Screaming Kid Ruined Our Dinner”: Mom Recalls Rude Encounter

Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in October 2015.

This story, originally reported in October 2015, highlights a distressing experience faced by Katie Leach, a mother from Nampa, Idaho. While enjoying a family dinner at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant, Leach and her family encountered a rude note from fellow diners, criticizing her 10-month-old son’s occasional cries.

Leach, in a candid Facebook post, explained that her son, Drew, was going through a phase where he would sometimes yell, whether expressing excitement, frustration, or simply for no apparent reason. “He will yell when I tell him no, when he’s super excited and happy or just for no reason at all,” she wrote. “I’m doing my best to teach him indoor voice and to not yell back at me when telling him no etc. But he is only 10 (almost 11 months) and LEARNING.”

During their meal, Drew, like any curious and energetic baby, expressed his excitement at the lively atmosphere of the restaurant. “He had been screaming off and on just with everybody as they were singing happy birthday. And when one of the waitresses would come up, he’d scream to tell them hi,” Leach recalled. “We all tried quieting him down which a majority of the time he did, but he also was so excited to be around all the commotion. He was not yelling to be mean or because he was mad, it was purely from excitement and being happy.”

However, halfway through their meal, a pair of diners, “their late 50’s or early 60’s,” delivered a scathing note to Leach’s table. The note bluntly stated: “Thank you for ruining our dinner with your screaming kid. Sincerely, the table behind you.” The women then returned to their seats, leaving Leach and her family stunned and disappointed.

Leach, naturally, felt a mix of emotions – hurt, frustration, and disbelief. She approached the women to explain that she was actively guiding her son’s behavior and that he was still very young and learning social cues. “He’s so young. He barely understands now. I mean he’s starting to learn that when we tell him no that means to tone it down, which he was doing,” she explained. However, the women dismissed her concerns, citing their own grandchildren as examples of well-behaved children.

Leach expressed her disappointment with the women’s lack of empathy and understanding. “He’s so young. He barely understands now. I mean he’s starting to learn that when we tell him no that means to tone it down, which he was doing,” she reiterated. “I wish the women could have handled things differently.”

Fortunately, the restaurant manager swiftly intervened. He apologized for the diners’ rude behavior and, while allowing them to finish their meal, firmly instructed them to leave quietly. The manager also graciously comped Leach’s family’s meal and assured them that they were always welcome at Texas Roadhouse.

Travis Doster, a spokesman for Texas Roadhouse, addressed the incident, emphasizing the restaurant’s commitment to providing a welcoming and enjoyable dining experience for all guests. “We’re in the hospitality business. We want all our guests to have a great experience. We were voted one of the loudest restaurants by Consumer Reports. We are proud to be loud. If you want to hear clinking wine glasses and clinking forks, then this probably isn’t the place for you,” Doster stated.

This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges parents face in navigating public spaces with young children, while also highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding towards families with young ones.