To want to faint in McDonalds?

[TheLowestFlyer]

DH has slowly introduced a regime of positive reinforcement that, for a wide range of reasons, means I have to take the DC to McDonalds once a month for a sit down meal. This produces a physical response in me that makes me want to, first, gag and then faint. I assume it must be the vaporised oil in the air, the terrible food odours and weird and discoloured plastic decor (and the hyperactive and frankly unappealing toddlers screaming around whenever we go?). Whatever it is, it triggers a really intense response from me and I basically dread these scheduled outings and have to choke back vomiting for the whole meal.

Unfortunately the DC have become really emotionally invested in these going to MacDonalds (to what I think is a really unhealthy level) and DH's schedule means that I am unquestionably the only one who can take then. How do I extricate myself from going to McDonalds? Has anyone else weaned their DC from depending fast food? They genuinely love it, especially the earth-killing toys they abandon minutes after leaving

In all seriousness, you either need to pull yourself together on being inside a McD 😱 or get therapy.

For a start, positive reinforcement using food is a terrible idea which will derail your kids’ relationship with food.

For another - you’re an adult! Just pick a different restaurant! No one can force you to go

Your reaction is extreme but no one would make someone eat lean suits who was allergic which seems a bit similar to me.

I've never been keen on lean suits. Totally unpalatable.

Can't be very positive watching their mother go green.

No one works 24/7, if he implemented it he should be doing the reinforcement.

This isn't about McDonalds (which would be my final meal) there's something pretty bad afoot here.

I think the issue @TheLowestFlyer is your controlling husband and abusive marriage l

Do they have a phobia of McDs and your DH thinks this will help them get over it?

I am worried for you. What kind of man is your husband?

In my world I would just tell the kids to behave themselves and wouldn’t be dangling “treats” to get them to behave. If my misguided husband told me that I should take kids to MacD because he is too busy I would tell him to fuck off. My kids wouldn’t ask and don’t even like MacDonalds anyway so they wouldn’t give two shits.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Oh my dear, your Do they know what you suffer?

Omg that’s it I’m dying

MD here don't do plastic toys now. Do they in Australia still?

Yes, Abraxan, they do. Or rather they did a few months ago which was the last time my poor kids had the opportunity to get one.

This is mystifying OP.

Can you explain why you have to take the DC to McDs? What does your DH have to do with it? It all sounds so odd.

Are you in an incredibly abusive relationship?

[quote ThumbWitchesAbroad]@Cornettoninja - nah, we've binned the plastic straws, and single-use plastic bags (aka "bin bags" in our house). MacD's paper straws are shit, just like they used to be in the 1970s (if anyone else is old enough to remember!)
But we've just come back from a week away and one of the places we went had amazing paper/cardboard straws - wide bore and really strong![/quote]
My curiosity is sated - thank you

In the face of the crapness of paper straws in the face of a macd’s milkshake I’ve grown a fondness for my metal reusable straw but must confess, nothing is as good as a proper plastic straw! Bloody sealife.

You struggle to wash the McDonald's smell off their hands too?

Yes your reaction is a bit OTT but if you don't want to go then dont. DH introduced this so he can take them.

Is this the budget version of screaming in the Sistine Chapel?

So. Many. Questions.

@ThumbWitchesAbroad

Yes, Abraxan, they do. Or rather they did a few months ago which was the last time my poor kids had the opportunity to get one.

@TheLowestFlyer can you PM @ThumbWitchesAbroad so your DH can offer her a place on his programme?

Poor kids

@Abraxan

MD here don't do plastic toys now. Do they in Australia still?

We had plastic minion toys only a few months ago. The next lot - SpongeBob Stupid Head also look quote plasticy

Ahahahaahha - no thank you!
Mind you, they wouldn't really want to go either - it's called "emergency food" in our house - they only want to go because of the toys, so if they've stopped, there's no incentive at all!

Is this the budget version of screaming in the Sistine Chapel?

It's the Drive Thru version

This won't go well for you OP.

Here in the UK us toddler mummies can only dream of the luxury of taking our kids to McDonald's as a variation on the neverending walks to the park.

So, so many questions.

Come on OP, play the game. I've had to read through 9 pages to try to make some sense of this OP and still got nothing.

You NEED to come back and explain.

To paraphrase an MN standard, you don’t have a McDonald’s problem, you have a DH problem

His reward so he has to execute it. If he can’t spare one mealtime a month to take them then he shouldn’t have promised it. I moved my children quickly into adult meals to avoid the shitty plastic that ends up in the bin after 2 hours. I also started selling other places, Pizza Hut ice cream factory is the place of kids dreams although still makes me gag.

@ThumbWitchesAbroad oh they haven’t stopped the toys completely - now we’re subjected to card games, soft toys and these slot together cardboard things (currently dinosaurs I believe) that are like putting kinder egg toys together but with more ‘bits’.

@TheLowestFlyer I think you probably need to tell your DH to shove his regime up his arse.