Squealing in Public

November 16, 2006 · Comments

momfight.jpgI’m at a Starbucks in the East Village of NYC (I know, but they had wifi). The woman in this picture is in possession of a VERY loud screaming baby. So loud, in fact, that it was really pissing off the general populous of this very large store.

The manager came over to try and get the situation resolved, sensing that a dozen or more people were in a position of discomfort. They argued that they had every right to be there, too. They stayed as long as they wanted, had a nice very long argument with the manager, all the while the baby squealed in a very uncomfy way.

I’m a dad. I have two kids of 4.5 and 10 months old. Would I have been upset if they shooshed me? Well, for one, we’re really conscious of other people in our public settings, so I doubt our kids would be squealing like a fire alarm for 30 minutes unchecked. But would I be bugged?

Does the woman have the right to be there? Technically and legally, yes. But what do you think? What should the store manager have done?

Were I not already deep in an email discussion with Christopher S. Penn of the Financial Aid Podcast on a more serious issue, I might’ve had the sense to throw my video camera into action.

What do you think?

What if it weren’t a screaming kid, but a punk rocker with a harmonica? Okay, you could argue that they’re old enough to know better, and that the infant can’t control himself, but the PARENTS can. The infant is the harmonica, the parents are the punk rocker. See?

What’s your take?

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  • I think the problem is parents who are not attending to the needs of their children. When my kids screamed, I responded- that is the way babies talk, and are trying to tell you something is wrong. If the child is sick, get them to a doctor. Change them. Feed them. Respond. Without responding, think how mad and frustrated that child is! Especially if Mom thinks a triple latte is more important than their child for 30 minutes! I feel sorry for the baby, even more than the other customers.
    Here's where moms have an advantage. Moms can approach another mom less confrontationally sometimes and say- "Wow- they seem upset- is there anything I can do to help? My little guy was colicky at that age, and I know how hard it can be for you...." Even if you are lying, it gets the point across, the other mom feels someone understands, and the situation can get dealt with or diffused. Works like a charm. So fellas- your wife might be able to handle this one better than you can, at least with moms.
  • charlene
    I wonder if the Mud Truck cafe, just a little more eastward has free wifi. It's too small for strollers.
  • Rob
    Uh and while you're at it, how about replacing the parenthacks.com button with a GNMParents one....or at least add it? :-)
  • Rob
    Please consider posting this at GNMParents.com. I think it would be interesting for parents to weigh in on the subject.

    As a parent myself, a former small business owner, and a former child care provider....I say you are well within your bounds to ask them to leave.
  • Jon
    I'm a little biased because unruly children are a major pet peeve of mine, but honestly the idea that some people don't think twice about subjecting the general public to their screeching or otherwise misbehaving children because they have the "right" to be where they are is completely selfish and inconsiderate.

    Kids act up from time to time, of course. Maybe the kid was in some kind of discomfort. In any case, responsible parents take action or at least have the decency to be apologetic in recognition of how other's might be impacted. It sounds like these particular folks had a borderline misanthropic "go f*** yourself"-type reaction and those kind of people (and their babies) can suck my foot. Hard.
  • Well, as a business owner...ive been in this situation. A business is a private establishment...not public...so as a business owner you have to take into consideration the "business" end of it. its a private establishment....and being private you can kick out or ban anyone for any reason you see fit. now im not saying to kick someone out cause you just dont like their "kind"(what ever "kind" may be) because there CAN be repracussions for this sort of thing (i.e. discrimination or harrasment) BUT if you see it as something that can hurt your business and is interrupting other customers then the business person has every right to say "please leave".

    Ive done it before....it can be very satisfying

    peace out Chris!!!
    andy
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