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  • Math Geek Mom: Not so Happy Meal

    By Rosemarie Emanuele October 1, 2009 8:29 pm

    Ok, so I admit it. I am not a good cook, and, on top of it, I spend a lot of time driving my daughter around to various lessons and even doctor’s appointments. Although I know better, the other day I drove through McDonald’s in an effort to get something resembling dinner in her. I have done the calculations of what the best deal was in order to feed her, and have decided that, at this point in her life, the Happy Meal offered the right size portions for the best price, with options not available otherwise. However, when I drove through McDonald’s the other day, I drove out with something I was not expecting.

    My daughter had long ago learned to ask for the “boy toy” when ordering such a meal, since the boy toys are usually things like toy cars or trucks that are cool to play with. The girl toys are often more sedentary toys, which don’t hold her interest for long. However, that night she wanted me to get the girl toy. I cringed a little when I learned it had a Barbie theme, since I lost my respect for Barbie when she started proclaiming that “math is hard”. However, it was one small toy, so I let her have it. What could be the harm?

    When she opened the toy, I was shocked. At first I thought it was just a mirror compact, but she soon proved me wrong. Nestled inside the compact was a circle of lip gloss. She quickly put it on her lips and showed it to me. “Look at me, mommy!”

    Her school does not allow lip gloss for any child in sixth grade or less, so I knew that I would need to confiscate it, which I did. And then I got to wondering. WHAT were the folks at McDonald’s thinking? How many children who are young enough to buy a happy meal are also old enough to use lip gloss? And how many other moms are out there right now, hiding the lip gloss so that their young children will not wear make-up before an appropriate age? Yes, it is my responsibility to monitor this, but McDonald’s is making my job as a mom all the more difficult. As if it was not difficult already.

    Since we will need to be making a similar trip next week, I plan to pack sandwich for her to eat on the way home. At least then I know what she is getting.

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Comments on Math Geek Mom: Not so Happy Meal

  • More than inappropriate toys at Mc D's
  • Posted by mass mom on October 2, 2009 at 10:00am EDT

  • Glad you have decided you skip Mickey D's -- the food is among the worst of the unhealthy fast food. My kids (who are thoroughly indoctrinated by my husband and me, I'll admit) once asked me why restaurants that had good food served chicken nuggets and fries as the "kids meal". Next time get a Subway on whole wheat with lots of veggies and, of course, no soft drink. Happy Meal toys are banal at best and usually non-recyclable.

  • It's a phase
  • Posted by EAB on October 2, 2009 at 10:00am EDT

  • Huh? What's the big deal? My daughter has Barbies and lip gloss. She hasn't become a celebutante and is doing fine at school and in her activities. Actually you might find after the initial interest has worn off she will ignore the toy.

    We don't go to McDonalds though because she doesn't like the food. And she's not interested in the toy. I can't even convince her to go if it's convenient. She just refuses. When she was smaller I would take the toy out of the box so she could play with it later and not associate the toy with the meal.

    I don't think you can just keep children from exploring things they are interested in. It just breeds resentment and they will go ahead and experiment anyway. I know lots of parents are concerned about Barbie and princesses and I too was concerned about this when my daughter was younger (she's now about to turn 7). As long as you encourage a variety of activities and toys and act as a positive role model the child is usually fine.

  • Gender Bending
  • Posted by Fran on October 2, 2009 at 12:15pm EDT

  • Like yours, my daughter learned to ask for the "better" (more active) "boy" toy at an early age. My daughter is now 8 and is extremely sensitive about being teased by her (girl) friends at school for playing with "boy" toys, like Playmobil (warriors and pirates, rather than families and veterinarians). So she is inclined to ask for the Happy Meal "boy" toy and then pass it along to her brother who is actually too young to have it anyway. There is a point where the kids around your child will start enforcing their "rules" about gender, whatever you do to try and ease those transitions.

    While I agree about the food content, we hit McDonalds about 1x month when we hit the wall on timing. If you forbid it entirely, it becomes a fascination and an issue. Choose the better options--limited portions, milk not soda, apples or salad not fries. And try to relax about it--one toy, one meal probably won't ruin her for life. Probably...

  • Posted by Lisa on October 2, 2009 at 3:30pm EDT

  • I'm sad to hear that children's lip gloss is turning into makeup (although I'm willing to bet that children's toys = imitate your elders is nothing new). I only hope it still comes in chocolate flavor.

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