that child? that was me. (10-15 years ago). my parents used to use this nusery rhyme to discribe me:

There was a little girl,
who had a little curl,
right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
she was very very good,
but when she was bad she was horrid!

As a parent, I want to say THANK YOU for being so patient with these parents.

When my kids turn into demon spawn, I try to get them the heck away from other people as quickly as possible.

I also leave large tips on small bills with the Sith Lords take over!

I'm a mom too, of a curly-haired angel, and for the most part she's very well-behaved, especially when we go out. We try to time it right, make sure she has what she needs, etc. HOWEVER. Sometimes she is the devil incarnate (she is 2-1/2 after all), and when the Evil comes out, we bail. She's never done the running screaming bit, though. Thank goodness.

I hope you'll be happy to know that we leave at least a 20% tip (including the tax), ALWAYS, no matter what her behavior, and we also make a point to clean up whatever disaster area she has caused by eating in her 2-year-old way. Our servers have always made a point to tell us we don't have to, but we feel that these wonderful people who bring us delicious food that we don't have to cook or clean up after don't need to clean up the refuse left behind from the kid.

There are some parents out there who try, believe me!

Ummm, if they knew she was having a Bad Day, why attempt a restaurant at all. Some days are just made for staying home and not afflicting others with your pain. [This from a mother of FOUR; no flaming, please.]

As the father of a seven year old daughter with autism, this is something we deal with on a regular basis, in fact the child's behaviour almost completely mirrors our own child. So whatayagunna do? Stay home all the time? We just grew thicker skins and get on with it.

Change the hair color to blonde and you have my child on certain days. I always say it's a good thing she is so cute!

does no one spank children anymore for unacceptable behavior?

does no one just stay home when their spoiled child is really having an exceptionally spoiled day?

I have four children. We never allowed this. I guess I'm in for it in rebuttal.

How decent of the parents to request placement where they would cause the least disruption to the other diners present, and especially to depart with an unfinished meal when the child became totally out of control. Nice tip, too!

Unlike so many of the oblivious parents out there, they actually have a clue! Sounds like they were at the end of their ropes and just needed someone to look after them for a few minutes. I'm sure you made their day.
btw, I've got a 2 1/2 yr old and an 11 month old, so I'm not just talking out of my butt.

Lol. As the mom of three -- ages 10 months, 3 years and 5 years, good for them for at least trying to pretend their lives without kids aren't totally gone. Good for you for taking it well and for the other patrons. We do take our kids out for dinner about once a week. MOstly we go to family joints (mostly chain restaurants), but do try and get out to the nicer places about once a month. They are good with it, but sometimes, you never know!

As a new mother and a person who used to absolutely hate screaming, crying children in restaurants, I can see both sides.
Sometimes just being out and about even with a screaming child is so much better than sitting at home and dealing with it.

People told us to eat out while we could, because once our kid was born, that was it. I didn't think so. Our child knew from infancy, if she wanted to eat in restaurants, she MUST behave. The one time she acted up, we immediently boxed up everything, left a 20% tip and went home. She learned we weren't kidding. Having a good 'look of Death' to give her helps, too.

I sympathise. I offered my son to another mother yesterday whilst shopping. Oddly enough, she didn't take up the offe of a howling and sobbing 18mth old. :)

The good news is that the devil child will eventually grow up and become a civilized diner... I have always taken my kids to restaurants and now they not only behave properly, but will eat something besides hamburgers and chicken nuggets... Godspeed indeed to the parents...