A woman recently wrote into Oprah’s magazine, O, looking for advice on a topic that I found interesting. Basically, she and her family have a favorite restaurant and it just opened a section within the restaurant that is especially for families. The woman likes to go out to eat with her kids but apparently she doesn’t want to go out to eat in a room with everyone else’s kids.

She thinks the restaurant is wrong for implementing this room for families. What do you think? I can tell you what the expert, Faith Salie, at O thinks.

Salie simply told the woman that the restaurant is allowed to have this policy-whether it’s right or wrong. It’s their restaurant; they make the rules. And Salie pointed out that probably every parent at the restaurant thinks that their own child is fabulous even though others might not agree. Salie’s solution-which I thought was great-was to keep that favorite restaurant for date nights so she and her husband can enjoy their dinner…for two.

Interested in raising good citizens? The experts at msn.com have some ideas for you. One of the many articles in the Home Sweet Home section of their website focuses on how parents can instill good character in their children. Here are four suggestions on the how-to of raising good citizens:

1. Use good manners in the home. Kids pick up on what they hear and see at home so if parents want to raise respectful children, it only makes sense that they model respect for everyone in the family.
2. Emphasize the power of gratitude. When kids can appreciate even the simplest of things and understand how powerful it is to be thankful, they will start to realize all the blessings they have on a daily basis.
3. Say no every now and then. Overindulging children doesn’t do anyone any favors. Kids need to realize that they can’t always get what they want. And they can also learn how rewarding it feels to work for something and hear yes when they’ve actually earned it.
4. Assign daily chores. Kids want to feel needed and they need to learn how important it is to contribute to their family, to others around them, and to society as a whole.

Set your expectations high for your children. Don’t shortchange them. More often than not, they will rise to the occasion. And in doing so, they will become the responsible, caring, and considerate citizens you always knew they could be.