What would you do?

[ThunderLund78]

small disclaimer - My wife read this story from another mom in town on a Facebook post - I didn't witness with my own eyes... and that's probably for the best.

We have a Carbone's Pizza here in our pleasant little town of Czech-ville (New Prague) - dang fine pizza, by the way.  On Friday night, it's full of families dining out and other folks gathering for a beer after their work week. Service is good, pizza is great and it's always a fun family/small town kind of vibe.  Tonight there must've been some type of Jr. Hockey game in-town, maybe squirts or Bantam level. Because there were 5 families and 8-10 kids from -- you guessed it LeechLake -- Edina sitting in the back corner (according to the team apparel they were wearing).  The parents sat and yapped, oblivious to the fact that their kids were growing out-of-control.  There's a complimentary popcorn machine in the restaurant, the kids were chasing each other around the joint, grabbing fistfuls of popcorn with their bare hands right out of the machine, throwing it at each other and screaming, causing a disturbance, etc.  According to this mother, she as well as other patrons were definitely in disbelief. Not sure where the manager was but the lady grabbed a broom/dustpan from the wait station and approached the kids, told them they were not being respectful and asked them to clean it up.  One or two did, but the others continued to throw popcorn and run around the restaurant.  So she approached the parents and asked them if they were aware that their kids were causing a disturbance and that she asked the kids to clean it up.  One of the hockey moms spoke up and told the lady something like, "yes - I saw you make my kid pick it up and I thought it was very rude of you."  The local mom apparently told the families that they were guests in town and she was appalled at the behavior they were tolerating form their kids in-public. Then a few more words were exchange and eventually the other cheeks were turned and calmer heads prevailed.  But the kids still went undisciplined by their own parents for their behavior.

The reason the mom took to Facebook was that she was very upset and was questioning herself if she did the right thing.  Assuming it was an honest portrayal - I say she's my hero.  Not sure I would've remained that calm once I got the snooty response back from the parents.  Good God, I have kids and I can understand to a point.  When you get them in groups the hyper-activity grows exponentially.  But once a level of decency and courtesy is crossed and warnings have been ignored, my kid's getting drug out of the restaurant by his ear and we're sitting in the car while mom pays the check.  There was not one parent in that group who thought it necessary to put a stop to it.  I'm hoping it's a really one-sided story, but sadly, I don't think it is. You see this more-and-more these days. I would like to think if it went down as described I would've had this lady's back.  I guess I'm getting to be a grumpy old man (at 38) but these things really annoy me.

And by the way, Leechlake, I just put the Edina jab in there for fun.  I know lots of great Edina folks, I work in Richfield.  But it doesn't sound like these folks tonight were doing anything to not perpetuate the old "dump don't stink" stereotype.

OK, venting over.  Man, I could go for some Carbone's pizza right now.

[leech~~]

That really suks. It was maybe a very good night cash wise for the store, but if I was there and paying 25-45 bucks or more for a nice night out with my family. It may have been Stanley cup night with some parents at the old Carbone's Pizza!

[nofishfisherman]

The woman did the right thing.  I would have yelled at the kids and then the parents.

Funny side story.  There is local dive bar that is exactly half way between my house and one of my good friends.  The two of us will meet up there some nights for a beer or 3.  One night it was pretty dead in the bar and we were at the bar talking with the bartender that we've gotten to know pretty well (is that a sign I'm at the bar too much).  Anyways there were two other guys and one woman in the bar sitting a little further down from us.  The two guys were probably 45 years old but acted like 13.  After awhile they got into the free popcorn machine and started throwing popcorn just like the punks in the other story.  They were running around the bar throwing popcorn and swearing up a storm. Popcorn even made its way into the bathroom. 

The bartender told them to knock it off like any parent would tell a child.  The two meat heads kept at it so the bartender goes and gets the broom and dust pan from the backroom and walks over to the guys and throws the broom at one guy and the dust pan at the other (not a real gentle toss).  Once he did that the two meat heads got real sheepish and tucked their tails and swept the floor in the entire bar.  It was the funniest dang thing I've seen in a bar in a long time.  These 2 bozos went from acting like drunk teenagers to acting like choir boys in the blink of an eye.  All it took was getting hit with a broom and a dust pan. 

