So Janet Street-Porter wants to ban kids from cafes and restaurants. Apparently she’s fed up with the ‘cacophony’ and ‘stench’ generated by what she calls something small, cross and wearing a nappy (she means a baby) in a withering attack on the aisle-clogging pushchair army (that’s you and me).
As someone who often works from coffee shops during the week I can see both sides of the argument, but if you haven’t already gathered I’m incensed.
Aside from the fact I’d rather not eat my sushi or drink my latte in the presence of something tall, cross and wearing a disapproving frown (her), where would we be if we started posing restrictions on who can and cannot frequent public places?
We’re already stuck in the dark ages when it comes to kids in public. If you go to most countries in Europe after dark you’ll find kids in cafes and restaurants – where parents go, kids go too. That’s just how it is. Suggesting babies and children should be seen and not heard is positively Dickensian.
Of course only a childless person would suggest banning children from cafes and restaurants, and it’s interesting to note Janet Street-Porter doesn’t have children of her own.
She’s got no idea what it’s like to have been stuck at home with a baby all week as you dutifully carry out mind-numbing household task after mind-numbing household task on the least sleep you’ve ever had in the knowledge you’ll have to do it all again tomorrow. For free.
That NCT meet-up at Costa or treat night at Pizza Express in which you won’t have to go shopping, prepare the food and clean up afterwards is a life-line. Literally.
And what she fails to appreciate is that we, the aisle-clogging pushchair army, are raising the teachers, doctors, nurses, magistrates, engineers and prime ministers of the future. How rounded will they end up if their social skills are developed entirely within the confines of home and school with a sleep-deprived parent in charge?
It’s a shame because I’ve always quite liked Janet Street-Porter, but I’m afraid this is one rant me and my small, cross and nappy-wearing offspring can’t forgive. I’m proud to be a member of the aisle-clogging pushchair army.
How about you?
Linking up with…
Totally agree with you. I don’t think you can understand the lifeline that getting out of the house can provide until you have been on maternity leave with a baby. I’m proud to clog the aisles too xx
It’s frightening how much I can look forward to a trip to a coffee shop!!
I think it’s good to take babies and children out to cafes and restaurants, we’ve always taken the boys. They get to try a huge variety of food and I get out the house. Also it teaches them how they have to behave in public and sit nicely at a table which as parents e have to teach them. If they start playing up or shouting then clearly I take them out as I appreciate other people are paying to have a nice meal and not listen to my family. To be honest I’ve had more trouble in restaurants with drunk loud out of control adults than families. #bestandworst
Precisely – couldn’t have put it better myself!x
I will clog the aisles from now on just to piss her off! Miserable old goat!
Good post 🙂 x
Glad you’re with us!
I love this post. I wanted to write about 5 child-friendly coffee shops in my area and I could only think of 3! Frankly that’s appalling, we mum’s are the ones who really really need coffee, after all. Janet Street Porter has a lot of very silly opinions and should really be ignored – unless you see her slurping a latte, then feel free to park your screaming, smelly baby next to her. #bestandworst
Yes she has asked for it now
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I rarely go the restaurants or cafes with baby at the moment, there are so few where I don’t feel like a nuisance, banging into chairs and people with the stroller. But definitely once we need less equipment to get out and about, I’ll be bringing my children out and teaching them how to behave in public. Love your comment about the daily grind of parenting, sums it up perfectly.
It’s doubly hard when places aren’t child-friendly in terms of how the furniture is positioned etc…
Totally peed me off to be honest!! If you raise well behaved children with manners, eating out can be a total pleasure. We love to do it and it is something I will be doing. As you say, we really don’t want a bunch of children who are socially isolated and have no clue how to act in public. Only a childless person could say that!! Thanks for linking up with #bestandworst lovely and see you soon x
We eat out all the time & I think it’s important for them to know how to behave in publicx
I hadn’t even heard of this argument and it had be incensed too! Why on earth should parents be told where they can take their children. If she doesn’t like it, she should avoid coffee shops!
Yes quite – she can go somewhere else!!
