Friendly Debates with the Danielles Weekly Link-Up: Infant/Toddler Banning At Restaurants

It's time for yet another interested and friendly debate with the Danielles! This week they bring the controversial question of restaurants banning infants and toddlers. What's your opinion? We'd all love to know. Just click here to find out all the info on how your blog can participate. Don't have a blog or time to write a post, leave me a comment with your thoughts. I love reading these responses!
So, without further ado, here's my Q&A for the week!

TOPIC

Banning Infants/Toddlers from Restaurants: Yay or Nay? What do YOU say?

 I have to think back to the days before I had children and (ducking my head), I have to say Yay in some instances. If I'm going out for a romantic dinner and spending over $100, I want it to be quiet, romantic, and relaxing. No crying babies or toddlers flinging food at the table next to me!! I have never taken my children to Five and Ten or Speakeasy, two of my favorite restaurants in Athens, GA and don't think I've ever even seen a child at either. Maybe some children enjoy pan-seared duck and five-course meals and tapas that span over 2 hours, but I'd say most would be ready to run around the restaurant after a good 30 minutes. 

With that said, if I'm going to eat at Olive Garden, Chilis or some other "family restaurant", I think it would be insane to even try banning small children and infants. With this economy many of said restaurants are having trouble staying above water. If they wipe out the whole family aspect they having going, what's left? I don't see the upper-crust of society dining at Red Lobster for a delicious, romantic dinner comparable to Four Seasons. Seriously, I'm not knocking Red Lobster (and I enjoy eating there with my family), but I don't see it becoming highly rated on the Zagat anytime soon.

Okay, I'll end my rant! I know it is sometimes necessary to bring kids along, even on a date, but who'd even want to spend $200 on a romantic dinner with a child at the table? Not me! I'd want to save my money and go when we can get a babysitter. I don't get romantic dates with the hubs much any more, so I'd want to make the most of the night.

What do you think? How would you feel if toddlers and infants were banned from certain restaurants? Yay or Nay?

**For next week's topic, how about regifting, medicating children for ADD/ADHD or using the tv as a babysitter/how long children watch tv? **

GFC Will No Longer Be Available For Non-Blogger Blogs! Thoughts?

This does not affect Children Teaching Mama, but many of my blogging friends are using Wordpress to host their blog. Apparently, Google has decided that Google Friend Connect will only be available for Blogger hosted blogs starting next year!! For those of you who love entering giveaways, this may end up changing the format of giveaways! I'm not sure what will happen or if anything will be drastic. What do you think? Does this affect your blog? I would be upset if I were on Wordpress, which is something we were planning to do for 2012. :(

Kindle Fire - My new obsession

Okay, I know lusting is a sin, but I'm pretty much infatuated with the newest Kindle about to hit the market in November! Have you heard about it? I've wanted to get a tablet for a few months now and, as I was about to break down and buy one for $400, I heard about the Kindle Fire!


The Kindle Fire comes out November 15th for only $199 and, unlike the past Kindles on the market, this one allows for much more than just books. You can watch movies, play apps (my obsession, Angry Birds), listen to music, read and much, much more. Bloomberg had an awesome article a few weeks ago comparing the Kindle Fire to the iPad and said Apple is pretty much shaking in its boots. No kidding! The Kindle Fire is supposed to be lightening fast with vibrant colors, and at 7'', it's compact yet big enough to watch movies. This will be awesome when traveling.

I have already pre-ordered my Kindle Fire through Amazon.com and am praying I get it before Christmas! Are you getting one?Are you as excited as I am?