AIBU or is this unusual?

[Mushroomflumps]

I'm not judging any one else's parenting - I am not saying my parenting style is right and others are wrong.

I took out some children for lunch, said 'Who wants to go to McDonalds?', expecting a 'Yay' for a treat, and got from one of the children 'What's Mcdonalds?'

I wouldn't of been surprised if any child ever said to me 'I'm not allowed Mcdonalds', or 'Never been to McDonalds'.

But not 'what's mcdonalds?'

AIBU to think this is unusual, or is this common, and just not for my common kids

re kids being old enough to realise McD's has no ill effects -mine too pisces - maybe a little more discerning though

at the thought that it's our duty as parents to ensure that our children know about Mcdonalds so that they can "fit in". The capitalist bastards really have won.

(On which subject dd has regrettably just negotiated a trip to Mickey D's as a reward if she manages two weeks without getting up and coming into our room in the middle of the night. Don't think she thought I would agree, but prospect of unbroken sleep trumps principles.)

I think that is exactly what has been suggested, two.

Anyway, dd knows plenty about capitalist bastards. We live in London and she's been asking questions about the advertisements on the tube since she could talk. And then there are the adverts for Lelli Kellis and endless shit toys between Fifi and Peppa Pig on C5 in the mornings...

But you are right, McD's is a particularly good example. The food industry is rather a special case.

Is it possible that this child does know what McDonalds is, but is under a vow of secrecy, so as not to drop someone in it? Father, aunt, uncle, anyone? "If anyone asks, you don't know what McDonalds is, okay? Your parents would kill me!"

two - I think people are saying that McDs is an example of the kind of thing children, in general, will need to be aware of to aid the "fitting in" process at school.

Its no more or less important than, say, Blue Peter, Spongebob or Disneyland. I'd be interested in hearing a bit more about the original child's circumstances as I still genuinely find it hard to believe.

maryz - yes, I think some posters are displaying their inverted snobbery about fast food restaurants. You're right to say that no one has mentioned actually needing to eat the food itself.

'its no more or less important than, say, Blue Peter, Spongebob or Disneyland'

Eek my kids really are onto a loser then.... Spongebob - oh dear

Now you see, notanotter some people might think they were onto a loser being shielded in this way

Seriously though there are loads of things I'd rather my DCs didn't know about and funnily enough Spongebob is one of them which is why I used it as an example but once you let them enter the school gates you lose control completely.

Are your DCs at school?

Oh yes! They do learn stuff by just being there. We dont have guns or video games in our house but ds aged 7 plays CoD every lunchtime

I'd assume they hadn't been allowed to watch any TV with adverts - as McD's ads are on all the time.

And signs by the street. And on buses. And on the radio.

And McD doesn't really have the most discreet signage outside them.

No, don't understand how they can't have heard of it by that age. Do they live in a bubble?

Really, CoD??

I thought that was an 18 rated video game or am I showing my ignorance again ?

McDonalds is usually a blot on the landscape-fairly impossible to miss! I always found the M quite useful when we were at the stage of looking for letters.

I think that people are missing the point. As has been said, no one is saying that have to like it, or even go in, just that a 9yr old should be aware of what it is.
If your DC is of an age to come into your room in the middle of the night ZD then she is young enough not to know, but if she is bright enough to question adverts she will certainly know what it is by 9yrs old.

People are also reading 'fit in' as if it means follow like sheep! All 'fit in' means is that you should know the popular culture of the day, for your generation. (It is different for each generation-I can mention things from my childhood and people my age will immediately recognise it). You don't have to choose to take part!

She already knows all about McD's, piscesmoon. I just don't particularly like the idea that knowing about it is somehow a necessary part of her social development.

It just stops you feeling like an alien, ZD-that is all! It isn't normal for a 9yr old to walk around towns, motorway service stations etc and not notice fast food restaurants. I think people have proved that you would have your work cut out to hide their existance.
Most 9 yr olds at least like to understand what others are talking about.

My DS1 is school age (though younger at nearly 6) and wouldn't know what McDonalds is. We live in a very small, rural town, he's never been and he never watches commercial TV.

pisces I take issue with the phrase popular culture

I watch TV and can't remember the last time I saw an ad for McDonalds.
For me, it's not been a case of actively shielding DD from McDonalds - it's just not something that's come up until recently. But it does seem ridiculous to seek out businesses like McDonalds just for a 'fitting in' exercise.
I don't know. I assume it's more prominent where some of you live, we've got one, but it's on one of those retail parks (that I don't really go to) so there are loads and loads of logos (B&Q/Pets at home/Argos/pizza hut etc etc). I don't think my DD would consider it any more significant and worth asking about than.

I think it would be unusual at that age. I have a 9 year old who has never set foot inside a McDonalds, nor does he wish to - but he does know what it is, same with Burger King etc.

I have only been in a McD's once, and hated it. I have also only been in a Burger King once and hated it. Both times with the same friend strangely enough!

I really don't know what we are arguing about!
To a 6 yr old, parents are all important-there is nothing unusual about having not gone to MacDonalds-however by 9 yrs friends become important and they go places without you, they have friends that are not handpicked by you and they,mainly, go beyond a small rural town. Unless you have total control, and they go around with their eyes closed, they will have heard of MacDonalds.
Mine were invited to Birthday parties that included fast food restaurants-are you supposed to control party invitations to only venues that you would have picked yourself? Or said that 'you can't have x for a friend-they (shudder)go to MacDonalds'!

Those of you who are arguing against having DCs who 'fit in' quite clearly have DCs who do 'fit in'!
I don't think it matters whether they 'fit in' or not-what matters is that it is their choice.

It all seems a fuss about nothing-I hate MacDonalds and now never have to go! However, I have taken them and it isn't of the least importance-unless you make it such-which is a mistake IMO.

My DS hadn't heard of McDonalds or Coca-cola until he went to school.

They only hear about what you want them to hear about until they go to school.

NotanOtter got it right when she said:

''I have older children and they are bizarrely confident and popular despite mine and dps parenting'

Parents think they have power that they don't actually have. The DCs have minds of their own and they will find out about MacDonalds, if they want to.
We are all different, even within the same family. I spent my childhood wanting to fit in and my brother spent his wanting to stand out as odd-we had the same parenting and my mother treated us the same!
It is really up to your DC, once they get beyond the age where they automatically think that parents are right.