Mum divides Internet over restaurant’s ‘well-behaved kids’ rule
A Port Stephens venue has sparked debate after a local mum called out a house rule she says sets the bar too high for kids.
Brie Rockliffe spotted a sign in the window at Laguna Blu Bar & Dining and did a double take. The notice reads: “We appreciate well behaved children, and require them to remain seated at all times. Thanks for understanding.” She posted about it on TikTok—and the comments started flying.
“I completely understand where the restaurant is coming from and I never intended my video to attack them personally,” she told news.com.au. “I just thought the wording of the sign was a bit blunt and sparked an interesting conversation about how parents are made to feel when dining out with kids.
“I think most parents get that restaurants need respectful behaviour, but expecting children to ‘remain seated and well behaved’ at all times feels unrealistic especially for toddlers.
“It can come across as if there’s no room for kids to just be kids.”
Her original caption set the tone—“Breakfast with a side of unrealistic expectations.
Thoughts? LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL?”—but most commenters sided with the venue.
Many argued the policy is about safety and comfort for everyone, staff included.
“If you can’t keep your children seated, don’t take them out,” one wrote. Another added,
“God forbid you would have to teach your child table manners and how to behave respectfully in public,” while a third parent chimed in, “As a parent with two young children, I agree with this requirement. We’re raising the next generation …”
Plenty of diners questioned why the rule was controversial at all: “Well behaved children who don’t run around a cafe, while wait staff are carrying around hot meals and drinks, is unrealistic?”; “I genuinely don’t see how this is an unrealistic expectation?”; and
“Concerning someone thinks that isn’t realistic,” were typical replies.
Not everyone agreed. Some parents said the messaging felt unwelcoming. “I would honestly leave, I think it’s rude of a business to have a sign like that. It just screams ‘we don’t like kids’,” one person said. Another added, “Kids will be kids … they will walk around (with supervision), they will explore and they will be loud! Kids are allowed to be existent, while in a respectful manner.”
For Rockliffe, the bigger issue is how families feel when they eat out. “The response to the video has shown how some parents share that feeling [of] wanting to take their kids out, but often feeling judged or unwelcome,” she said.
Jonathan Jackson, 30th October 2025
