ad hoc MOM

Mar3Babies in Bars
Tonya

So, CNN recently posted an article about the raging dispute over whether or not kids should be allowed in bars in Brooklyn. No, not unattended. (If that were the case I’d be sending P to the local pub every afternoon so mommy could watch her stories.) But, rather, if it’s acceptable for parents to bring their kids with them to a bar.It sparked a very interesting debate between my friend and I. I am for it cuz if a parent doesn’t deserve a beer, who does? But she wants freedom from the family. Both, I think, are very valid points.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I find other people’s children so unbelievably awesome that I don’t mind them sitting on a stool next to me while I sip a French Martini, it’s just that I don’t really think we can judge or restrict others’ actions. If that were the case I would ban all stupid people from screwing with my time and space at the drugstore, on the subway, walking slow on the sidewalk (I’d have the “stupid” police on speed dial). But, alas, as much as I wish I could, I can’t. Also, I think that if you live in a neighborhood like mine (Park Slope, Brooklyn) you can’t expect to have a child-free experience. I’m not saying we’re out grabbing a cocktail at midnight but if I want a glass of wine before junior’s bedtime I should be able to have one.

Most of the arguments I have heard consist of judging another person’s parenting or that the child disrupts the arguer’s experience. In some respects I agree with the latter (not the former) but quite honestly how many times have you been in a bar/pub/resturaunt and there was a rowdy, annoying group of men or women that you wished would just shut the hell up and go away?

What do you think?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/02/brooklyn.babies.in.bars/index.html#disqus_thread

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12 Comments

  1. Carrie says:
    March 3, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    OK, so I already posted this comment on facebook this morning, but here’s my two cents:

    here’s the thing that annoys me about the whole debate. People don’t like other people in New York City. People don’t like other people’s children in general, if we’re being honest. So why is it surprising that People in New York City Don’t Like Other People’s Children. I get flipped off walking along the Park just for having a stroller. It’s a mean nasty place most of the time. Everyone should live their lives as they want to live them and not worry about what other people think. Me? I’ll take my baby anywhere I want as long as it’s fun for me and not disruptive to others–bars, parks, grocery stores, whatever.

    Maybe it would be better if people would just stick to flipping each other off face to face [just like the olden days] than going home to their computers and writing annoying, whiny little comments on blogs about how they hate babies in bars.

  2. Kerry says:
    March 3, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Bars seem to be the only places my baby will sleep (guess he likes the noise?), so damn straight I’m parking myself and junior there on occasion. And if some booze happens to fall into my mouth while we’re there, well, I’m not going to complain.

    I wouldn’t go dragging my tot around to the pub at 10 PM, but if parents want to bring a well-behaved child out while they have a beer or two, what’s wrong with that? Who disrupts my experience more–a sleeping baby or a drunk loudmouth Red Sox Nation a-hole? Buy that baby a drink!

  3. Lupe says:
    March 4, 2010 at 2:14 am

    Seriously!?!? I’d rather have a crying baby over some loud mouth drunkard. Most parents seem to be respectful and take the baby out if crying. And it’s not like we are talking about closing time. Most drunkards could give a rat’s ass about those around him or her. I vote baby over drunk a-hole any day.

  4. paula says:
    March 4, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE someone annoys me and I wish they would go away. EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. And sometimes they are babies (including my own) sometimes they are full fledged adults! And oh, I annoy the hell out of myself from time to time too.

  5. Serflood says:
    March 4, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    bars are social spaces, and you’re not required to drink alcohol when you enter one, so I really don’t get the debate on this issue.. Especially since smoking was banned in bars. In my humble opinion, people who have a problem w/ babies or children in bars are the same people who view bars as replacements for (or the “adult” equivalent to) high school keg parties and college frat parties. We all know that this is not true, esp in Park Slope.

  6. susan says:
    March 5, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    Are you serious? Leave your goddamn brats at home with a babysitter. No one wants to hear your offspring squalling for your big saggy titties.

  7. Carrie says:
    March 6, 2010 at 1:08 am

    Dear Mr. Susan,

    Two questions:

    1. Are you available for babysitting?

    2. If the “titties” (as every woman that I know calls them) are small and perky, does your objection still stand?

  8. paula says:
    March 6, 2010 at 1:51 am

    [quote name="susan"]Are you serious? Leave your goddamn brats at home with a babysitter. No one wants to hear your offspring squalling for your big saggy titties.[/quote]

    For the record Susan, I’m a bit unusual in these parts in that I support an establishments right to decide whether or not they want kids in their place. I may not like it – but I figure it’s their choice how to run their business. But if they take an approach similar to yours — all bets are off. I’m curious though, would you actually say that to me in person? Just wondering. And by the way, I bottle fed. Not that it’s any of your business.
    Paula

  9. paula says:
    March 7, 2010 at 2:49 am

    Leave the damn babies at home.

    And yes, I second that…nobody wants to see floppy tits hanging out for all to see. Gross.

  10. Tonya says:
    March 8, 2010 at 12:55 am

    [quote name="paula"]Leave the damn babies at home.

    And yes, I second that…nobody wants to see floppy tits hanging out for all to see. Gross.[/quote]

    Obviously this “Paula” (if you are in fact a woman, since every female I know refers to their breast as “sagging tits”) is NOT the Paula on this site, so readers please see this comment as the ridiculous rantings of a madman, which it is. Also, and just a side note, you have NO idea what our breasts look like AND bringing my child into a bar in NO WAY equals showing said breasts…this is NOT Girls Gone Wild at Mardis Gras! Grow up. If you want to add an intelligent counter viewpoint to the discussion we’d be happy to hear it, otherwise please keep your 13 year old boy mentality to yourself.

  11. Hannah says:
    March 10, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    Well, I doubt any of us mom blogger types would make it past the velvet ropes of the elite watering holes frequented by Mr. Susan and #9Paula. Babies or no babies. So I’ll continue to rest my sagging breasts on the bars frequented by the less well heeled and be thankful to have avoided this embarassing culture clash. Cheers, babies.

  12. What to Wear When the Girls Aren’t Invited? « ad hoc MOM says:
    September 1, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    [...] heard more than enough about people who think breast feeding in public is disgusting (see Babies in Bars)! I can hear the designers’ fashion mantras in my head now: “The worst dressed, hides [...]

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