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Dad Takes Kid to Hooters to Gauge Interest in Chicks
If Bob Elston just took his eleven-year-old to Hooters because they have great wings, we’d probably roll our eyes and move on. But the Virginia dad says he took his son to the restaurant full of scantily-clad waitresses to “see how he conducts himself around women.”
So, you wanted to make sure your son was on board with objectifying chicks before you told him to wrap that sucker?
To be frank, a visit to Hooters would not be on my top ten list. But for all its tackiness, it’s also not a strip club. An eleven-year-old is going to see an equal amount of skin at your typical seaside resort. Calling Elston a “pervert” for the move is a stretch.
But Elston still seems to have a warped view of parenting. Instead of sitting his kid down for a talk to gauge his interest in sexual topics, he took him out to check out some big boobies?
A cursory look at the story brings to head a homophobic outlook on life for starters. He doesn’t look at boobs, so therefore he’s not ready for the sex talk? Er, perhaps he just doesn’t find breasts attractive.
According to Elston: “If he drooled and couldn’t take his eyes of the waitress, then that would be an unmistakable cue to me to start preparing another birds and the bees talk. If he acted embarrassed and shy, then that would be a sign that such a pointed talk could wait a bit.”
Sorry Dad, that’s not quite how it works. It’s not beyond the realm of belief that he’s very interested, but he’s been raised (apparently by his mother) to have the good taste not to gawk. Or he’s an eleven-year-old boy who is simply uncomfortable with sexuality at this point – ultra curious, but still so young that he doesn’t know how to respond. And that means he feigns indifference?
Which isn’t the same as saying he’s not ready, Dad. It means he’s still eleven, and your job as a parent is to talk to your son and feel him out – not shove him into an uncomfortable situation and say sink or swim, boy.
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[...] … can we order up some serious sensitivity (not to mention parenting) training here? Read the article to get this dad’s take on ‘the sex talk’. Email This [...]
THE DAILY FIND: Dad Takes Kid to Hooters to Gauge Interest in Chicks commented on Dec 09 09 at 3:11 amGP commented on Nov 16 09 at 1:03 pmI think the Dad needs to have the talk, of course, and this is a stupid way to gauge it. But the whole thing is a little funny to me because my husband and I got into a big discussion about whether it would be appropriate to take our *daughter* to Hooters. She’s only 2 now, but, I thought it wasn’t a good idea. I myself would not mind going for the camp factor and I like cute girls. But, I am a (mostly) fully-formed adult woman who knows who she wants to be. I wasn’t sure I would want to expose my daughter to such a lame example of chick-ness. At the same time, if these girls waitressing are happy and, maybe they’re supporting their families or putting themselves through college…or maybe its just what they want to do. So, why is that shameful, in the end? My husband noted, it’s NOT stripping. It’s not particularly dignified, but so many things we have to do to make a living sometimes leave us feeling a little compromised. Anyway…it’s funny the kids and Hooters thing should come up.
Bill commented on Nov 16 09 at 3:24 pmPardon the language, but it’s a damned restaurant! The father isn’t even telling his son why they’re going to Hooters. For all the kid knows they’re just going to get some wings, no harm in that. The feedback the dad is looking for could just as easily be gained from taking his son to a public beach on a hot day, or watching a womens volleyball game on t.v. I think the writer of this report is taking this situation way too seriously.
Chiken commented on Nov 16 09 at 6:51 pmIt may not be a strip club, but Hooters is still awfully trashy. I can’t imagine taking myself into such a place, let alone a child. Do they have anything on the menu that isn’t horribly processed and unhealthy? I don’t judge the women who work there, but I do judge the type of people who eat there. Yuck.
Ali commented on Nov 16 09 at 8:19 pmFamilies dine at Hooters everyday. What is the big deal?
snarky mama commented on Nov 17 09 at 1:12 pmMy first thought when I read the quote about the dad wanting to “see how he conducts himself around women” was less about the dad worrying about the birds and bees talk, and more about the dad “worrying” if the son is gay.
AngusParvo commented on Nov 18 09 at 10:27 amOur local Hooter’s has “kids eat free” specials on Saturdays. One night they had some kind of carnival with games in the parking lot for kids. Not sure when Hooter’s turned into Chuck E. Cheese.
edro commented on Mar 19 11 at 7:47 amI opened a Hooters once in Tacoma ,WA with a friend who bribed me into it (Beer and Money). The Food isn’t processed really except for the american ‘cheese’. It is greasy though. And salty as all get out and I crave salt. When it comes to the work environment its worse than babysitting a bunch of whiny little bitches in junior high…Lots of fun. I think its great to assess your sons development. GAYDAR…blip…blip…blip LMAO!!! Seriously though Its not that bad. I hate Hooters but they do have the best fresh hot wings. And I did meet the woman I love there.
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