I'm one of THOSE parents... I always knew I was, but today, it was clear... I took my kids to McDonalds... and packed their lunch.
Let me back up. I've blogged about Mr. B's, a coffee shop at a local church, who has a play-yard for kids. We love it there; the kids love it there. But, they're closed on Mondays. And, today's a Monday... And there's rain the forcast... So, I thought, hey... Why not? Of course, I dont want them eating there, but there's one in town that has a play center, so I figured (as to not be horrible) I could buy myself lunch (no judgement- I had a salad which actually wasnt that bad and weighed in at only 300 calories with the tiny bit of dressing I tossed on it), so I would be a 'paying customer' and then I packed a simple lunch for the kids (since I fully expected them to be so overwhelmed by the play area that they wouldnt want to eat much and would necessitate a "second lunch". But anyway...
My MIL (who laughed her butt off!) came with me to see the kids first (and quite possibly one of the very few) time to McD's. They had a great time. They needed me to show them how to climb up (and let me say, my knees did NOT appreciate that!) but when they were on the levels, which they got to themselves, they had a BLAST. And then they took the (long!) slide down to where Peter's mom waited.
All in all, it was a fun time... Even if I was that mom. :)
6 comments:
Too funny! While both Jason and Jess have eaten at McDonalds, I've always hated their play structures and avoided them.
I think packing their lunches was reasonable. On the few times we've been in a jam and needed to eat at McDonald's (ie, airports with only worse options on tap), I've resorted to peeling the fried coating off the Chicken McNugget in an effort to be "healthier."
I've seriously thought about doing exactly that ... going to mickey D's and packing lunches for the kids. I don't even know if they'd eat that stuff, anyway. And I'd prefer they didn't, but goodness knows when it's raining or 105 degree outside, we need somewhere to go to get out of the house!
I wonder if the McD's play structures are different in different areas. The ones I've seen in MA and NH look like germ pits and that's come from a nongermophobe.
@Paula: some of them ARE nasty. I'm kind of the germy-squirmy type parent and I cant stand the nasty play areas. I've noticed the outside ones tend to be (actually) cleaner (in this area at least). The colors arent as vibrant (from the sun bleaching) but perhaps the fact that the rain gets to them helps? Also, the two I've been to (one with my kids and one with another) have rules forbidding shoes and food (these were both outside). Maybe that makes a difference? The ones I've seen (at McD and other places) that look the dirtiest tend to be the indoor ones and the ones where they allow kids to have their food near the area.
It's definitely not something I'll be making a habit of. But it wasnt as bad of an experience as I'd feared, LOL!
oh my gosh, this is too funny!!! i'm a total mcdonald's lover and i have an absolute blast taking naomi, a mcd's lover in the making, there too. i have such happy memories of "going out to dinner" (ha!) there as a kid and i LOVE hearing naomi ask for "chicken nuggets happy meal with fries and hamburger."
we do always have fun at the play place, too! despite how nasty those things are.
you look GREAT, michele! :)
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