Babies in the Dining Room

[awatt]

Regarding the comment that by the 2nd day of the cruise,west coasters' body clocks should be adjusted- it takes THREE WEEKS for the body's circadian clock to readjust.

[Salty Dawg]

You know you're a mother when... [I]Your[/I] kid throws up & you catch it with your bare hands.

[I]Someone else's[/I] kid throws up right next to you in the restaurant & you just keep eating your meal without flinching.

However, not everyone wants to share these "cute" experiences with you.

[ducklite]

Salty Dawg--That is so true, and so funny!

I remember those days well, and don't miss them at all!

I have seven neices and nephews under the age of seven. I love being an aunt--I can hand them back when they need changing or get fussy [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Anne

[redneck_dan]

Our little angel wouldn't scream in the dining room. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Actually, for a few reasons, we will not be cruising again for a couple years:

1) Still waiting on a U.S. passport for Julianna. It is too big of a pain to take her out of the country on a Chinese passport. Everyone should appreciate that U.S. passport.

2) Some of my fellow cruisers might not want to be setting next to a 15 month old at the dinning room table. She behaves very well. We go to restaurants now in Sprog City (Frisco) and she behaves. Of course, Mamma is on one side of her and Dada is on the other side.

3) At her age, her schedule has to be very consistent. A big trip seems like a pain to me right now. We have decided to take her to the brown water of Corpus Christi in May. It is not the same at that beautiful water of the Caribbean, but it will do for now.

Dan

Proud father of future cruiser [url="http://www.geocities.com/danlu75023/"]Julianna Selene[/url]

[Folgy]

At her age, her schedule has to be very consistent. A big trip seems like a pain to me right now.
---------------------------------------------
redneck_Dan

I can certainly understand this statement.My wifes cousin just had a baby girl and she is overwelmed by all the things she must take with her when she goes somewhere.Her husband and her said there is No Way they are going to go cruising for a few years now .They are both professionals married 12 years and just have had their first child.(me confused as to why ?)
Anyways, it certainly says to me that there is a lot of effort involved in traveling with an infant.Why subject yourself to it.Cruise when you can relax more.(my thoughts only)

[bplazo]

I have a 15 year old daughter. I say leave all children at home. Infants, toddlers, pre-teens and teens.

With the "discussion" I just had with my daughter an ADULT ONLY cruise sounds like heaven. I keep thinking its just a phase but its been 15 years!

[Salty Dawg]

Bplazo,

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I keep thinking it's just a phase but its been 15 years!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

... and you still have another 15 years to go.

When your kids turn about 30 years old you will not only continue to love them, but you [I]may[/I] actually begin to like them as well!

Hang in there,

[B]Ken & Nancy[/B] [img]http://www.geocities.com/hnhutchins1/pets/dog4.gif[/img]

[Barva]

Just a comment about children at the late seating. We have always had main seating when we had our 6 now 7 yo son along. At Christmas, we could only get late seating. It was very stressful for all 3 of us. He was too tired and too hungry. We ended up feeding him at the Windjammer (and he was a very happy camper) and then sending him to AO while we enjoyed dinner. At main seating, he comes for some of the nights but not all. The waitstaff does spoil him rotten when he eats in the dining room.

Barbara
Monarch 6/02, 4/03
Enchantment 7/03
Sovereign 12/03, 4/04
Voyager to Canada 7/04
Navigator 12/04

[marciemi]

Family of 14 - had to share our Easter Church story after hearing yours. We were at the late, crowded mass. In the front pew of our section was a baby about 10 months old. During the Gospel, the parents were holding him sitting on the barrier in front of the front pew, with his legs hanging in front of it. He promptly began kicking as hard as he could. Our entire section was going BOOM, BOOM, BOOM as of course the rest of the church was in silence. And..the part that bothered me...the parents just left him there banging until the end of the Gospel when we sat back down. Apparently they haven't been to church much, but you'd think the fact that it was annoying others just might have been obvious!

Bplazo - had to agree with your phase statement. My youngest is 8 and it's been so frustrating to get him to do anything you want him to. Everything (homework, piano practice, getting dressed) seems to become a battle since he just ignores me until I yell and force the issue (ie putting his homework in his hand). Was discussing this with my mom just today and she suggested maybe it was just a phase. My response was "Since birth?"

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[DecafMom]

Megalyce ~ I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise. I have not cruised with a baby, but I have seen others onboard with theirs, and they seem to be enjoying themselves together.

We have cruised twice without the littlest one, but he is going with us this summer. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

DecafMom
Nordic Empress, 6/12/04
Explorer of the Seas, 6/28/03
Grand Princess, 2/17/02

[TimmyII]

[B]Salty Dawg-[/B]Loved Your analogy. Too true.
[img]http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/8/superbiggrin.gif[/img]
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JOHN MENDENHALL

[mammallama]

This thread is just way too funny and sad at the same time. What is it with parents that let their babies/children/teens run the show? When my son was about 3 years old and misbehaving in a restaurant, my husband promptly removed him from the table, hauled his misbehaving little butt out to the parking lot and gave him a pat on the back...low enough and hard enough. My son is now 18 and still remembers that experience. He tells the story every time we are out and he sees a misbehaving 'brat' at the table. He has also behaved BEAUTIFULLY in public since then. It's not the kids, it's the parents. May I suggest room service for the nights your little ones are crabby or tired? Just my opinion. Karen
I'm bracing myself for the heat from the flame throwers. Yeah, I used to spank.

