Moms Talk Q&A: Rowdy Kids

So, what is Moms Talk Q&A?

It is a forum designed to give hard-working parents a place to ask questions and have an open and honest discussion about the issues they face. Need advise on an after-school program for your child? Or maybe you need help understanding why your newborn won't stop crying in the middle of the night. Are you faced with a bullying situation? When do you discuss sexual issues with your children? These are just a sample of some of the questions we will be tackling.

Moms Talk Q&A is here for you. You ask the questions and the Moms Council offers their answers, and anyone else can chime in by using the comments section after the story.

We are kicking off the conversation today with a question about rowdy kids and the answers from our Moms Council (more about our Moms Council below) and a Cumming Patch User.

Ready? Set? Here we go!

When dining out with your spouse, family and/or friends for, what you hope will be, a relaxing meal, but it’s not because at a nearby table a baby is crying non-stop or a few rowdy kids are acting up.

Q: As a parent, at what point do you believe your cute little monsters are becoming a nuisance and disturbing or disrupting other patrons who are at the same restaurant you are dining at with your children?

A: (Michelle Helms, Moms Council)

Keeping children entertained can be tricky, especially when some of our little darlings are too young to know that it's impolite to stare and unnecessary to shout. Teaching the small ones to be respectful at a restaurant is without a doubt the best route to take.  But, just in case, here are a few tips from my bag of tricks that may help keep the dirty looks at bay:

• Keep it simple.  Too many choices appear to overwhelm many little ones, as well as their older sibling counterparts.  Instead of reading the entire kiddie menu aloud, I read my boys just a couple of choices.  The younger ones are creatures of habit and are less prone to outbursts when they know what to expect.

• Keep it interesting.  My friend and I each keep a small bag in the car containing a few toys just for going out to lunch with Mommy.  The little ones always seem surprised with their toys that they "forgot" they had!

• Keep it fresh.  My most favorite choice for keeping my youngest diners happy?  My iPhone!  They quietly watch movies, trace letters, solve puzzles, and did I mention the cooperation in choosing an activity? 

• Keep it real.  Remember that while they are indeed precious, they are still human! Try to keep their temperament in mind when choosing a place to go.  Expecting too much from them in an unfamiliar setting is a fast road to a meltdown, and it seems this mom is never too old to be taught this lesson- again and again!

When all else fails, it's ok to cut the meal short and call it a day.  A sincere apology, a smile (and a generous tip!) go a long way.

A: (Marilyn Wood, Moms Council)

If you are a Mom and have children who get crazy when you try to eat out, here are a few suggestions that may improve everyone's experience:

• Choose an "off" time when the crowds are thinner. For example, McDonald's at 11 a.m., dinner at 4 p.m. at Cici's Pizza - your kids don't need the extra stimulation of the 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. rush.

• Be prepared: Pack your diaper bag or backpack with crayons, coloring books, a dozen Legos, etc. When in doubt, grab a dollar pack of band-aids from The Dollar Tree and let your kids peel and stick those little buggers all over. Prepared Moms have this backpack in their trunk. There are other Mom's (me) who learned the hard way.

• Check the Leapster, MP3, Portable DVD or PSP for fresh batteries and let the kids have the freedom to use them during your meal.

Naturally it is important to train the kids to behave properly while eating out but pace yourself. Rome was not built in a day.

A: (Karen Doyle, Cumming Patch User)

My husband and I don't get out to much as a couple, so when we do finally "make it" to a restaurant we would like to be kid free! Although very tolerant, we have certain boundaries. 

It doesn't matter how cute your child is - having your cutie stand up in the booth and try to talk to other patrons on the other side is not as cute as it seems nor is running around the restaurant and the parents look the other way. I think the wait staff should be tipped extra when children dump out all of the sugar packets and play underneath the table. 

As my husband calls it when our kids get out of hand "it's time for the hook."

Do you have an answer to share? Chime in by using the comments section after the story.

As for the Moms Council, we are happy to introduce our first two council members Michelle Helms and Marilyn Wood.

Michelle Helms, who has a background in marketing and journalism, writes our weekly column “Grab and Go Kids Planner” featured every Wednesday. Helms is a mom to four boys and says, “I have spent countless hours researching, second-guessing and living the fabulous life of a mom.” She enjoys writing, blogging, painting, cooking and anything handmade.  “I am also happy to be part of the Cumming Patch Moms Council,” adds Helms.

Marilyn Wood, who has a background in freelance and technical writing, writes our weekly feature “” featured every Thursday. Wood’s background also includes medical administration and information systems. A native of Long Island, NY, Wood has been a Georgia resident since 1998, living in Cumming since 2001.  She is the mother of two girls, age 8 and 7 and says, “I am a proud mom of a child with Down syndrome.” Wood serves as a Catechumen for third graders at Saint Brendan’s Catholic Community Church and is a classroom Mom for first and second graders at Cumming and Whitlow Elementary Schools.