To top it off the bartender bought everyone else at the bar a drink on the house while we got to watch the other 2 guys sweep the entire bar. 

[SwivelDigger]

I think the lady did the right thing.....Some people have no respect for others. Up at our cabin we have a porch about 16x20 with a couple futons, chairs a tv etc. for people to hang out in if the weather is not perfect. Two neighbor girls about 9ish were hanging out in there for a couple hours playing games. Wife goes in there to get something and the girls were spitting sunflower seeds on the floor. She told them to clean it up, they laughed and went out the door. She comes out by me and tells me what happened. So in my infinite wisdom I spy the "offenders" over on swing set so I hike over and stopped the swings and proceed to tell them that they need to go clean it up. The one says no I'm not. ( her mom is head county child protective services officer)  so I say yes you are or you're getting a spanking , so she runs to her mom saying I threatened her. Mom hears the story and drags the kid over there by the arm and makes her clean it up, apologize and go fetch me a beer! The other kids parents ( cake eaters) get in a huff, pack up and leave.... Didn't come back to neighbors all summer as they have rude neighbors (me). Can't say as I feel bad about them not coming back if they think they need to be treated with kid gloves.

[Boar]

i woulda sat down and ate the kids pizza and drank the parents beer. at their table.

[leechlake]

I get to weigh in on this one and feel as an EX Edina person you are all probably holding your breath to hear my wisdom.

First, after the Edina mom's reaction Boars idea is a pretty good one.  "how do you like it now?" kind of idea.

Every single out of town tournament and every single hockey season I told parents and players that you are representing our town and hockey association at all times, especially when we are out of town.  I haven't coached for almost three years now and social media since then has amplified this need.  When you are a cake-eater from Edina or in my case presently Wayzata you especially need to go above the call of duty in this respect.  The parents and kids failed tremendously.  

What would you do?  I'm going to cut and paste this and leave all identifiers off of it and pass it on explaining that it ended up in an outdoor geared page, word travels in odd ways.  I still have those, pesky in this situation, connections in beloved Edina

 

 

 

Edited February 13, 2016 by leechlake

[ThunderLund78]

LL - you're truly a man of character.  This was last night from what I can tell.  Also, New Prague is at the intersection of 3 major state highways (13, 21 and 19) that you'd take to other towns in southern MN if they're not right off 169 or I-35.  Could've been passing through to some place like Waseca, Waterville, etc.  Just a thought.

[leechlake]

sorry to go "gears" on this.  I will let it drop, in my checking websites didn't seem any team was there for a tournament but they play New Prague from time to time.  They were probably down there attending one of Smurfs union gigs and they need some extra cash to get the job done; safely, on time and over budget

 

[RebelSS]

I would have asked the parents to have their kids knock it off......then, if it continued, complained to the Mgr of the place, that's their job. If it continued, I would have finished what I had, grabbed my bill, set it on the parents table, and said "Thanks for the meal and lovely atmosphere"...and walked out. Bad situations? Remove yourself from them. It's easy.  

Oh yeah, Czechs make the best everything.  

Edited February 13, 2016 by RebelSS

[ThunderLund78]

Probably for the best LL, thanks for looking into it.  Who knows what brought them into or through town, or if they were truly from Edina.  Only going off of what was said on FB.  Not your best source of accurate info, sometimes .  And in the end, it doesn't matter where you're from - just don't be a jerk!

[BobT]

Hard to believe that the kids would do that in the first place but then when I was growing up my parents assured me in no uncertain terms that I would not act that way, if you know what I mean. If I did, the first thing that would have happened is my mother would have been all over me like you know what in order to embarrass me as much as possible in front of my friends and everyone else in the place. Then I would have been given the broom to clean up the mess as my mother would NOT do it for me. That would have been followed by the floor mop and bucket for me to clean the floor if I didn't get it upside my head first.

Sounds like some kids parents are in need of as much guidance as their children.

[Boar]

i woulda been draged by the ear back to my chair, mom woulda cleaned up, and i woulda been left to fathom the punishment from my fater wen we got home. uuuuuugh