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[bplazo]

I have to agree with the above poster. I work in a restraunt and I am amazed at what parents let their childrent get away with. We had one little girl last week (about 4 years old) screaming and carring on the whole time she was there. The parents ignored her and told the server that she does this all the time.

I dont like to be flamed, but I am going to say it. I hope that I am not assigned to a table with small children. I have to deal with small children who misbave where I work, I certainly do not want it when I am on vacation.

[bplazo]

I would like to add that I do have a teenager now, and when she acts up in public she is reprimanded and we leave. I did this when she was an infant so she does tend to behave when we are out somewhere. It is only when we are at home alone that she is harder to control.

[ducklite]

I've got an 18 year old son, all it takes is "the look" and whatever is happening stops, immediately, and where warranted an apology is issued.

I agree with the above poster, home is a different story. He was being so mouthy to me that I backhanded him across the head the other day. Yup! I smacked him. It drove the point across quite quickly. He is almost four inches taller than I am, so it was a reach. But quite effective.

Anne

[mammallama]

Amen to ducklite and bplazo. Both my kids, now 17 and 18, know "the look". And since I still hold the purse strings, "the look" can be very effective.

Ducklite-- We should be watching for the parenting police. You know, the ones that report you for disciplining you children. I truly feel sorry for those small children who have no rules, no consequences for bad behavior. They are so lost as young adults. Only my opinion.

Also, I don't hesitate to give the parents of badly behaving kids "the look". PC incorrect? Too bad! Karen [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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[jnwilson]

We often ask the hostess to seat us someplace away from children when you can tell a certain area of the restaurant has been turned in a zoo while you are waiting to be seated. I feel sorry for the children and would like to to spank the parents too! lol I'm so glad my parents did not ignore me and let me think I could do my own thing where ever I wanted.

[mammallama]

Spanking parents! Too funny! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Karen

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;6;6;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] to get me on the ADVENTURE OF THE SEA

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=9483049477"]Roll call AOS 6/06/04 click here[/url]

[y14]

No flame, just a comment--really. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Why hope that you're not assigned to a table with small children? I don't mind being seated with small children or with people in the geriatric ages. I don't care what age the people are, as long as they're not stuck-up, ignorant, drunk, rude, obnoxious, or want to cook my kids (that leaves Stretch and Folgy out [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]). If my kids misbehave, we'll be leaving immediately back to the room and severely dealt with. Trust me, they will be angels the rest of the trip! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bplazo:
I have to agree with the above poster. I work in a restraunt and I am amazed at what parents let their childrent get away with. We had one little girl last week (about 4 years old) screaming and carring on the whole time she was there. The parents ignored her and told the server that she does this all the time.

I dont like to be flamed, but I am going to say it. I hope that I am not assigned to a table with small children. I have to deal with small children who misbave where I work, I certainly do not want it when I am on vacation.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Rhapsody
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Monarch of the Seas
Disney Wonder

[Folgy]

y14
Quote:
-----------------------------------------

Why hope that you're not assigned to a table with small children? I don't mind being seated with small children or with people in the geriatric ages. I don't care what age the people are, as long as they're not stuck-up, ignorant, drunk, rude, obnoxious, or want to cook my kids (that leaves Stretch and Folgy out ). If my kids misbehave, we'll be leaving immediately back to the room and severely dealt with. Trust me, they will be angels the rest of the trip!
-------------------------------------------

*sniff* I promise to be good. I won't boil them in hot oil. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
...by the way , my favorite table guests are 60+ years in age. I find we have the greatest conversations. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

signed : Curmudgeon of the Seas. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[maurick]

A 3 month old baby does not belong at a formal dinner. Or very young children. They are too tired to sit that long. Bring your children when they are old enough to enjoy the cruise. When I see children running amuck, I will tell whoever I have to.

[bplazo]

Do the cruise lines tend to sit families with children together? I think that would be a great idea. That way the children have other chidren to chat with.

[birdyhunter]

What is this? A bash on kids post? It isn't only kids that can be iritating in a restaurant. Adults can do a pretty good job of it too. In fact why don't we stick all the senior citizens in one area, put the DINKS in another area. Seems fair to me. I always ask....Why go on a family oriented cruise and complain about kids? Am I missing something here? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

We have always traveled as a family babies all the way to adulthood. We were always aware of people around us. My kids learned at a very early age to behave in restaurants. I think that early training turned them into well rounded adults that know how to travel and handle themselves in restaurants. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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[ducklite]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by y14:
No flame, just a comment--really. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Why hope that you're not assigned to a table with small children? I don't mind being seated with small children or with people in the geriatric ages. I don't care what age the people are, as long as they're not stuck-up, ignorant, drunk, rude, obnoxious, or want to cook my kids (that leaves Stretch and Folgy out [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]). If my kids misbehave, we'll be leaving immediately back to the room and severely dealt with. Trust me, they will be angels the rest of the trip! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img]
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Because a lot of parents think their children are precious angels no matter how disgraceful they are acting.

More so, because I'm at the stage in my life where I don't want to talk to eight year olds about Lizzie Maguire during dinner, regardless of how well behaved they are. I'd rather carry on an adult conversation with other adlts. I love my sister and her kids. But I find it distracting and not terribly pleasant to have dinner with them, and have the conversation stop mid-sentence constantly in order to deal with the children's needs.

Anne

[ducklite]

When we cruised on Disney I had a very specific dining request, no children under thriteen at my table. I had a 16 year old a the time, and was hoping to be seated with a family with teens. We were seated with a mom, dad and their 13 year old. Perfect!

Anne