You should definitely be a manny. Can you imagine how many Upper East Side mums would be in bidding wars over you?

Who does know how to deal with a toddler in a crowded restaurant in Manhattan?!? Well, besides you, obviously :)

NO FUCKING KIDDING. I am extreeeeemely hot natured, and I keep the house at 76-77 only when I’m literally just sitting on my ass in shorts and a tee shirt. For sleeping (I need covers) or if I’m actually doing stuff around the house, work, cleaning, etc — 72-73. Getting ready to go out / need to look nice? 69-70,…

Toddlers do tend to repeat anything they hear. She heard it at home, daycare, TV, or from other kids. It could have been anywhere. I accidentally let the F-bomb drop in front of my almost 2-year-old when I spilled water all over the floor, nearly getting it on my laptop, and she was saying it for a straight week. I…

Adorable and not creepy at all. The parents were probably exhausted and happy that a friendly stranger was there to help. I don’t think them ignoring her at a restaurant was a good idea, though. As for the ugly and stupid comment... toddlers are insane little creatures. If that had been my daughter, she would pout for…

Pachinko balls, paintings, peas, pencil points. She really is going through “P”s. Goody. Maybe I’ll be in the “R”s?

This was exactly why I went into work today (and talked about my cat a lot, but still). There is absolutely NOTHING I can do other than keep busy. There was actually one point where my boss got overwhelmed (it was a crazy day for her) and I just pushed her out of the way and told her to let me handle it. She was very…

Why’d you just stand by, doing nothing? Once in a crowded church during Mass, a woman (whom I guessed wasn’t born in America) kept allowing her small daughter to climb under the pews and run up the aisles of the church, which happened three times, as the little girl squealed the whole time. Each time they returned to…

Huh, I’ll have to ask my wife and 15 month old son Lucas what I’m doing in this charade when I got home from work tonight!

You’re right, that was creepy. And I’m sure the parents were thrilled to be told how to parent their kid. Nice work.

effective coping mechanisms to deal with home state shame

Ugh, I hate my home state sometimes. People like the asshole in the article & Rick Santorum make it even MORE embarrassing to be from PA. Are there any floridians who can tell me effective coping mechanisms to deal with home state shame? Also, how on earth are there still holocaust deniers!?! What year is this?!

You totally should. Bless you, you mensch.

How sweet of you! But very weird that a toddler said that. I can only imagine what she’s hearing at home— that’s the only way something like that happens, in my experience. Very sad.

I want to be friends with you. You sound wonderful.

I’m a parent, I have two little girls. I HATE other parents who give the rest of us who are trying to teach manners and appropriate public behavior a bad name. I work REALLY HARD when I take my kids places to make sure they are well-behaved. And if they aren’t? That’s okay, we go outside, we go visit the bathroom, we…

You can be our creepy nanny any day of the week.

This is an adorable story. Well, other than the screaming nightmare child. But you clearly handled it in an above-and-beyond manner! I’m especially glad that the parents recognized that and paid for your meal.

That’s so strange to me, because where I live, kids go everywhere. Asian culture loves children and they’re always welcome at pretty much any restaurant. I wouldn’t be taking them to Nobu, but, generally, they can go to any restaurant. The kids are all very well-behaved, though, and no one is running through…

Thank you! :) If the weather is nice, definitely go to Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth. It’s gorgeous and the perfect place for a picnic or just a nice walk and view of the ocean. Definitely walk around the Old Port. There are tons of art galleries and interesting restaurants. The Art Museum is worth visiting, as is…