"whispers of a boycott passed among the playgroups in this North Side neighborhood..."I love people who don't have children who tell you how to parent," said Alison Miller, 35, a psychologist, corporate coach and mother of two."

This is in response to a sign stating children need to behave. What narcisscism. You can bet that if her little angels did act up in the coffee shop (or anywhere else) she wouldn't yell at them (let alone smack them) either because that might damage the kiddies self esteem.

Why don't they just pass out sedatives along with the muffins and sweet rolls?

Which is why on winged busses (or any public transportation) children should be put in kennels and checked as baggage with all the other pets.

Being a parent is such a common thing that anyone who can't recognize a bad one probably needs a degree in Psychology. I'm sure Miller has no problem, as a "corporate coach", judging other people's job performance despite her lack of experience in their job.

Good point Raoul. And I'm willing to wager that when Ms. Miller's children act up in public (as you know they must as she's so sensitive about it) it's while she's babbling on a cell phone instead of minding them.

when on planes, or in restaurants i don't worry if other people are unhappy about my kids making too much noise. for some reason, being large and scary looking inhibits wormy types from voicing their complaints. sucks to be them i guess.

Ah, those wacky corporate coaches. I myself had some exposure to a corporate coach a couple of years ago. She showed up to (badly) facilitate a couple of senior management meetings, and was then mysteriously hired into the operations group, where she turned out to be THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER EVER. What can I say, our group president was an idiot and a cronyist. Shortly thereafter, both he and the "coach" were gone; unfortunately they both received lovely parting gifts, the funding of which was partially covered by the next round of layoffs and plant closings.

Oh boy. Irresistible force meets immovable object. I'm rooting for both sides here. On the one hand, North America's child focus and family friendliness is more precious than most realize. Efforts to segregate kids should be fought. On the other, thanks to Oprah and all the child-rearing gurus, we're raising a generation of little terrorists. In the end, you have to choose between spanking and excluding.

Purely anecdotal, but when I was a kid and I acted out in public, I was removed quite quickly for a private discussion with one of the parental units.

She did the right thing, she left and took the kid outside.

Why are gay couples always descibed as "hip"? Every gay or lesbian that I've ever known was dowdy, overweight or balding.

When are they going to ban Ashleigh Banfield style eyeglasses?

Children - especially toddlers - are going to act up. A certain amount is understandable.

However, it seems to me that many parents do not discipline their children, and those children lack the self-control that should be expected. Furthermore, it is very insulting to your fellow customers if the child acts up and the parent does nothing.

Simply posting a sign that requests children behave does not seem offensive to me. That certain people say it implies that they are bad parents seems one of those denials that are actually self-admissions. They probably know they are bad parents at one level and are therefore touchy about it.

If some customers prefer the "family friendly" place and others like the new atmosphere at the other, it seems both sides win. Move on.

Brandon:

Because queerness is transgressive of social norms.

I agree with Mikey, the mother in this story did the right thing this time - but that it was necessary to take the child outside shows that she has not done the right thing on many previous occasions.

Finally, a topic where I can speak from experience.

do family friendly restaurants have a sign that says "only well behaved dogs, in strollers allowed" ? just asking...

I think it's more Blues vs. Blues than Blues vs. Reds. Probably more "Reds" than "Blues" believe in good old-fashioned discipline.