Children of the Night
June 7th 2011 14:44
:
Dining out with Children
When people back home in the US go out for a dinner among friends they expect a quiet dining experience. Couples leave their children at home with a babysitter, either a neighbor or a relative, so they can enjoy a quiet romantic dinner alone. When groups of adults go out for dinner they leave the kids at home and enjoy their night out together. There are no screaming and misbehaving childred to contend with. They are at home and usually in bed by 7 or 8 PM, depending on the age. If a family wants to take their children out with them for dinner there are plenty of "family friendly" restaurants to go to, where kids can be kids. People who don't want to eat with a bunch of crying, screaming kids around know not to go to such places for dinner. People are usually responsible and thoughtful enough not to bring their young children where the atmosphere is quiet and reserved - in other words for adults only. Diners who bring noisy children to these restaurants would be more than likely be asked to leave.
It is different though in Asia. The majority of Asians don't cook at home, but go out to eat for dinner. They also eat dinner at a much later hour than people do in the US and the West. Asians don't think twice about bringing their children to dinner with them, whether it be at a food court or the highest class 5 star restaurants. I think Westerners are somewhat tolerant of children eating at food courts and places like KFC and McDonald's, but definitley not at higher end restaurants. There is nothing like going to an expensive retaurant, ordering an costly meal and bottle of wine and having to contend with children screaming and running around the tables, while their parents pay no attention to them. I have seen, however, parents with young children who behave like young ladies and gentlemen. It is actually a pleasure for me to see them. I commend their parents for raising their children properly.
Many Westerners comment, not only on the number of misbehaved children at restaurants, but also on the late hours they are forced to endure. It is not uncommon to see very young children at 11 or 12 o'clock at night. Most of them cannot even stay awake and fall asleep in their highchairs or in a parents arms. At home this would be a very serious situation. Most likely the parents would be reported to the local child welfare authorities. I cannot believe that forcing children to stay up all hours of the night is healthy for them. But once again I guess I have to chalk this up to a cultural difference.
It is different though in Asia. The majority of Asians don't cook at home, but go out to eat for dinner. They also eat dinner at a much later hour than people do in the US and the West. Asians don't think twice about bringing their children to dinner with them, whether it be at a food court or the highest class 5 star restaurants. I think Westerners are somewhat tolerant of children eating at food courts and places like KFC and McDonald's, but definitley not at higher end restaurants. There is nothing like going to an expensive retaurant, ordering an costly meal and bottle of wine and having to contend with children screaming and running around the tables, while their parents pay no attention to them. I have seen, however, parents with young children who behave like young ladies and gentlemen. It is actually a pleasure for me to see them. I commend their parents for raising their children properly.
Many Westerners comment, not only on the number of misbehaved children at restaurants, but also on the late hours they are forced to endure. It is not uncommon to see very young children at 11 or 12 o'clock at night. Most of them cannot even stay awake and fall asleep in their highchairs or in a parents arms. At home this would be a very serious situation. Most likely the parents would be reported to the local child welfare authorities. I cannot believe that forcing children to stay up all hours of the night is healthy for them. But once again I guess I have to chalk this up to a cultural difference.
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