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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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 Hmm that she's never gone. AIBU to think it's not a huge deal?!

OP posts:
MistressDeeCee · 04/08/2017 01:57

This reminds me of working class people who make your eyes glaze over with their bragging that they would NEVER enter a poundshop and ONLY buy brand name foods etc Grin

AvaCrowder2 · 04/08/2017 02:35

I love Pret.

My dc are quite open to anywhere we go and don't need electronic stuff, just face to face, but I don't give a shit if the family next to me has it, everyone is different and that's ok.

I might have been a bit of a shit myself in mcdonalds 1988 Croydon.

Now I think I've spelt Croydon wrong.

AvaCrowder2 · 04/08/2017 02:38

I have! I mean the London borough that is in Surrey. Croy...

Arealhumanbeing · 04/08/2017 02:48

OP didn't post to say that her children have never been to McDonalds or to make a point.

She posted to ask if it is weird that they haven't been as some of her friends are a bit Hmm about it.

OP's friends need to find a way to be comfortable with the fact that their children have been and choose something more important to be Hmm about.

This thread has got me craving a (large) Big Mac meal.

SaltySeaBird · 04/08/2017 02:53

I'm in my 40s and I've never been to a Subway (but go to Pret far too often as there is one opposite my office). I didn't go to a McD until after I was 35 - never even set foot in one beforehand.

DD aged 4 has been lots of times. Family often ask to take her and I do occasionally too. She eats healthily enough most of the time. She has never been to KFC or Pizza Hut.

It's a bit of a non entity question. It didn't hurt me not going for the first 35 years of my life, it's not especially weird or unusual.

mathanxiety · 04/08/2017 03:20

Who is counting, and why?

Arealhumanbeing · 04/08/2017 03:26

mathanxiety

Excellent question! Grin

BuzzKillington · 04/08/2017 03:39

Mine had never been at that age.

They're teens now and McD's would be the last place they'd choose out of fast food places.

I think they're typical of their generation - they'd rather go to other places - nothing flash but somewhere like Carluccio's or Zizzi.

McDonald's was a bit of a treat when I was a child, but not now.

Atenco · 04/08/2017 04:33

How sad (she says smugly from Mexico) that childhood is being defined by a brand.

midnightmisssuki · 04/08/2017 04:50

I didn't go till I was 16. Not fussed about it now and my husband doesn't like it either so he doesn't go. I suspect our children won't go because we don't go but I'm sure they'll go with other people one day! It's no big deal surely?!

mmgirish · 04/08/2017 04:52

I don't think it's that unusual is it?

My 5 year old really wanted to go to McD for the first time in Bangkok recently so we let him. He was so enamoured by the fact that he got a transformer toy with his meal that he has now become obsessed with McDonalds. He points the restaurants out now every where we go. I wish we hadn't taken him now if I'm honest.

FlowerFairyLights · 04/08/2017 05:20

OP if youre genuinely worried they havent been theres an easy solution!

Take them and see what you all think!!

VinIsGroot · 04/08/2017 05:34

My kids have never been to pizza express, burger king, nandos, pizza express, Byron, KFC...I'll continue.....
Stealth boast completed!
I have 2 autistic kids and the other has lots of allergies......
That's why .... The odd fast food Neal does no harm...similar to sweets etc !

VinIsGroot · 04/08/2017 05:35

...what did es do harm us when kids get to a certain age and realise that there never had these things and all Thier mates have .....

babsjonhson · 04/08/2017 06:32

Mine goes all the time.
She actually doesn't eat the food.
There's soft play at a McDonald's near a relatives so I knacker her out whilst I have a coffee.

It costs the same nearly to get a happy meal toy and a fruit shoot as it does to get a happy meal with chips and a burger. She doesn't eat meat or fish and only likes fat chips!

Curlyshabtree · 04/08/2017 06:40

My dts 9 gave been once. They weren't impressed. We've avoided as we don't eat meet, plus I'm still not happy with their environmental stance/mulinational-ness. It seems your dcs have not missed out at all.

Bubwiser · 04/08/2017 06:48

My DS who will turn 5 in October has only ever been to McDonald's for ice cream. I have let him try a burger once but he didn't like it and I absolutely will not let him eat French fries. He doesn't like carbonated drinks so there's just no point in taking him there. Not BU at all.

Toadinthehole · 04/08/2017 07:11

McDonalds restaurants have a nasty smell.

BertrandRussell · 04/08/2017 07:18

I love a McDonalds affogato. Grin

MajesticWhine · 04/08/2017 07:19

She is missing out on the whole range of despicable me 3 minion toys. So yes YABU.

londonista · 04/08/2017 08:05

McDonalds is like crack to my 6 and 8 year old. They probably have only been about 3-4 times in their lives but omfg they ask ALL the time to go.

They are not that bothered by the food, it's the box, the toys, the balloon, the iPads, the ordering screens.

McDonalds aren't stupid, they definitely know how to create an army of zombie brand slaves.

ShatnersWig · 04/08/2017 08:26

I well remember my first time in McDs. It was 6 years ago. I was 37. I well remember my last time in McDs. It was 6 years ago. I was 37...

I hadn't been to a KFC until I was 35. Been to those an AWFUL lot since, though...

londonista · 04/08/2017 08:30

Shatner I rediscovered KFC when I was pregnant. Mini fillet burger. Eaten guiltily in a corner so no one would see. I am dirty don't look at me. 😂😂

PiratePanda · 04/08/2017 08:36

I have a lingering affection for McDonald's - the only place to get a decent cup of coffee very very late at night at the station commuting home from my first, utterly overwhelming job; a haven of reliably clean loos when travelling around Europe; safe food and air con when enduring tummy upsets backpacking in Asia; and for poorer people, a decent meal out with the kids.

A Big Mac is no worse for you and has the same or fewer calories than a range of supposedly "healthier" options somewhere like Pret a Manger. And it's cheaper.

That being said, my DS, aged 7, has only been once, when we were at Berlin zoo and I had a fit of travellers' nostalgia. I'm sure he'll live there when he's 14.

limitedperiodonly · 04/08/2017 08:44

I've never been to The Ivy. This makes me unusual in my social circle, but I've always been unafraid to stand out from the crowd