People, Leave Your Kids At Home When Going To The Movie

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by MysticCat81


I may piss some folks off, but as far as I'm concerned unless it's a movie for kids, and unless it's a daytime or very early evening movie, kids have no business being in a movie theater.

It's the truth...no one should be pissed off.

One of the things about having children is sacrifice. If you can't find, or don't feel comfortable with, a sitter--then wait until you can find one or are comfortable. Movies are coming out on DVD earlier and earlier now.

[James]

Well, I am not going to tell people what they can or can't do with their children. Nor am I criticize them as bad parents or whatever.

I am just going to say that according to the basic rules of courtesy, your rights to take your kids places lasts only until you start inconveniencing the other people.

Kind of like if I have gas, its my busines that I have gas, but if I start farting all over the theatre .. . well maybe I should go outside till it passes . . . and if it doesn't pass maybe I should go home.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I agree with James.

There is a movie theater in New York that has a time when parents can bring their children. The parents appreciate it because they are all in the same boat with young children. Maybe more theaters can schedule a special showing of movies exclusively for parents with young children.

[ASUADPi]

My thing is, is that it seems that some parents don't have manners themselves so how could they possibly teach them to their parents.

For example I have three younger sisters (not biologically related to me but I have know their older sister, Melody, since I was 8 and I've known them since the day they were born so they think of me as their sister), I took them to see Scooby Doo 2. Albeit, we went to the $2.00 theater, but it is still a theater. Well the theater was filled with parents and children. Totally fine, except that throughout the movie the kids could not SHUT UP!!!! They kept asking questions about the movie, or about things not even related to the movie. Heck the kids behind me were talking about what they wanted for dinner. The parents of these children not once told them that they must be quiet, instead they allowed the behavior to continue.

I get that Scooby Doo was for kids, but hello it's called COURTESY!!!!!!!

My sisters, were perfect. Not to sound boastful, but their mother taught them excellent manners. They know when they are supposed to be on their best behavior. In movie theaters, at restuarants, just generally in public.

Now, I don't say these things to attack parents. I know that when I have children and I want to go out, A) I'll find a baby sitter or I won't go out and B) if for some reason we (my husband, when I do get married, and I) decide to go out as soon as my child is being disruptive to any other people I would be leaving the restuarant or the theater ASAP.

As for cell phones. I actually went and saw a movie where the woman not only answered her phone but then proceeded to have a conversation in the theater. I was like WTF. Since I didn't want to be rude (even though she was) I started by giving her "evil glances". Well she didn't get the hint so I finally said, rather loudly and rather rudely "do you mind". What was stupid is that this woman gave me a look that plainly said "I can't believe you are asking me to stop my conversation, how dare you". It's like "hello your the one being rude not me". Ugh. Some people seriously need to learn manners.

If your cell phone is so damn important, put it on vibrate. If you are waiting for an important call, put it on vibrate.

Not that it is the same thing, but what is it with parents who let their children run around huge department stores ALL BY THEMSELVES. I was at the Dillards outlet store today with my mom and OMG so many children were just running around with out their parents and this store was huge and just PACKED with people. I would be TERRIFIED that my childe would be kidnapped in this kind of situation.

Agree with me, disagree with me, just respect my opinion.

[Tippiechick]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
But I do have a question for those with children under 1 year (not singling you out or callin you out Tippie, just a question) aren't you afraid that bringing that young of a child to the movies or something that your child will be nasty germs and stuff? I even feel gross after leaving the movie theater.

PMmama,

Being the mother of a 11 week old child, I am always concerned about germs, etc. But, one could catch something just as easily sitting in church. Think about it, close proximity, etc... Max's pediatrician said I have more to worry about when taking my child to Wal-Mart than out places like restaurants, church, etc. Plus, he stays in my arms the entire time.

The thing is, I won't take my child to the movies much longer. We have taken him to the movies twice. Both have been 1 p.m Saturday matinees. One was R and the other was PG. I see nothing wrong with taking babies to the movies as long as they are like my son and sleep through the whole movie without making a peep. But, once they are too big to sleep peacefully, it is time to either find a babysitter or stay home. My son is now 3 months and we are no longer taking the chance of him being a bother to anyone by making a peep.

It is the inconsiderate/stupid people who ruin things for all of us parents. The inconsiderate people refuse to take their small babies out. The stupid ones bring small children to inappropriate movies and won't take them out when they misbehave. I find it terribly selfish to expose a child to the content of inappropriate movies. Once a child is 6 or so months, I think it's time to stick to PG or G movies if a movie is to be seen.

