Dear...

Kudos. You brought your child in to eat today. He is obviously very young, I was thinking maybe 3 or 4 years old, and not used to eating in a “real” restaurant. But that’s ok because you brought him at a time when there are few other diners, and you corrected him every time he got too loud or too squirmy. When he cried, you picked him up and removed him to outside until he got the message.

Too many parents take their really young kids out during the lunch rush or dinner rush and let the cry loudly, let them yell, and let them run around. You know your kid’s limits and you’re teaching him to be a good diner. I appreciate that. A few more late lunches/early dinner and he’ll know how to behave in a restaurant.

I apologize for that other couple, the people who were clear across the dining room. They were the ones who left in a giant “children don’t belong here” huff. They didn’t stop to appreciate the lessons you were teaching your child. Maybe no one taught them early on.

Anyway, as someone who has worked in restaurants for over 5 years, I appreciate what you were doing. Your kid is welcome at my tables anytime.