Q: A lunch with a friend was nearly ruined by a young child’s kicking the back of the booth I was sitting in. I was irritated, but my friend told me to “lighten up” and ignore it, so I did nothing. But could I have said something to the child’s parents without it becoming a big deal?
A: Sure. You could have been forthright – but not huffy – and said to the parents: “Excuse me, I’m sure you don’t realize it, but your daughter’s kicking is shaking the entire booth. Would you mind asking her to stop? Thanks so much!” That approach works – most of the time.
Some parents respond to these reasonable requests with defensiveness, even anger. When that happens, it’s not worth it to keep pressing. Such conversations can escalate, turning meals into indigestible fiascoes. Another option: Ask your waiter to move you to a different table, which still disrupts a meal but frees you of troublesome neighbors.
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