BRAVO for writing this. I felt like standing up towards the end and bursting into applause!! If it wasn’t already obvious… I 100% agree! #effitfriday
Praise indeed! Thanks so much!x
If they didn’t make aisles so narrow in order to cram more stuff into them to flog, then we wouldn’t block them with our push chairs! I knew there was a good reason I avoided watching Loose Women!
That’s so true!!
Totally agree – kids have just as much right to be out in public as anyone else, including all those adults who are far, far more annoying than any screaming baby or hyperactive toddler could ever hope to be. (The ones with irritating ringtones, the ones who have too loud ‘TMI’ conversations, the ones with horrific table manners, even the ones who sit next to you and start talking to you for no apparent reason….) #KCACOLS
You took the words right out of my mouth!!
I am actually writing an article at the moment on exactly this subject. Would you have 5 minutes to answer some questions if I were to email them across to you so I can use some quotes from you? Glad I found this on #sundaystars
Yes no problem at all! natalie_brown@live.co.uk x
Well said! As a mum to be there is always that daunting thought of when we first go out for coffee or lunch with friends with baby in tow and there is enough pressure with the thought of breastfeeding in public which is scary enough, let alone the added stress of people looking down their noses! I won’t be staying at home all the time though – we mummy’s have every right to go out and enjoy life and company as much as childless people! xxx #KCACOLS
Please don’t worry about breastfeeding in public – I only ever get lots of encouraging smiles and comments! Good luck!x
Completely agree with you, I take our children out with me all the time to eat and socialise – how else would I be able to teach them how to behave appropriately? As someone who doesn’t have children, Janet Street-Porter wouldn’t have a clue about the responsibility parents also have to raise decent, functioning members of society. Thanks for sharing this on #SundayStars
I’m not sure mine are decent members of society quite yet but certainly functioning!!
I find myself in total agreement with your post. I think she is being ridiculous and forgetting that she too was once a small child! How would she feel if the shoe was on the other foot… xx #KCACOLS
People should be more understanding of the realities of parenting and needs of small children. A great rant well put. Popping by from Sunday Stars
Thank you very much!x
It’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard.Children and babies are our future generations and have as much right as any mean spirited, grumpy adult like Janet to be in a coffee shop or restaurant. I was livid when I heard her comments and I’m livid just thinking about them. Well said! x #SundayStars
I’d love to find myself next to her in a coffee shop or restaurant!
It must be difficult when you don’t have children to understand the importance of regular meet ups with other parents and coffee just to stop you going insane! I love going out as a family to a restaurant to have a meal and yes Miss M does still sometimes cause a scene but hey that’s life! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
On the whole ours aren’t too bad when we go out – like you say that’s life!x
Well of course she would like to ban kids from cafes and restaurants and it is because she doesn’t have a clue of what she is talking about!! Since the moment she doesn’t have kids she shouldn’t even be allowed to say anything! What is she thinking? That we will stay at home all day because we have children? And what about during the winter? We can’t be all day just outdoors. This is just so silly!! It really makes me angry when people have an opinion just for the sake of it! grrr Sorry I think I had a little rant here!! LOL I like this post. I enjoyed reading it and discussing about it! ;- Thanks for sharing this at #KCACOLS. I’m so happy to have you again this week! 🙂 xx
This topic has got everyone hot under the collar – glad you liked it!x
I know I’ve just commented this post, but I’m back but this time fI’m paying you a visit rom #bestandworst! 🙂 xxx
You’re welcome as many times as you like!!
I couldn’t agree more! – don’t get me wrong I love a childless lunch out and if they are a paid they can be distruptive but that would end up limiting hundreds of women to the house just because she can’t have a bit more patience! pfft i’m not a fan of her anyways #KCACOLS
She’s gone down in my estimation now too!!
YES! But the sad thing is that people will be put off by her comments and often it is those people who need it most. I remember being red faced with a pushchair trying to barge into starbucks when the toddler was a tiny tot and feeling awful 🙁
You’re right – I really hope people don’t take what she said to heart x
I’m more in the babywearing army that the pushchair one, but I completely agree with you! There is no better lesson for a child than to be out and about with their parents seeing how people behave and talk to each other. Thanks for linking up to #sundaystars x
I wore Little B everywhere in the beginning but he’s so heavy now!x