We did not take our children to "adult" restaurants at that age. No matter when we took them out, they behaved, or were taken out and they got their butts whipped. They tended to behave.
I think spanking could be considered child abuse depending on how it is done. My brothers and I would get a couple of cracks from a wooden spoon when we screwed up or a hand for lesser offenses but my mom would always place us in a timeout first to make sure she wasn't doing it while she was angry,my friend was "spanked" bare bottom by his father in the heat of the moment by a leather belt. The issue being that both parents called it a spanking but one left a red mark or small welt the other was much worse. When you use an open hand in public if you look angry and people think you are doing it out of anger they will likely consider it abuse. There is nothing wrong with spanking your children as long as your not doing damage that is there for days.
Posted with my Droid EO Forum App
One point no one has mentioned: parents who don't 'notice' that their kids are annoying others may also allow the kids to literally run around in public places. For the server carrying a heavy tray of hot food, [or just piled high with dirty dishes] or a coffee pot, or a vision impaired [and slow moving] elderly person, those kids are a safety hazard!
It just amazes me how often children are allowed to do as they please in public - bravo to anyone who is willing to forbid it.
Courts want to raise my kids?...then here you can have them...you raise them....