Babies in Bars

My friends often tease me by saying that I hate babies. I don't hate babies, but I do hate seeing them in places where I hang out. I'm a young adult, without children of my own, and I like to hang out in bars, restaurants, and other places around the city that are appropriate for adults of my age, and not what you'd usually consider family establishments.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon to see young parents, maybe around my age to 5-10 years older, bring their babies to these places. I've seen babies in breweries, in trendy cafes and bars meant for 20-30 somethings -- not screaming infants and toddlers running around-- and outdoor patios that are meant for the 21+ crowd.
I think it comes down to entitlement. These young parents want the best of both worlds. They are ready to start their family, but not ready to let go of their social lives. They have grown up in a society that tells us we can do what we want. The fact is, parents, if you'd stop to think about anyone besides yourself, you'd realize that you're making your fellow day-drinkers, trendy restaurant goers, and peace-and-quiet seekers uncomfortable, anxious, and generally annoyed. I go places where I don't have to hear shreaking babies, or monitor the words coming out of my mouth for fear of listening ears. I go to a cafe on a Saturday morning to energize for my weekend and relax from my week, not to smile at your brat every time he toddles over to my table. If there's no kids menu, why bring your kid? So he can mimic you, with "babycinos?" Oh yeah, so you can still feel hip and cool and be in the place you want to be. I like to sit on a patio with some drinks, a place where I have to show my ID to get in, to catch up with friends, and have adult conversations with my friends, again, NOT to watch your children chase each other around and scream.
Many young parents seemingly haven't thought of the impact that they are having on the community at large. They are merely thinking about themselves.
But of course, if someone voices the opinion that I just have, we are the ones that get backlash. It's a persons private decision what they do with their children, of course, and since I'm not a parent, what do I know about parenting? It's a persons freedom to be in a public space and use the public space just as I do.
Unfortunately, the general public can no longer enjoy public spaces where young children are permitted--not in the same way they would if you didn't bring your kids. I've even been to a yoga class where somebody brought their child! There's clearly no rule against it, but children have their own centers for all sorts of classes, sports, and activities appropriate for their age group. Why bring your kid to my one hour of peace and quiet in a day? It's distracting, and it's amazingly selfish. You had the kid, you need to make the tough choice of forgoing yoga or getting a babysitter.
This might seem like a long-winded rant, but I truly believe that the root of this "babies in bars" phenomenon is a much larger problem with society and young adults in this country. We are entitled, selfish, and individualistic to the point where we don't care about imposing ourselves on others, so long as we are meeting our own needs.

--Megan