OK so I am working on an ATM and see a Home town Buffet right across the street. I'm talking to Clint on the phone and decide to drop in. I'm thinking mmmm good food, lots o old farts, but generally good food. I get there and pay, and there are about a million kids running around. Seriously. It was kids eat free night or something. They had 4 clowns, making ballon animals, some dude dressed as a "thunder Dog", a girl in a Bumble Bee costume. Kids where running getting food from the buffet, and putting it back, (by hand of course) kids screaming that they want something. A food fight broke out at one table. Kids trying to balance plates while riding thier Healeys. Mostly the parents sitting at a few select tables didn't notice. They where content to just let the little monsters run wild. More concerned with chatting amongst their selves. (An exception to the rule was a little hispanic boy who kept saying: may I please have a balloon, but kept being shoved out of the way by a mom getting stuff for her 6 brats - who kept changing their mind on the color, or what animal they wanted). The child finally got his ballon animal and his brother popped it and laughed histerically.

Worst of all I was seated next to the "Cholesteral Family". Each person at their table was a different size Michelin man. The mom was HUGE, not big, not fat, but frickin GYNORMOUS... Each kid was fat, winy, and screaming for whatever they wanted at the second. They would take a bite of something then see someone got something better, and leave what they had. there was a huge pile of wasted food and dishes in the center of the 3 tables crammed together to fit the Jumbo sized group of 5. The waitress was pissed (they left no tip either)... When most of the family waddled to the buffet one boy stayed behind and took bites of the good stuff from others plates.. wich made a huge bawling and screaming match when the chubby food owner returned. Of course the patirarch of the herd never got up, she just barked food orders from across the room to the kids, who brought back what she wanted, until she saw something else, and made a kid go get that too. (of course the kid didn't want to and whined)

I left without eating hardly anything, and I was thoroughly discussded. I mean I'm a big guy, but I thought about the kids not getting prom dates, being called fatty fatty 2x4 - or whatever they new taunting youthful phrase is for today. I felt very sorry for them.

You have to have a liscense to drive a car. You even have to have a liscense to catch a fish... but any butt reaming Blank hole can be a parent. - Keano Reevse : Parenthood

I now doubt I'll ever be a parent - It horrifies me that I might end up like any of the parents there.

 

Just the fact that you recognised the problem, is proof enough that you know how to be a good parent....

 

My daughter actually gets annoyed when kids act like that when we are out and she is 4! She will tell me "Daddy look that kid is being naughty" lol

 

Did you enjoy your desert Flip? Those kinds of situations make most people real upset with the offending parent. I have grandkids and am really tolerant of little kids being obnoxious sometimes, but it does frustrate me when I see parents bringing up their kids that way. What ever happened to teaching little ones some manners at the table.

I agree with Kyle though that you would be a great parent. The good folks need to propagate some to offset some of the slugs.

 

given the huge amount of restraint you showed at Co last year... I would guess you would be a very good parent.

End result is.. Raise kids... for when you lose the remote.

 

Our favorite "Tuesday night cheap taco place" was too full tonight so my daughter picked Home Town Buffet. My first thought was this thread...but it turned out to be almost empty...and the hand-carved roast beef was excellent this time.

 

You know, my kids srive me up the wall sometimes but a trip to a place like that or to Walmart makes me very thankfull. When the wife and I first got married we would eat dinner and the kids just got up when they were done and went to do whatever, that was the first rule I set down, NEVER leave the table without thanking mom for dinner and picking up your plate. Now my kids are by no means angels but at least they have SOME sense of manners and respect.

 

I remember the days that dinning was formica. Ifin ya didn't use all your manners at the table ya was on the formica floor rubbin yourin head.

Again the law these days to do that. My folks woulda been on cable news and in court for sure.

 

Wouldn't you know It.. all my harping about other peoples kids, and now...

I find out we're going to have one.

Was going to keep it a secret, but it didn't work out that way :-) So I'll just post a small phrase in this thread and see who sees it.

 

Congrats Chad and Carolyn. You guys will be great parents. Can't wait to meet the little Carloyn or Chad.

We need to get some folks to do a baby shower.

 

Congratulations!!! You and Carolyn will be great parents and I wish you both the best in this new adventure. Those of us with kids will always be there for you with advice, just like we are with vehicles. Maybe we need to start a "how to overhaul your kids" thread to assist the newbies considering the great job we have all done. LOL

 

WHAT!!!! holly crap that's awesome man!! huge congrats to you and Carolyn bud!

 

Congratulations both of you.

 

Congratulations on the future tricycle motor!!!!!

Did you figure out how she got pregnant? Was it the old watermelon seed explanation my wife gave me?

 

Don't you remember his "stimulated package" thread!!!!