In other words, I see nothing wrong with taking small children to PG and G movies. With those ratings, one should EXPECT that families will be present. At the same time, I think that parents should act responsibly and KNOW to keep their children at home away from R movies or 7, 9 p.m. movies.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
If you're gona take the responsibility of having children, then deal with the responsibility of taking care of them, and be courteous of other people. Find a babysitter, or find a child-friendly activity.

As a parent who would love to be able to get away with just Ms. MysticCat more than we can usually pull off, I agree completely.

FWIW, a cheaper alternative to the find-a-babysitter route: find another couple or two (or three) -- friends of yours whose kids are your kids' friends -- who'd be willing to swap with you. You keep their kids so they can go out, then another night, they keep yours so you can go out. Often, the kids will have enough fun together that it's not that much extra work for the sitting parents. The kids have a "party" and you either get a night out or enable your friends to have a night out. We've even done a couple of overnights that way.

[wrigley]

V for Vendetta was NOT meant to be seen by a toddler.
What were the parents thinking?

[PhiMuAmberkins]

I worked at a movie theater for 4 and a half years. I have so many horror stories. This one is one of my favorites though:

This woman and her husband brought a small child (I don't have kids, but I would say around 8 months or so) to see Red Dragon with them. Yes, Red Dragon, the movie with scary ass Ralph Fiennes and Anthony Hopkins. This was at the 9:30 showing on a SATURDAY. I knew there were going to be problems the second they walked in.

So about 20 minutes into the movie, the baby starts crying. The mom brings the baby out into the lobby for a few minutes, and she/he calms down. They go back in. A few minutes later, I'm checking the movie, and I here the baby start fussing. So I stand at the door so I can make sure she takes the baby out. She doesn't. No, she gets up out of her seat and takes the baby down to the very front of the theater, where she proceeds to toss the baby up in the air, talk baby talk to it, and just generally do calming mommy things. That's good...the problem was she was in the way, and people were starting to get pissed. She was also being incredibly loud.

So I walk over to her and ask her, very politely, if she would take the baby into the lobby because she was disturbing the rest of the theater. That was when all hell broke loose. She called me a string of profanities that was quite impressive, screaming the entire time, then said (not joking) "Just cause you can't find anybody to F you and give you a baby doesn't mean you should be a bitch to those of us who did!" A collective gasp went up in the audience, because she had screamed it. I had had enough. I stood there fuming for a second, and finally just told her to get out. NOW. Then she pushed me. Still holding her baby...pushed me. So, I marched right out of there, called the cops, told them what was happening, went up and stopped the movie, and went back in the theater and told her to get the hell out of my theater, because I really didn't feel like pressing assault charges. She started packing up her things (her husband was thoroughly embarassed, I think he made her) all the while screaming at me. This continued until she walked out the front door...I finally got rid of her, went and turned the movie back on (to applause from the crowd) and went about my night. The cops showed up and told me to call them immediately if she came back.

This was just one horrible example of crazy parents. It's not the babies I have a problem with...they can't help it. I have lots of stories about other youngins though...I kicked so many people out of that place, it wasn't even funny. Working at a movie theater really does make you stronger...I don't take shit at ALL now.

Sorry about the rambling...I just thought I'd share my psychotic parent at the movies story!

[trideltrockstar]

Definitely depends on the kid. If you have a really well behaved, mature child, feel free to bring them to the movie if they think they can handle it.

My parents used to take me along to the latest movie showing of a film they wanted to see. Back then the kid's ticket price was $3 or $4 and I would instantly fall asleep in the theater. Much cheaper than paying a babysitter $30.

[KatieKate1244]

My rule of thumb when it comes to noisy people in theatres: I ask them to be quiet/turn phone off/whatever once, and if it happens again, I go talk to the management. I'm paying $8.00 to try to relax and enjoy myself, and it's hard when there's a screaming baby, noisy teenagers, etc. I went to see Lord Of Dogtown at 9:45 last summer, and about 8 teens walked in and would not shut up after I asked them about 5 times to be quiet. They ended up getting kicked out and I got a free ticket to come back and view the movie later.

[CutiePie2000]

IMO, age 5 is about the minimum age for kids to a KIDS movie (age 4....they still like to wiggle around a bit).

When I take my niece and nephew to movies, I carefully instruct them that when the film starts rolling, that they shouldn't be talking anymore (except for whispering "pass the popcorn", that kind of thing).

To PhiMuAmberkins: you handled that crazy lady like a pro...KUDOS to you!