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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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Can you believe I actually spoke those words last week? To a soon-to-be brand new 13-year-old?
This is the first year oldest didn’t want a party with friends. He thought he was too old for that.
So, it would just be the four of us, at Coco Key and then a night in the hotel room after. Perfect birthday I thought.
But where would we go for dinner? Anywhere he wanted, we decided.
“Can we go to Hooters?”
Interesting choice. Good wings. A little pricey, but good.
Burgers are OK. Fries, too.
But the service? Well, maybe just a tad friendly. A tad, well, just too much.
“Are you kidding me?” is all I could answer.
I think oldest has had this thought in mind for months now. His 13th birthday surrounded by pretty girls almost twice his age. Well, almost, but don’t get me started.
His dad (not stepdad) took him to Hooters one afternoon (not going to go there either…) and another kid was having his birthday. He was 13.
All the waitresses sang for him and they got together for a photo. And oldest thought that was the coolest.
I think he even pictured a similar photo hanging in his room. Oh, wouldn’t it look great, next to the Motor Cross poster and Bart Simpson?
For him, it’s not really about short shorts and low tops (or am I only kidding myself here?). They’re girls, plain and simple.
But of course, for just bringing up the idea, he got a couple lectures about treating women as objects with a few, “and the wings are too darn expensive” thrown in for good measure.
Poor kid, all he wanted was a picture to put up in his room. I’m convinced they could have been in uniforms of long pants and turtlenecks and he’d still want the photo. Girls. That’s all.
Well, we didn’t go to Hooters Saturday night. We swam. Ate some nachos. And he got to try out his new Xbox.
Turns out he didn’t even want to go to dinner. Wanted to stay in the hotel room and play video games for four hours straight.
Oh sure, girls have their power. But for a brand new 13-year-old thank goodness so do video games.
I ran into this situation as well with my newly turned 13 year old only we did take him to Hooters. Oh how the eyes opened up wide upon being greeted with shouts of "Welcome to Hooters" from girls in short shorts and tight fitting tops. Unfortunately, the service was below average and the food was not very good. I really did not expect anything less, but I used this opportunity to teach my son a little lesson that would really open his eyes as to how women are dehumanized at Hooters. We also compared our service to another dinner outing we previously had where our service was outstanding as well as the food. The waitresses were still pretty, but dressed more conservatively. The waitress earned her tip based on how well her service was not because she sat at our table for 15 minutes telling us what she thought we wanted to hear. I only hope our lesson sunk in and put a stop to future requests to dine at Hooters. It is definitely over rated.I am SO glad we don't have to worry about this. I have never cared for Hooters, but my ex loved it. the establishment definately dehumanizes women and objectifies them, while overcharging the guests. I would rather go hang out at one of the Coyote Ugly Saloons than go to a Hooters. Thank goodness DH feels the same way.I laughed out loud when I read your title! I think you're right--it's all about the girls. Kids are just funny. As for Hooters dehumanizing women--well, that may be true, but those girls don't have to work there. If they didn't think they were hot enough to be ogled and stared at and whistled at and whispered about, they would find jobs that didn't require them to dress like skank. I can't say I feel sorry for them in the least.Just last week we went to Hooters for our son's 15th bday. It was his choice. Honestly, we went for the wings & we were watching the NASCAR race. Due to the fact that my son is visually impaired, I don't think the "eye-candy" was his reason for the choice. We have been before, so my littlest ds knew he would get a balloon so that was his highlite. Bday ds played his DS most of the time we were there. We really don't pay much attention to the attire. Although, I do admit to watching them walk away & thinking "why can't my butt look like that"!!!!!Okay, maybe it's just me, but what I'm feeling most sorry for you about in this blog post is that you had to get into a swimsuit in March. EEEEEeeeek! That's my version of a nightmare. LOL!Aw I took my dd and dad for the first time and honestly the girls made my grown man blush :) I had them take a picture with my dd because they kept ohhing and awing over her but dad was tooo shy to get in the pic..Hooters..how funny. We haven't been there as a family and probably won't. I went there once for a going away bash for a coworker and drank the worst margarita ever! I would rather go to Manny's. But, when my oldest DS found out what a hooter actually meant, his older sister said "we could go to Hooters to eat" and he just turned totally read and was indignant..NO! But, he isn't 13... yet. As far as the girls that work there, I have no empathy for a woman that works in that particular industry. They are grown and make decisions based on their level of comfort.My kids love Hooters. We don't make a big deal out of the pun and my daughters lov eit more than the boys! We've done a birthday dinner there- wing party and hoola hoops. Kids love it.Turning 13, yep I believe it. It's all about the girls. Since DS turned 13 at the end of the year I'll have to keep my ears open for him to ask to go to hooters for dinner one night. Fat chance.When he had a Hooter's near us, we went all of the time. They are the only place with wings that are so hot, your eyeballs pop out of your head and burst into flames, which my DS14 loves. And, I love the steamed oysters. I have seen so many kids in there having birthday parties, that I guess I don't feel one way or the other about it. DS14 could care less about the tight little t-shirts, struggling to hold in the funbags. But, DH and DS7 need a drool cup, and swear it's because of the wings. LOL!!I love Hooters. Not only do they have great wings, but we can't beat the service. We have celebrated DH8 birthday at a different Hooters every year since he was 2. Hopefully, when he hits puberty and wants to go just for the girls, he'll be so tired of it he won't want to go.It kind of grosses me out to think of my 12-year-old son noticing girls with boobs. But like you, I'm relieved he still likes to play his pretend basketball games and play army guy in the backyard (when no one's looking.)Who knew Xbox would look so wholesome??? I am shocked at all the people who say they have either gone to Hooters for a kid's birthday, or they know someone's kid who had a birthday there. There is no way I'd take my kids there for a birthday, no matter how good the wings must be. Sounds like you had a fun weekend, and one your son will remember--without the focus on Hooters! I'm sure he saw plenty at the pool, anyway, right?Crazy that this came up; we just recently had a conversation about Hooters at our church small group. Several women felt really strong about how hooters was the downfall of man? I felt alone in that it was not that bad, and the wings are pretty good. I get the "women as objects" thing, but let's face it, most of our culture has that problem. Hooters just doesn't hide it. I don't have a child that age, but I do have a husband that seems to act that age and he and I enjoy going there every once in a while. How do other wives feel about Hooters and their husband's?
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