Rude children should not be allowed in theater

Dear editor:

I just wanted to talk about the courtesy that should be shown at movie theaters.

My family, there were four generations, went to watch Harry Potter this Sunday. We got there, bought the necessary popcorn and sodas, and found a seat three rows from the back.

We were all pretty excited to see this movie as it has been a family tradition to watch the Harry Potter movies. We don't normally go to the theater for movies, but once a year, I can get my mother to a theater to watch this series.

It seemed that no sooner had the lights dimmed then this family with small children behind us began being very disruptive. There were numerous kicks to the back of my seat, the children were unruly and the parents just didn't seem to care that they were ruining our family outing. These kids talked, sang nursery rhymes, blew bubbles in their cups and this was all in the first hour of the show. My daughter and I continually turned in our seats, thinking the parents might take notice that we were becoming very upset. BUT, it was not to be.

After an hour of the harassing behavior-taking place behind me, I was ready to go, but the rest of my family didn't want to leave. So I sat, getting more upset, as the movie became less interesting, being I couldn't quite keep my attention on it, for the hellions behind me.

Almost another hour of thoughtless activity went on before the show was interrupted by technical difficulties. Amazingly enough, the mother of the little animals, and yes, they behaved like animals, sent them home with someone else. Remember though, we were almost two hours into this movie.

We also had young children in our party, but they were angels compared to the ones directly behind me. One time my niece's daughter slurped the bottom of her glass and I immediately took it away. The mother behind me let her child blow bubbles into his glass for about a minute. Now that might not seem long, but experiment one time in a crowded theater and you will see the reactions I was feeling.

After my daughter and I were on our way home, we do not live in Mountain Home, she asked me, which one was more upsetting, the children or the technical difficulties the movie theater had. There was no choice really, as it was the children all the way.

Parents, if you have not taught your children manners, don't bring them to a theater where there are people there to enjoy themselves. We pay good money for a few hours of entertainment. If they do misbehave, take them out of the theater and speak with them, and then if they don't listen, YOU take them home. Don't ruin it for the rest of us. Maybe if you teach them when they are younger, they won't be the teenagers kicking the seats and giggling years later.

Carol Anselment