Elbows on the table

[Sundae]

I was thinking of this thread on Sunday when I was working.
There was a little boy behaving badly in the pub - the first really poorly controlled kid I've seen since I've worked there (apart from one little Italian girl, but different rules apply to tourists!)

He was about 3 and was allowed to run round as he pleased when the rest of the family were eating. We'd made a special child's portion for him but it was left untouched as far as I could see (we are a pub not a bar, so don't really cater for children).

He kept trying to run into the kitchen because the first time he tried it his Dad chased after him. I sympathise in that the kid thought it was a game and would probably have screamed the place down if he was stopped but it was potentially very dangerous (with a possibility of fatal). It was more that the rest of the family - Grandparents too! - seemed to think this was quite cute and quite normal. Not a child used to eating with grown ups it seems.

Oh and later he started throwing money about. Three times he picked up change from the table and threw it onto the floor. Overhand throws, not just pushing it off the table. And they thought that was funny too, although after the third time Dad (again) decided enough was enough and pocketed the money. Letting your child throw anything inside an eating or drinking establishment is pretty wrong. And it was only 2p's so not even worth the collection value