| Super-size your backbone |
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| Written by OHmommy | |
| Thursday, 16 December 2010 09:12 | |
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A Sacramento mom of two young children is suing McDonalds over Happy Meals.
Parham, a 41-year old state employee, says her kids repeatedly ask for Happy Meals, mainly for the toys. "We have to say no to our kids so many times and McDonald's makes that so much harder to do. I object to the fact that McDonald's is getting into my kids' heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat." CNN
She says that constantly saying "no" is interfering in her relationship with her children.
"What kids see as a fun toy, I now realize is a sophisticated, high-tech marketing scheme that's designed to put McDonald's between me and my daughters," said Monet Parham, of Sacramento, Calif. "For the sake of other parents and their children, I want McDonald's to stop interfering with my family." Yahoo.
The McDonald's Happy Meal toy this week is an awesome Hello Kitty watch. I know this because my preschooler nagged me in the drive thru yesterday. "I want dat!" Ignoring her requests, I rolled down my window, ordered "20 piece chicken nuggets" and pulled forward. We had just finished running errands, were on our way to pick up the kids from school and heading straight to ballet and Kumon. "Can you buy me dat Mama?" she whimpered. "No." I replied knowing very well she would understand. It's the same "No" I use when strolling through the toy aisle or when checking out at the grocery store with candy on display at the registers. "No."
Imagine this. The more I say "No" the nagging become less severe. The more I say "No" the occasional "Yes" is like winning the lottery in their eyes. I'm in no way a parenting expert but it seems so simple. Am I missing something? |
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 10:01 |
Comments
McRib .Rowniez lubi kartofle tzn
french fries
Yesterday, while explaining to my 4 year old who was having an "i need a nap the world is ending" crying jag in the cart because I wouldn't buy him the bandana he'd thrown on the floor... that you don't get rewarded for bad behavior and you don't always get what you want, ESPECIALLY, when you're behaving that way; The woman in front of me turned around and asked if she could buy him some candy to make him happy.
{{headbang}}
{sigh}
No is hard. But always saying Yes is harder in the long run.
stay strong xoxox
You can remove the toy from the happy meal, lady. Guess what? Your kids are still going to nag you for the happy meal. Or the candy in the aisle at the grocery store. Or the toys from the $1 section at Target. Or...or...or. Get it?! It has nothing to do with McDonald's and everything to do with you. I'm with Pauline. Super-size your backbone and quit blaming others for your apparent inability to parent your children.
"You're going to McDonald's? You're going to get fat and have a heart attack"
"Those people are buying Nestle ice cream. Why do they hate babies?"
Last week when walking to the post office an obese man exited Burger King. My preschooler shouted for all of Cleveland to hear "Look at THAT FAT man who ate too much junk!"
They know it's junk. I preach that daily. next up are etiquette lessons.
i don't think it's up 2mcdonald's 2raise my kids, anymore than i expect "experts" 2weigh in on what i do correctly or incorrectly. i agree that when/if i need help, advice or assistance, i have a sturdy family network that i can turn to, or i can read the experts that i trust, respect & admire when i feel that i can no longer cope.
here's what i don't love abt the above comment by Annie that says: "you're going to McDonald's? You're going to get fat & have a heart attack."
that line of retort is aggressive & uncalled for, particularly coming from a child. first, are u teaching yr children that all fat people eat mcdonald's & are therefore going 2have a heart attack? why wld u encourage your children 2 "school" other people on how 2eat, & suggest that they are going 2become aggressively ill if they do? not all fat people eat mcdonalds & people who follow a fast food free diet also suffer from heart attack.
if hearing & seeing yr children insult other people brings u "joy" i'd hate 2see what causes u pain.
perhaps u might want 2rethink what u say 2 your children so they don't become self-righteous know-it-alls. society is made for ALL kinds of people. the fat, the heart-attack prone & everyone in between. cheers, xobolaji
Enough already!
Stupid stupid lawsuit.
One of the best things about finally being a parent is getting to say "No, this is what your going to _____"(insert a word like 'do', 'wear', 'eat', etc). Trust me, the world does not stop spinning on its axis if don't give in to every little whim & want.
I have a 2 y.o. who uses "No" far more than I do. And when he says "Yes" I get so excited. I guess he's using your strategy on me, the parent!
Personally, I think McD's should counter sue for defamation. If the advertising they do is causing issues, parents need to say no and avoid the source of the ads.
With something like this, I think we need to step back from our own situations and perspectives and look at the bigger picture.
What about the single parent? What about the two working parent household?
What about when your children are in school and the "innocent" children had paid book manufacturers to include information about them in your children's educational materials?
What about then your children are selling crap to raise money and the "prize" is sponsored by the innocent corporation - food, drink and toys happily included?
What about the schools that sell the innocent corporation's food to your children at school - for extra money?
What about the television shows that incorporate sponsorship right in to the program aimed at children who are not sophisticated enough to decipher that it's a marketing ploy?
What if every surface of your child's school becomes available for corporate sponsorship?
This lawsuit may not be worded correctly or perhaps even valid, but the idea that your child's brain is a commodity for these "innocent" corporations should be disturbing to everyone.
1) that should read "innocent corporation"
2) that should read "what about when your children..."
3) that would be extra money for the school
Oh my, oh my - sorry about that!!
I think moderation is key. The Europeans are doing something right. They are treating fast food restaurants like Americans did years ago. As the occasional family outing. Single mothers/busy parents etc only visit a couple times a year.
I have no problem with fast food restaurants. My children know it's junk food and bad for you and understand why we only visit a couple of times a year. The corporations aren't innocent but I really think it has to do more with the parents.
My kids learned early on that whining for something was the fastest way to NOT get what they wanted. At one point I learned how to say 'no' in 15 different languages and would just go down my list until I wore them down.
Or Target for having shelves of toys in between the towels and sheets and the bike equipment?
I say no. My kids understand the concept of no. In fact, they rarely ask anymore. For the happy meal, or candy at the grocery store. Which is why when I tell them they can have it, they are thrilled.
People need to re-learn how to parent.
As far as the argument of the single parent and dual-working parent household, I don't agree. I have a very good friend who is a single Mom. She makes meals over the weekend so there is good, healthy food when she gets the kids after work and they head straight home. I think the bigger culprit as of late with the fast food runs is the overscheduled family. Kids who are participating in a zillion activities and the one they don't have time for is a decent, at home family meal.
Just my humble thought on the matter. : /
And a law suit? What a WASTE of time and energy. Ugh.
My opinion is that this mom has a hard time saying no so she spoils them hopelessly, and she went belly up broke. So now, she will sue McDonalds, likely succeed because they will most likely settle out, and then she will spoil her kids more and go belly up within a years time. She will be targeting Burger King and Wendy's next. What a hopeless lady.
So, learned pattern of behavior anyone?
I hear you say McDonalds is "junk food" but there is just as much junk food in some homes and even at the grocery store. I think it's not about choosing the restaurant, it's about choosing the menu items. McDonalds has white milk and apple slices and 100% chicken breast nuggets. I know it isn't an ideal meal, but it provides a great opportunity for our kids to make good food choices when bad choices are also available.
I think it's so important to take the things that the world throws at us, and look at them as if they can be teachable moments. Like, "Hey kids, this is a treat. Something special. We don't do it all the time, but we're doing it today and there's nothing wrong with treating ourselves every once in a while, as long as we don't go overboard with it."
My mantra is: EVERYTHING in moderation.
You go, Pauline!
Hilarious.
It's not a company's responsibility to parent your children. Its yours.
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