Bottles, Babies, and Sugar Packets.

Children are the seeds of our future. They also may serve to cause utter destruction in any dining facility they enter. Some servers shudder when they get a table full of children scribbling on placemats with their crayons. Others—myself included—just want to clock out and squish their cute little faces for the rest of the night. Either side of the spectrum still has to do their jobs.

On occasion, there are those parents that don’t want to watch or discipline their kids. Their children leave a whirlwind of mess: spilled peppershakers, exploding sugar packets, mash potatoes underneath seats, and ripped paper everywhere. If you don’t let your kids make such a mess in your own home, don’t let them do it in someone else’s house. Even though you don’t have to clean it up, we do! If your kids must leave a mess, consider leaving a bigger tip for the extensive mess you’re leaving behind.

I cannot stress enough to keep your children at the table with you. It is dangerous for them to wander around the restaurant alone. Servers are constantly running everywhere with heavy plates of food and drink. We’re not looking at our feet for a three year old to come running around the corner. I have seen some painful accidents when a baby gets a tray of hot coffee dropped on it, etc. Keep your kids safe—don’t leave them unattended.

A little advice for servers: don’t ignore the kids at your tables. If the kids like you, the parents like you. When the kids think that you are friendly and are concerned about them, they will try to behave a little better because they want you to continue to accept them. Personally, when I first greet a table the kid is the center of attention. “Oh! You are such a handsome young man! What can I get you, honey? Do you like chocolate milk?” This also scores brownie points with the parents because everyone likes it when someone comments on how gorgeous their kids are.

Happy kids=happy parents=BIG TIP.

Be sure to log in for my next post about the opposite end of the spectrum: grandmas and grandpas.