What happens when you combine a screaming kid, a steak dinner, and social media?  A great topic for conversation online and on the air.  It all started with a trip to the Nampa Texas Roadhouse.  According to KTVB, a couple of grandmothers complained that a crying ten-month-old ruined their dinner.

The family of the crier took to Facebook claiming victimhood, which provoked a media firestorm.  Here's what the media has reported.  The kid was crying the entire time, and the couple next to them passed a note on to the family stating, 'thanks for ruining my dinner.'  The manager was called over to both tables and the family with the screaming kid was given a voucher for a free dinner.  The complaining couple was asked to leave.

However, to quote the great Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend!"  Rhonda, one of the ladies at the table, called into our show this morning.  She told us that she wasn't asked to leave the restaurant.  The grandmother said that the manager treated her with respect and had no complaints about him.  She revealed that they had asked the family of the crying kid if they could buy some applesauce or fries to try and quell the storm.  The couple refused and let the kid cry throughout dinner.

The issue is a simple one of consideration.  Everyone who's had kids has lived the drama of the temper tantrum.  I had the issue Sunday night at Church.  Thankfully Father Len's Homily was about Jesus loving the children.  It was tough to hear during the endless bouts of kids being kids in church.  I would've preferred the families with noisy young kids to use the cry room.

The issue at my church and the restaurant illustrate society's changing dynamics.  Ten years ago families would've kindly removed their kids from the scene if they were disruptive.  Today it seems that some families are more concerned about their experience at the expense of others.  I would've like to have seen the Texas Roadhouse folks comp the two grandmothers and the crying kid family.  I applaud Rhonda and her friend for sticking up for themselves instead of saying nothing.  Sometimes an old fashioned conversation is the most social way to communicate effectively.

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