Not to be miserable forced to sit two hours in McDonalds near a motorway?

[Maninadirndl]

I'm a nature child born and bred. My garden is a paradise on a hot day, an oasis of cool shady apple and plum trees, herbs and a small veg garden for my organic attempt at life. I grow my own veg, watch River Cottage and Gardeners World almost religiously and own a wood burning Austrian tile stove.

So the invite last week to spend two hours whilst my daughter went to a friend's birthday party was quite a culture shock. From planting up geraniums in their boxes for the summer in the morning to the concrete and metal of McDonalds just off a major European Autobahn was quite a culture shock. My daughter sat in this stuffy red London bus for the party whilst I clackety-clacked with some German mothers who were very nice and friendly but a world away from mine. I found it hell. The children climbed up awful plastic climbing thingies to the soundtrack of roaring cars and lorries with the blare of MTV out of nearby speakers.

The idea of a treat was chips and cola and a bag of goodies filled with sweet rubbish from a major corporation filled one who has been trying so hard to feed his kids on organic natural home grown food where possible, with revulsion.

Upon telling others how much I hated the experience no one really understood my point of view. Is there anyone who also hates these so called "great places for the kids"?

ItsAllABit...do you mean the one who lost her clementines, or was it mandarins?

I quite like the continental McDs - they have HUGE play areas. Better than a scruffy dark room on the A30.

I'm going to hang my head in shame. I WILL NEVER TAKE MY LO TO MACDONALDS. I will go to all sorts of other places. But I haven't been inside one for 15 years and don't intend to change now. Nephews haven't been to Mac D in 15 years. Ds can moan when he is an adult how unreasonable I am. I take him to everything else and if I don't get off here He'll have oven chips. But just because I've had a child I don't throw away who I am. He'll have to cope

So you will turn down invites Starbear? Not saying it is wrong to do so, just wondering.

Oh Starbear I said the very same thing when my dd was 3..... just wait....

yep! True DS is only 4 years but my sister did it with the nephews too!

Any particular reason? Just the crap food or an aversion to the corporation?

@ Chippy

Yup, I think it was clementines.

Our local McDonalds CLOSED DOWN. How strange is that? A bank has applied for planning permission!

Closed? That is strange. There is local petition against them opening up in my local high street. I don't mind McD per se but I could do without one on the doorstep.

I can't tell you want nephews call MacD's as I will be in court But they eat rubbish Chinese,fish & chips but from independent junk food shops They are 21 yrs and 19 yrs now! Good lads garden and do country walks it's part of our family lifestyle and I'm not going to change it for anyone.

hehe in Oz a nickname for MacDonalds is "Chew&Spew".

I don't mind it, you can't beat a cheeseburger & fries for a hangover.

It was such a rare and special occasion when I was growing up that I still view it fondly - even with their crap employment/food hygeine behaviour.

Must go and cook Ds dinner. Home grown asparagus shoots, tofu & kidney bean, brown noodle stir fry with organic home made yogurt from our goat Daisy
Being truthful I just draw the line at MacD's

It is a one off thing-much better not to make a fuss about it-forbidden things are always more exciting. Mine went to McDonalds very occasionally when young, as teens they aren't bothered-they wouldn't choose to go. I think bad food/good food labels are counter productive.

flamingobingo - I'm sure it's an Austrian hemp woodburning TV, so that's ok

FGS OP, it was a party for the children, not the parents. A large amount of children like McDonalds. Deal with it, in future, refuse the invite if it appals you that much. I'm sure the parents who had shelled out the money for the party were thrilled to be roundly and rudely criticised for not giving the sort of party that would appeal to your sensitivities. I don't like McDonalds but my kids go every now and then.

The op sounds like a journalist! If it is an honest post, yabu to have such a self rightous poncy attitude the childrens party is for the children not the parents

YABU - unless its an unbirthday party a-la Alice In Wonderland where you have to endure one every day then I'd say suck it up and take one for the team. Bet your kiddie had a great time and you got to experience something new. jobs a good un.

FOFL @ OP.

Not so much "I hate maccy d's" but "aint I bleedin wonderful".

Rah rah for the OP, we all bow before your gloriousness.

Thank you ladies for cheering me right up! I just realise how much I didnt put in the post.

Five years ago just after my daughter was born I needed three industrial strength caffeine coffees to get started on my day, then two or three German beers to cool down at night. The minute I drove past a McDrive in those days was fatal, the car would then steer itself into the place on its own for a McChicken. I've only just got into the organic thing and wasnt born in sandals.

I guffawed loudly when I saw the pisstake of the Austrian tile stove, as mention of a tile stove in England would sound horribly middle class, when the fact is that I live about half an hour from Austria. As a matter of fact my stove is bloody ugly and I am dying to convert it to a wood pellet stove.

The replies tickled me no end. I miss British humour down here. I am becoming so German that I see the practicality of wearing socks in my sandals, and the joys of Frei Koerper Kultur.

More attention whoring later....

The way some people go on about McD's, you'd think it was a terminal disease, not a hugely successful worldwide organisation that serves predictable, bland grub for mass consumption. It's cheap, it's easy and it's harmless in moderation. Get over yourself, Starbear.

Thought you said you were a natures child born and bred

I had a happy meal today. It was bloody gorgeous.

Did you get a good toy MrsMattie?

Got a strange little guy in a plane, apparently from the film 'Night at the Museum 2. DS loves t!

"I've only just got into the organic thing and wasnt born in sandals."
That is possibly the ponciest thing I've ever read .

As someone said earlier, the party wasn't actually about you. If you keep your children in a macrobiotic bubble with no exposure to the rest of life, they will hate you as adults. Plus, you can't beat a MacDonalds breakfast as a hangover cure.

Hassled I just love McDs as a hangover cure - best thing ever!

Our local McDs closed down and is now a Government Gateway - how weird is that!