, that’s not nice that he/she is ruining their families dinner, is it?” Because if Mom and Dad don’t care, it must be normal behavior. It must be OK. Maybe in their house…but NOT in mine!

Basically, if you are my child and you refer to the waitress in this manner, “Hey!” Well, you might want to put your hands up quick…because you just might get a KAPOWWWW!

During lunch, I saw a boy about 4, say exactly that to the waitress. Mom was seated right next to him and didn’t even blink when he yelled it out loud enough to catch my attention 2 tables away. It caught the waitress’ attention too, because she whipped her head back, looking shocked and then said, “Yes, what did you need?” This little boy, went on to order a soda. Yup, just like that. And Mom and Dad, just read their menus like nobody’s business.

Maybe I’m just a “manner” Nazi. I pride myself on the fact that my children are very well mannered at restaurants, school, home and even friend’s houses. It’s my belief that manners are a direct reflection of a child and they should show respect of themselves, others and their surroundings. And, if they don’t show respect to others, how in the world can they expect others to respect them?

If you’re a waitress and some snotty nose little kid says to you, “Hey!” Do something for me and all the other parents that DO teach our children manners…IGNORE THEM!