Mom Claims Toddler's Tantrum Got Them Kicked Out of Restaurant—Staff's Rebuttal Shocks Onlookers
Ever gone to a restaurant and just couldn’t resist filming your meal? This Aussie mom, Renèe Barendregt, tried doing a bit more than capturing her culinary experience; she decided to call out Lemongrass Thai for kicking her out over her toddler’s playful antics. But here’s the kicker – her “righteous” rant backfired in spectacularly hilarious ways.
Imagine trying to secure a high chair for your little one to no avail at dinner time, only for the situation to essentially turn into the “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” of toddler dining experiences. Ziggy, her almost two-year-old, decided the pot plants were more interesting than sitting still (because when you’re a toddler, who needs a seat when there’s soil to play with, am I right?). The waiter, juggling more than just their own patience, had to step in with “If you can’t sit down the whole time, I’m gonna have to ask you to… uhhh, yeah, you get point.”
The internet, in its infinite wisdom, didn’t just shrug its shoulders. Instead, it provided a reality check so severe you’d think Karens everywhere were clutching their pearls and fainting. Was this mom entitled for not keeping her toddler in line? Did she overlook basic safety protocol? The comment section became a roast fest faster than a hot bowl of Thai soup can cool on the table.
Folks asked if she even brought distractions like coloring books – you know, to stop her kid from turning the restaurant into an obstacle course. The restaurant, you guessed it, was indeed child friendly, but trying to maneuver through a busy night with a roaming two-year-old turned the dining room into an unintentional jungle gym.
The burning question now: What’s more unsafe, a toddler out of sight at arm’s length, or the viral wrath of internet mob justice?
An Australian mother’s attempt to call out a restaurant for asking her to leave over her toddler’s behavior has backfired, with many accusing her of being “entitled” and ignoring basic safety standards.
Renèe Barendregt, an Australian mom vacationing on the Gold Coast with her almost two-year-old son, Ziggy, was asked to leave the Lemongrass Thai on Tedder Avenue after her son failed to remain seated during dinner.
The clip, uploaded yesterday (April 21), details how the restaurant was unable to provide the toddler with a high chair, an issue that escalated once Ziggy started playing with a pot plant close to their table.
“If you can’t sit down the whole time, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave,” a waiter said.
A mother’s attempt to publicly shame a restaurant for kicking her and her son out backfired, with netizens labeling her “entitled”
Image credits: renee.barendregt
Barendregt and her son headed back to their hotel, where the shocked mother recorded the now-viral TikTok hoping to get the sympathy of viewers—and the restaurant a lesson along the way.
The mother shared the difficulties her and her son were facing prior to booking the seat at the establishment.
Image credits: renee.barendregt
“Maybe they would have thought twice if they realized that I was out all morning chasing him, trying to do something fun for him,” she said.
“Maybe he would have thought twice if he knew that I had been waiting for him to wake up so we could go out for dinner as a family.”
Image credits: reneebarendregt
Visibly upset, Barendregt explained how the incident had turned an already “hard” trip into a depressing experience.
“You just don’t know where people are out or what they’re doing at that moment and just something like that can just be really upsetting,” she said, lamenting the hostility some establishments have towards children.
Among the replies were waitresses who explained that carrying hot food while dodging kids is a safety hazard
Image credits: reneebarendregt
Far from receiving sympathy or causing outrage against the restaurant, the mother’s video elicited an avalanche of critical comments, ranging from informative feedback to insults and claims that she was, in their opinion, “yet another entitled Karen.”
“Unpopular opinion? Your kids need to be able to stay at the table to take them to a restaurant. If they haven’t mastered that yet they are not ready to go to a restaurant,” one user wrote.
@reneebarendregt Just a reminder not to be an arsehole 🤣 #toddler#mumlife#travellingwithkids#ziggy#singlemum♬ original sound – Renèe Barendregt
One particular viewer, claiming to be a former waitress, explained how a kid not being able to remain in their seat is not a minor annoyance, but a serious safety hazard that could put both the kid and others in danger.
“Did you bring him coloring books etc at all?” the waitress asked. “It’s not up to us to dodge your kid when working.”
“If he is not able to stay seated, don’t bring him to the restaurant,” another wrote. “Go to restaurants with play areas for children or so.”
The restaurant issued a statement, explaining that the mother left on her own after feeling offended
Image credits: renee.barendregt
A representative of the restaurant—the restaurant’s owner’s child—addressed the controversy in an interview with local media. According to them, it wasn’t a matter of the kid being loud or annoying other customers, but of safety.
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