Letters: Ban on kids in restaurants is okay

Although Ruben Navarrette Jr. declares in his column ["Ban on kids just coddles adults," Opinion, July 17] that a restaurant's prohibiting children is discriminatory, he is mistaken.

Although he is correct when he states that "barring a child from a restaurant means barring the parent as well," this is not a restaurant owner's attempt to discriminate against customers. Mike Vuick, proprietor of McDain's Restaurant from Navarrette's column, imposed a ban on children after receiving complaints from customers who were bothered by unruly behavior, and he was justified in doing so. Adults who make the decision to have children should not be so naive as to think that they will be welcomed to all the same places they enjoyed before they were parents.

Navarrette advocates that "people need to lighten up" and reminds restaurant goers that they "don't live in a bubble," implying that they should expect to endure crying and screaming wherever they may dine.

Parents also need to understand that they do not live in a bubble. When people reproduce, they should not expect the whole world to enthusiastically inherit the negative consequences of their decision.

Theresa Stahl, Islip
 

McDain's restaurant does not coddle adults, it coddles paying customers who keep the restaurant open, the employees employed and the taxes paid.

A simple Google search turns up a website that shows a small eatery attached to a golf center. As a golfer, I can say that given the choice between a dozen duffers at the 19th hole, or a dozen misbehaved children, I'll take the duffers. I will also take my business elsewhere if not given this option.

Unfortunately, Navarrette believes I should "give these parents a break." Why? Am I not a paying customer as well? As to his question regarding loud, out-of-control children: "Does that necessarily make the parents impolite and selfish?" The answer is a resounding yes!

The author seems upset because parents with loud, unruly children aren't getting a pass on their responsibility to control their children in public. I guess he feels they should be the ones to be coddled, not the rest of the people who are paying for the right to peace and quiet.

James A. Coelus, Copiague