Fighting at Chuck E. Cheese

Just when I thought Chuck E. Cheese was the last safe place to take the kids for good pizza and a puppet rock concert, I learn that fights broke out just this week at the place where a kid can be a kid. Police were called, pepper spray was used, and 80 people were involved in the brawl. I hear reports that a three year old was hurt badly and ended up in the hospital. Say it ain't so!

What's going on at Chuck E. Cheese to cause such a ruckus? Yea, this is Flint, Michigan and we have a bad reputation, but let's not go there. If it's happening in Flint it has to be happening in other cities nationwide. Google "Chuck E. Cheese Fight" and you will be surprised by the results and by who is often involved in these fights. It's teenagers! Does Chuck need to have an age cutoff? The little ones have Chuck E. Cheese and the adults have Dave and Busters, but what do teenagers have?

Several months ago my mom took my daughter to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese and some of the party goers got into a heated fight over some baby mama/baby daddy drama. We've gone from taking it to the streets to taking it to the Cheese.

Here are a few scenarios that may cause a Chuck E. Cheese Rumble:

· Baby Mama/Baby Daddy Drama: A dad is there spending money on one child with the mother of that child and another one of his kids by a different mother shows up and wants more tokens and attention that the other. Conclusion: The moms go a few rounds while the dad instigates the situation.

· That's Our Table: Face it Chuck E. Cheese is packed on weekends and if you're planning a party and don't reserve a table you're bound to be stuck with one of those smaller booths. You don't want to be stuck at the table the whole time so you and the kids leave to play a few games. When you get back to the table your seats are taken. Conclusion: Parents have a shouting match that turns into a heavy weight match.

· Bad Kids in the Sky: That very dangerous looking Skytube attraction at Chuck E. Cheese can cause a problem. Many kids go in at once and there are points when you lose sight of your child then you hear screaming and crying. Conclusion: Parent wants to know what child responsible for hurting their child and the finger pointing starts and it ends like the "That's Our Table" scenario.

· Back in the Day: A thirty-something adult or older mentions that Chuck E. Cheese was cooler back in the day. A worker or manager overhears and takes offense. Conclusion: Fight ensues, sides are taken and the whole place is going at it. Yea, I know this one is a stretch, but this one was especially for me. Chuck E. Cheese had a lot more going for it when I was a kid.

There's a common thread here, all scenarios deal with adults acting a fool. Each time I've visited Chuck E. Cheese I get a headache and cannot wait to leave. Maybe Chuck E. Cheese should be a drop off point for kids with no adults allowed. Lord knows I'd drop my daughter off every weekend for a small fee just to catch up on my sleep. A Chuck E. Cheese Daycare would be a great idea!

People don't realize that Chuck E. Cheese is not the end all be all of birthday celebrations.

I present to you five alternatives:

1. Museum/Children's Museum

2. Planetarium

3. Humane Society

4. Movie Theatre

5. McDonald's

Look into it, I promise you won't be sorry. Granted these places may cost a little more than Chuck E. Cheese, but they're safer, a lot cooler and a change from the norm. Heed my advice or the next time you step into Chuck E. Cheese you'll have to get by security and a metal detector. Those with braces beware!