Small kids running around in a restaurant is super dangerous, not only can they run into tables, chairs etc, but the risk of running into staff carrying plates with hot food and dropping it. I’m a server and I’ve almost run into more kids then I can count while carrying plates of really hot food.

There is no ESH. It is entirely NTA. If a parent can't control their demon spawn, they will suffer the consequences. Stay at home if you can't properly control your kids. I wish upscale restaurants would kick those families out or not allow any children below a certain age.

NTA. I dont let my kids run around in restaurants - partly because of other diners comfort but mostly because its a health and safety risk for the serving staff. Tripping over kids with arms full of food and drinks would be hell. I would be mortified if my child climbed under someone elses table and while yelling might have been an overreaction it's also appropriate for my kids to learn that if they encroach on someone elses space they are likely to get yelled at.

Yes, there are better ways to communicate but the shock of yelling is sometimes necessary -- like if the kid is in danger or you need an immediate reaction. Yelling seemed to work here. However, I would not have waited 20 minutes to say something. As others have mentioned, this is a health and safety issue; I would have taken it to the manager to handle. If the customers can't behave, they get kicked out.

NTA. Better the kid got yelled at than caused an accident and got scalding-hot tea or something all over them. EDIT: I just realised, there's something I should add. My cousin, who is in his fifties now, has scars all down his left arm. He was badly scalded at the age of six when he noticed his mum had left a pot of milk on the stove with the handle out and, knowing that was dangerous, he tried to push it back so his little sister wouldn't touch it. To be fair to my aunt, the little sister had spina binfida and needed a lot of care, so she had probably stepped away to do something for her. But my point is: hot food can scar a kid for life, even when the kid is trying their best to be sensible

There used to be smoking and non smoking sections, now there should be kids, and no kids sections, they say it takes a village, well I'm the hermit on the edge of town who hates your children

When I was a kid growing up we wouldn't dare misbehave in a restaurant. And all of us have raised our kids the same way.

Sometimes yelling at kids is a way of teaching and keeping them safe. We all get tired and frustrated with a desire to relax but with such young kids you can't do that in an enclosed public place. Just because you think you can see your kid doesn't mean someone else won't take advantage of the situation and take off with your screaming brat. "oh lookie here, we have a free child. I bet we could make some big bucks selling it on the darkweb." When I'm tired I can be worse then that. I am known to yell at a kid on my street for playing an odd game with cars. I yelled at the kid if he wanted to die and make his mother cry for the rest of her life, I would be happy to oblige and hit him with my car the next time. He would be on a tricycle, waiting to coming down a short driveway just as unsuspecting cars drove up the street, on purpose. NTA IMO.

I went into a public restroom once where a mom was changing her baby. She also had a 4 or 5 year old boy with her (it was a women's room). He stuck his head under the door while I was going. I instinctively shouted "No!" and kicked out. I missed him, thank goodness, but the little creep shouldn't have done it in the first place.

To this day I remember being in a similar situation almost 40 years ago, with my parents at a pizza place. My father, who was generally soft spoken ROARED"Control. Your. Children!" At least then the parents had the Decency to be embarrassed.

I'm neurodivergent and do NOT like being touched by people I don't know. So, I would have likely flailed and probably screamed like a five year old girl. Not only would that hurt that kid, as I am very strong when in fight or flight mode, and being startled like that will trigger it. I try to stay as aware of my surroundings at all times to avoid this, but sometimes, you're exhausted from a long day/week/month, etc, and you can't devote that much energy to curb that reaction. And there are a lot of people with this reaction out there, not just a 47 year old woman with ASD. It's people with other sensory issues, dermal conditions, PTSD...it doesn't matter. Teach your children some damned respect and boundaries. I would have been given THE LOOK, ONCE, as a courtesy of I even left my seat before I was taken to the car. Even my sister, who is "severely" Autistic doesn't behave like that in a restaurant, much to people's chagrin.

Children should sit at parents table not running around the servers could get hurt or hurt child they are carrying hot items. Child could have been snatched and never seen again except dead. Not kidding this is a dangerous world we live in now so keep your kids close.

Previous server here, my gawd teach your kids some manners! This is a restaurant not a fking daycare. We had a kid run into a server carrying a couple cups of coffee & a soda, yep, right into her. Luckily no one was seriously burned.

Bring kids to restaurant, bring QUIET things to entertain them. Too much energy, have a picnic at a playground!!

I am now 78. Decades ago when my parents were alive, I would take them to brunch on Sundays. Unfortunately in some instances a place where we might go had families. It seems there always have been those PRIVILEDGED parents that would unlock there zoo and bring their children with them. Once there was a booth near us where a couple had two under 6 kids running around. Everyone seemed a little upset by this but the parents said and did nothing . At one point one of the kids came up to our table and started being obnoxious.. I stared at the parents and said, "This is how you raise your children?" The tables around us applauded. Needless to say, the parents were embarrassed, but I don't think it changed them. One made a comment that that's what happens when you dine with OLD PEOPLE !

At what point did it become okay for children to run amok in a business? If they can't sit and eat with you, then leave them at home. ONLY exceptions are places FOR children to run around.

My mother's father passed down a parenting philosophy, which she passed to me, and I to my daughters: I love my children and I want others to love them but that's not likely to happen if they're brats (paraphrasing the second half). Bringing up individuals who are enjoyable to be around is better for everyone and eliminates this kind of aggravating , unnecessary, dangerous, inconsiderate nuisance. OP NTA. All slack a*s parents in that group totally AH. Group's kids, probably future AH

Definitely NTA. If people can't or don't want to control their hellspawn, they should stay at home.

NTA. Mommy Dearest needs to act like a PARENT and supervise her kids. That's a public restaurant, not an activity center. The staff are paid to prepare and serve food, not babysit. That goes triple for the other guests. No one deserves to be tortured by undisciplined children running around. All it takes is for one kid to interfere with a server, and several people can get injured by broken glasses and extremely hot food. (The parent would most likely sue the restaurant and collect a small fortune, effectively closing the establishment.) Also, with very little effort, some pedophile or trafficker disguised as a customer could easily lure a child out of his parent's view, clap a hand over his mouth, and leave without a trace. There are also adults with anger issues who cannot stand children. Not. At. All. Parents: WATCH YOUR KIDS!!