An Open Letter to the Family Who Persisted In Allowing Thier Child To Run Around Bamboo Valley Buffet on Saturday, February 6th

Dear fellow Bamboo Valley Buffet Patrons,
Last Saturday night, February 6th, 2011 our paths crossed as both of our families dinned on yummy chineese food at Bamboo Valley, Mongolian BBQ and buffet. My family enjoys this restaurant regularly and we always have an excellent experience. On Saturday, however, I was greatly disturbed by something and I would like to bring it to your attention.
As I returned from the buffet, with my plate full of food, I almost stumbled on something. It was something short and pudgy. Something doubtlessly adorable, but even more doubtlessly out of place. It was your child...about two years old, sweet little face..yes, you know the one. At first I thought perhaps she had just climbed down from her chair and you were helping her back to your table, but then I realized this was not the case. A few moments later, she appeared at our table, and at the table of several others, touching things on the table, grabbing the baby's hands and generally disrupting dinner. I don't want to see rude, and I genuinely think your child is really cute, however, I would greatly appreciate your understanding that at a restaurant your kid should remain seated with you. It is exceedingly impolite for you to allow her to interuppt other people's dinner or for you to assume that no one minds being constantly distracted. I understand that eating at a restaurant is eating in a shared space and I don't want to seem unreasonable in my expectations. However, I try very hard to make sure that my children do not bother or disrupt others and I'd appreciate the same consideration. I would never allow my little ones to cruise over to your table, interupt your conversations or pull on your baby's arms and legs while I stand back and smile. And if you met my five year old, you'd know that this is not without great effort on my part.
Simply put, I think children should remain seated in a restaurant with their parents at all times. Call me old fashioned but I find it unacceptable to allow them to leave their seats to roam the floor at will, talk in abnormally loud voices or otherwise become a nuisance to others. I believe that parents have a responsiblity to other patrons and to the restaurant at large to keep their children close to them, relatively quiet and in their chairs.
Thank you to your attention to this matter. Wishing you pleasant dinning!
angela fontenot
the-mean-mom-who-doesn't-allow-her-kids-to-leave-their-seats-or-talk-loudly-in-restaurants.