Have you heard about this?

It’s the  new movement swelling to ban kids…

Ban them from restaurants…

From movie theaters…

Even from airplanes.

Yup…

So to save you from this…

There will be no more love at Mickey D’s!

No!

Not that Mickey D’s!!!

This one….

This is McDain’s Restaurant of Monroeville, PA

Where they proudly serve billions and billions…

As long as you’re over 6.

If you’re not…

Well you’re out of luck.

Yup, it seems the “Brat Ban” movement is growing and taking aim at small kids.

And before you jump all over this and scream…

“That’s just not right!”

Wait a second.

They may have a point.

What???

Is Ma agreeing with the child free sect and over the hill geezers that clearly forgot what it’s like to be a parent?

Well, sort of…

But not entirely.

First of all, I respect any business’s right to uh…

“Reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”

If that someone happens to be my absolutely adorable 2 year old…

Well then clearly your heart has turned to stone and nothing I can do will help you.

Just kidding…

Seriously, if that was the case then I will happily take my money elsewhere.

Now…

Back to agreeing with that proud Child Free lot…

I hear you…

And I agree.

I don’t think that a restaurant is a proper place to be for my 2 year old…

On a Friday night…

At 8 o’clock.

My 2 year old is home sleeping.

As is my 5 year old, and the 6 year old…

And I’m usually there with them.

But if by chance I’m not…

If I’m out on say…

A date night…

With the hubs…

Uh yes.

We look surprisingly like Tina Fey and Steve Carell when we go out.

If I am out at said eatery on a Weekend night later in the evening…

Then I certainly can understand not wanting to hear a screaming toddler.

Or get a chestful of spaghetti after a young child throws a forkfull across the joint.

No…my kids didn’t do that…

I did…

As a baby…

In Little Italy…

I’m a fun date.

Anyhow….

I totally understand not allowing children into restaurants, movies, etc. later in the evening.

But banning them all together?

Really?

I think that’s a step too far.

I think it might be time for us as parents to step back and take a good look at what we’re doing.

Yes, we live in America.

Yes, it is a free country.

Yes, you should be allowed to bring your kids anywhere you want, anytime you want.

And if you want to bring your kids to a 10 o clock movie and then out to dinner afterwards then have at it.

But if your kids get cranky and you start getting looks…

Well then?

I know my kids and they get cranky later…

And hungry.

So when I take them somewhere nice to eat you can bet your buttered biscuits that we roll early.

Really early.

Like 5 early.

Early bird special early.

And if they act up…

Which they do from time to time.

It’s out the door you go and wait in the car.

Not alone mind you…

But you don’t behave that way in a restaurant.

So I get it…

I know it’s nice to have the kids with you…

Out as a family…

But it’s also nice NOT to have them with you.

Especially if they’re not yours.

Like that nice couple sitting next to you.

So have a heart and leave the kids at home on Date Nights.

So that this Brat Ban doesn’t spread any further…

Like the Whole Foods in the midwest that has “Child Free” shopping hours.

Or the movie theater ban.

Or the airplanes.

What’s next?

Parks?

Sidewalks?

Trains?

What do you guys think about the “Brat Ban?”