Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 9 10

Original poster

AIBU- 8 year old has never been to McDonald's?

238 replies

early30smum · 03/08/2017 20:12

This is not a stealth boast. She has been to plenty of other places like Byron, GBK, pizza express, Nando's, Wagamama etc and I'm under no illusion that they're any better and actually some are probably worse for her. She's happened never to go to a party where the food bit has been at McDonald's. DH likes it and if he's grabbing food after work he might get a burger on the way home. I'm not fussed on it. DD (and DS but he's only 4) have never really been bothered about it, like if we stop at services they've never asked and like going into M&S instead and picking up picnic type stuff on car journeys. So the 'need' to take her has never arisen. But a few of my friends are a bit that she's never gone. AIBU to think it's not a huge deal?!

OP posts:

Puppymouse · 03/08/2017 21:48

DD is nearly 4 and has been a fair few times. I spend most of my days with her rushing around and she likes going with me. She tends to eat about a third to half of a happy meal and that's it. I'm not precious about it personally but I wouldn't take someone else's child there without permission as I know some parents wouldn't like it.

ShastaBeast · 03/08/2017 21:48

My parents never took me as a child, I remember my sister going for a party and knew my dad hated it. Then I became a teenager and had it a lot with friends, dad seemed to ease up on his dislike and joined in. Now I'm the parent and the idea of MacDonalds makes my stomach turn. Neither of mine have been, eldest is 7.

I used to dip the fries in the chocolate milkshake. Actually the milkshakes would be a good reason to go as they are a lot better value than smoothies or milkshakes in other chains, like Starbucks or Pret (which i think is owned by MacDonald's).

Scrumpernickel · 03/08/2017 21:50

I am 60 and never been to macdonalds kfc bk etc - whats your point

A nice McFlurry might sweeten your humour

crumbsinthecutlerydrawer · 03/08/2017 21:52

Ds is 7 and has been a handful of times, just starting in the last year. We only tend to go after the cinema or bowling so it's more part of a day out and not every time we do these things. He likes their crispy chicken wrap happy meals. The toys have a life span of about two weeks in our house then they're gone.

We never really went as kids as my mum couldn't afford it but I do remember going after seeing Jurassic Park in the cinema and it was a big deal, to us at least.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 03/08/2017 21:52

ShastaBeast It's McDonalds.

And McDonalds does not own Pret:

In 2001, McDonald's bought a 33% non-controlling stake in the USA branch of the company,[12] which they sold in 2008 to private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital, owners of clothing retailer Fat Face.[13][14]

Passthesalt1 · 03/08/2017 21:56

My kids love a Maccys BUT they have never watched tv, proper tv. They have iPads but when they have seen a tv they are really perplexed it doesn't have touch screen etc.

My kids also have never tired fizzy drinks or strong juices

I hate tv as it gives me a headache hence why we don't have one and I have very weak teeth so automatically don't buy fizzy drinks etc.

Different horses for courses.

ligersaremyfavouriteanimal · 03/08/2017 22:06

Our DC are 6, 4 and 1. Never been to Mcds, burger king, subway, KFC etc. It's not the sort of food/drink I want them eating and they probably wouldn't like it (they don't like anything in breadcrumbs or batter). It's not a treat to me, a treat is going out for some decent food in a nice atmosphere, fast food places are not great food in a loud/busy atmosphere.

I don't judge people who do take their DCs there, that's their choice. A lot of defensiveness on this thread though from some posters acusing OP of boasting, etc.

ligersaremyfavouriteanimal · 03/08/2017 22:10

There are tablets on the tables?!? Blimey another reason to steer well clear. That's really bad. Nothing says going for a family meal like a tablet to stop you having to interact with your own children!!

Scrumpernickel · 03/08/2017 22:18

Really bad! End of world stuff...

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuck · 03/08/2017 22:19

Oh yes, and the tablets might be another reason they like a McDonald's breakfast! 😂

Witsender · 03/08/2017 22:22

Pmsl... we're quite 'organic' for want of a better word but I actually took the kids to maccyds last week for precisely that reason. I was knackered, we were all grumpy and the weather was crap, so we piled in the car for a trip to the golden arches. We sat, they played on tablets and ate fish fingers and chips while I stared into space and rocked slightly.

Witsender · 03/08/2017 22:23

Dh was mildly disapproving as he is a wee bit stricter on it than me. But tbh, we eat out a fair bit at a wide range of places and they know how to behave...they're not going to turn into drooling zombies through the odd exposure to a tablet whilst eating.

The80sweregreat · 03/08/2017 22:25

I went to my first mc ds aged nearly 20! They didnt appear our way till about 1985.
I d say well done for keeping them out of them.
My two liked them as teens. I did try to take them to other places as kids, mostly because im not that keen myself.
When they did go, they loved it however and dh was a fan. Hard to keep away from any fast food! They are everywhere.

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuck · 03/08/2017 22:25

I hope you feel better now Witsender 💐

ButchyRestingFace · 03/08/2017 22:34

I don't think I went to McD's until I was 10.

Made up for lost time in late teens/20s. 😋

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 03/08/2017 22:35

Only in the refurbed restaurants (and they're all being refurbed).

And yes, how awful. We can't have parents having a moment to themselves now, can we

butterflying · 03/08/2017 22:37

I didn't go until I was 18 and started university. There wasn't one in the area where I grew up. My uni friends were gobsmacked! It was a good icebreaker though.

Viserion · 03/08/2017 22:43

My kids have been once (11 and 7) and they hated it. The food was barely touched. Offer them a Subway though and they are all over it.

I don't see it as unusual to have never been. And I didn't see any bragging in the OP either, just curiosity about whether her experience is typical or not.

BestZebbie · 03/08/2017 22:48

I didn't go until I was nearly 18, it wasn't a big deal.

Ime it is more useful to have experience of things like chinese and indian take-away so that you know what the different foods are and don't look stupid as an adult the first time you need to try to order for yourself - McDs is pretty straightforward to work out.

WaxOnFeckOff · 03/08/2017 22:49

I've got teenagers, we go twice a year after the dentist and sometimes after parents night. We use it as a convenient place to grab a quick dinner when we've not had a chance. Its not seen as a treat or no go area, it's somewhere to get food amongst lots of other places.

TheSnorkMaidenReturns · 03/08/2017 22:52

I remember the excitement when McDonald's finally appeared in our local Big City, just as I was going to uni. Up until then it had all been the super cool Wimpy. We knew how to live. I am old.

My kids don't like burgers and prefer 'proper' chips to McD's so we don't go, but we don't go to fancy burger joints either. I'm with them on the chips front but can't quite grasp what's wrong with a burger.

Their idea of fast food is Yo Sushi which is about five times the price of McD's. And probably about five times as much sugar in that lovely rice .

viques · 03/08/2017 22:57

I have never been to KFC,Nandos or subway. I have seen some of the Starwars films however (grasping at straws in a desperate attempt to appear down with da kidz ,yo!)

Oh, yo! I have been to yo sushi, load of bollox.

Whattheduck · 03/08/2017 23:00

Neither myself or dd who's 12 have been to KFC personally i would rather eat my own arm as for mcdonalds she has been a couple of times but prefers other places

MeltorPeltor · 03/08/2017 23:01

I'm 34 and I've never been to a Harvester! Do I win? :D

MeltorPeltor · 03/08/2017 23:01

Ooh or Nandos, I've never been there either!

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 9 10