Having two young daughters, I have made my fair share of trips to the parenting Hades, also known as Chuck E. Cheese. I have personally witnessed, not experienced, some arguments between parents dealing with the games and table selection. When you are in an environment of hundreds of screaming kids, noisy electronic games, and cheap beer, parents are bound to experience higher stress levels, which could lead to inappropriate action. Turns out, this is exactly what is happening at this other dynasty built by a mouse. 
The Wall Street Journal profiled the recent incidents at Chuck E. Cheeses. Law enforcement officers claim that more incidents take place at Chuck E. Cheese restaurants than most restaurants and even bars. The WSJ article talks to a psychologist at Temple University who claims this is to be expected.
Stepping in when a parent perceives that a child is being threatened “is part of protective parenting,” says Frank Farley, a psychologist at Temple University and former president of the American Psychological Association. “It is part of the species — all species, in fact — in the animal kingdom,” he says. “We do it all of the time.”
So a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant isn’t only a place where “a kid can be a kid,” but where a parent can be a primitive beast. While the article profiles incidents where the mama bear syndrome was in full effect, other larger incidents seem to be taking place as well. In my hometown of Flint, Michigan, an 85 person brawl broke out recently. The fight was so bad that the cops had to bomb the place with pepper gas to break up the ruckus. I wonder if they checked the invisible ink on all the kids and parents hands when they stampeded out of the restaurant to ensure the children were leaving with their parents. I am sure it was a very orderly exit. Getting doused with pepper spray brings out our rational side as human beings.
Also, I am glad to see my homies in Flint are working hard to stay atop of the nation’s list of most violent cities. We use to be known for building Buicks and murder. Hopefully, we won’t lose both.
At least now, I have an excuse for not taking my girls to Chuck E. Cheese. Now, I just need an incident involving a Ronald McDonald clown pummeling its patrons to avoid the other parenting Hades.