To be annoyed if your dcs went to McDonald's 3 times in 5 days....

[drained1]

By their father. He had them from Tuesday night - Saturday lunch time in half term. He's 33 and still lived with his mum and dad. His mum usually takes holidays from her work when the dcs visit but she didn't this half term. Which is good! She shouldn't have to use her holidays from work as child care. But she cooks all their meals, washes all the clothes etc. Ex does nothing.

Was sorting through dcs bag and found 6 happy meal toys. 2 dcs mean he's taken them 3 times in 4 days.

Now I don't mind my kids having McDonald's. I take them maybe every 4-6 weeks as a treat. But I just feel annoyed he can't even make them a meal. He tends to buy them dairy Lea lunchables for their lunch.

Or aibu to feel abit annoyed? I know it's his time with them and he can do what he wants

YANBU. I’d be pissed off at his laziness too. I’m guessing he’s a bit of a man child?

No, YANBU to be annoyed.

But YABU to call McDonalds a treat!!

I honestly don't know how I would feel about that but I don't think it's worth having a row over it, especially as your ex's mum usually gives the children decent meals. McDonalds isn't that bad, a long time since I've been but I used to like it occasionally and have a friend who has her breakfast there every day.

Meh. As a one off, it's fair from ideal but not worth getting your knickers in a twist.

I'm not going to start and argument about it. It's not worth it. But it just pissed me off. He's defo a man child.

And I mean like we usually do cinema/bowling and a McDonald's lol.

Smacks of laziness but there's far worse food out their for the non cook

"McDonalds isn't that bad"

It shows a lack of planning and care by the Parent, though.

He should be stepping up as a Parent.

OP, you have a right to be annoyed but how you'd change it, I don't know. Especially when he lives with his Mother, who does everything.

WOW! That’s a lot! So he had them from Tuesday night, back at Saturday lunchtime. Do you think it’s possible that was the only cooked food they had on the 3 full days he had them? Or Do you think he would have taken them for lunch and then cooked something for dinner each day?

I would be unhappy if it is three visits.
However local McDonalds allow you to buy Happy Meal toys if they are leftover for a set fee, if the promotion week is over ( not sure how allowed it is by franchisee owner but apparently not uncommon). I would check this out before raising the issue.

I would be really pissed off. It's typical disney dad behaviour and what kind of male role model can't even cook these days!? He is pathetic and should be ashamed. Not only is it lazy it's also cheap. He could have at least varied it with subway/nandos/pizza hut ( other kids friendly fast food chain) but no he has to pick the cheapest. At least he is an ex.

Also don't feel sorry for his mum. She has been doing all his washing and cooking for the last 33 years, I mean wtf!!??

just to add I am not saying that the other places are better just that they are more expensive and OP's ex is a cheapskate.

This thread has made me fancy a McDonalds. Haven't had one for ages. Cheeseburger and fries, yum! I'll get over it.

It is a bit much if he can't do anything substantial or nutritious for his children but it's not every day and they probably enjoy it. It won't kill them.

Yum, yum, I can't think of anything but McDonalds now, all your fault. Lashings of tomato ketchup too.

Maybe just give him a healthy food leaflet or say that you'd prefer McDonald's to just be as a treat for health reasons and also because you don't want the children loosing the value of a treat. X

Have you asked the DC if they went every day?
McDs sell the toys individually without food. For people who want other items in the 'collection' for some reason

Oh I don't need to ask - the ex lives off them anyway and is extremely unhealthy and has become very obese.

I'm glad I'm not being unreasonable however as others have said, I won't mention it. He will just turn it around on me somehow.

Next time they see him will be Christmas holidays and I might just send a message saying 'it's great you take them out for lunch/tea but if you could give them more varied food then that would be great'.....obviously through gritted teeth as he's just one lazy parent who barely has his kids anyway and can't be arsed to cook for them when he does.....rant over.

I couldn’t get annoyed about that in half term. Sorry.

However local McDonalds allow you to buy Happy Meal toys if they are leftover for a set fee, if the promotion week is over ( not sure how allowed it is by franchisee owner but apparently not uncommon). I would check this out before raising the issue.

About to say the same. You can buy the extra toys in the ones here.

I'd be annoyed to. How hard is it to throw a pizza in the oven and chop lettuce or even open a can of soup.

He's not setting a good example at all

Never has the expression "pick your battles" been more appropriate!

Are the toys all the same ones or different ones? Maybe he bought them?

I don't think it work bother me as it doesn't happen every time. Yes it's not ideal and reinforces why you're not together, but it won't hurt them if their diet is good the rest of the time. So he's crap. You knew that.

Not even worth saying that op he will take no notice and if like my exh take them even more to spite me!

if The frequent visits occurred all the time, i’d Be annoyed. However, if it were only over half term, I may be peeved but would let it go. Maybe the dcs particularly liked the Happy Meal toys that week.

Often when we go to McDonald's the staff clearing the tables will give my DC any toys (still bagged) that have been left by other children. Although for there to be four abandoned toys is a bit of a stretch.

I wouldn't say anything. When my ex had my son what he did was up to him. I wouldn't expect him to scrutinise my meals and activities. You have to relinquish control for shared parenting to work. No it's not ideal but it's not neglect either.