The Privileged

We have all been eating at a restaurant where there is a parent with a child that just won’t cooperate. As a server of that child, it is my duty to make sure everyone is happy; including the parent and screaming child. While I understand the annoyance to some, I also see this as my time to shine. Working at a family restaurant I believe it is my job to see to it that I treat my customers like family. What I would do at home with these situations, is what I do at work.

I waited on a very kind hearted woman and her child. She ordered her coffee, the baby’s milk, an English muffin for her, and she ordered pancakes for her daughter. I bring them their drinks and as the mother takes a sip of her coffee, looking terribly exhausted, the baby begins to cry. The mother tries everything but it’s just not working today. Tears flow from this woman’s eyes like an ocean’s waves in a storm.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=babys%20crying%20at%20restaurnts%20&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=babys%20crying%20at%20restaurnts%20&sc=0-19&sp=-1&sk=

The entire restaurant was staring in disgust. I heard another customer complaining to another server about the rudeness of the woman who was just letting her child be a menace to everyone else, she was trying to enjoy her lunch.

I approached the woman with the baby and sat down. It’s a family restaurant after all. Before I could ask her if she was okay, she said, “I just wanted to drink my coffee this morning. That’s all.” Trying to hold back tears. She couldn’t even drink her coffee because she was crying so hard. So I did what anyone would do, and started playing with the baby. We have partitions at my store, and they are glass so you can play peek-a-boo very well there. We played for a while, while the mother calmed down. The baby’s laughter filled the restaurant.

Now, the title of this article is “The Privileged”. I want to explain something to those who go to restaurants to eat: we are all eating at the same place. Where that woman is trying to eat with her daughter, you are trying to eat as well. Maybe you’re a chomper who doesn’t chew with their mouth closed. You might possibly annoy someone with your laugh or even with your eating gestures. People may find you to be rude and interrupting their lunch. However, I must inform you, whoever told you that you have the right to judge another person based on their child’s behavior for that moment, you are wrong.

Please don’t go into a family restaurant and specifically ask to be sat away from “that screaming child” because I promise you, you were that screaming child once. Not only that, but I will also tell you, someone will find a way to make sure you are surrounded again by a screaming child. There are places to go where children are not allowed, but you shouldn’t expect any less at a family diner. I don’t know that I should call that edict or just having respect for others. If you are able to afford to eat at the same restaurant, have the same respect.

There is no such thing as “The Privileged” where I work. I, along with many other of my fellow coworkers, would make sure that you understood that. We are all equal and will be treated as such.   

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=the+mean+girls+faces+(all+3)+&view=detailv2&&id=E6866C0A6F6BD1D5CE4D7EFD5525FE26CA2F0D7D&selectedIndex=0&ccid=%2f11tHS53&simid=608008181598257385&thid=OIP.Mff5d6d1d2e777726dc0a3b8dfdd5983co0&ajaxhist=0