McDonald's

Last weekend we took the boys to one of the many McDonald's in town, cause we had seen a sign that Ronald himself would be there.  The first few times Ethan saw "characters," he thought they were cool.  However, from about a year old till apparently this past weekend, he wanted to be near them but didn't want them near him...wanted to watch them like a hawk but didn't want them to speak to him.  So we weren't sure how seeing Ronald would go but thought we'd give it a shot.  He not only LOVED Ronald but he talked to him and stood with him for pictures and everything.  The only thing he didn't do was eat cause he was too busy trying to find out where Ronald was and why he was packing up.  We explained Ronald had to go home.  Ethan:  "He has to go home to see his Mommy?"  Yes, he's going to see his Mommy.  E: "At his house?"  Yes.....

Fast forward to today...I was late leaving work this evening so picked up the boys at about 6:00 and rather than go home, cook and have us eating dinner at 7:00 (& fighting through it cause if we try that late, he's too tired to realize he really is hungry and likes what's on his plate), I opted for the easy choice...McDonald's - yes there are healthier options and if you'd like to bring them to me or sit with Ethan to get him to eat them, have at it...I wasn't in the mood...

So we're sitting in the world's longest drive-thru line because Alex was sleeping (in the 3 minutes it took to get from daycare to McD's) and the unstoppable questions of the 3 year old begin....E:  "Is Ronald here?"  No, he's not here.  It says he'll be here next Monday though.  E:  "He's at his house?"  Yes, he's at his house.  E: "With his Mom?" Yes, with his mom.  E: "Where is his Mom?"  I don't know, honey.  E:  "I want to see Ronald's Mom.  Can I see her?"  I don't know where she is babe.  E:  "She's at Ronald's house?"  Probably.  E: "Let's go to Ronald's house so I can see her.".....ok so how do you argue with reasoning like that....you change the subject....What do you want to eat - chicken nuggets or a hamburger?  E:  "A hamburger.  You get a hamburger too Mom?"  No honey, I'll get chicken so Aggy can have some of mine.  E: "I'll get a hamburger and you get one for Daddy and Aggy will eat your chicken."  No honey, Daddy is eating at work.  E:  "He's at work?"  Yes, Daddy's at work.  E:  "He's eating his hamburger at work?"  No honey, I think he has something else to eat.  E:  "So you'll get my cheeseburger with pickles" (statement, not question)  OK honey, I did, I got pickles on your cheeseburger.  E:  "OK, pickles and mustard."  Well I didn't get mustard honey, just pickles.  E:  "Well I need mustard." (note:  we haven't gotten to the pay window yet - I mentioned the long line, right?) Well honey, I just got pickles.  E: "Owix's sleeping."  Yes honey, he is - don't wake him up. (apparently, he'd just noticed)  E: "OK, well I need Ketchup with my cheeseburger."  (I'm now paying so didn't respond right away) ... "Mom?  I need ketchup?"  Honey I only got pickles.  E:  "OK, will I get a dragon?"  (current toy is some sort of dragon transformer type thing or a guy that goes with them or this ball that transforms...a better mom may know what they are called, that's not me - I know Disney & Sesame Street & PBS and these things don't qualify)  We'll see honey.  If they don't have a dragon will a ball be ok?  It'll be ok, don't you think?  E:  "Yeah.  That's ok.  A transformer ball."  OK good. E:  GO MOM!  (note: car in front of me not moving yet) Honey, I have to wait for the car in front to move first.  E: "Oh...did I get a dragon?"  I don't know yet honey.  E: "Oh, now we can go?"  (the car was moving)  Now we can go (get food from server) E: "My dragon?"  Let's see....no honey, sorry it's a ball.  E:  "Oh - they didn't have a dragon so I got a transformer ball" (again, a statement and note: apparently, Mama doesn't call it the right thing - it's not "just" a ball....it's a transformer ball).  You'll have to eat your dinner first.  We'll eat when we get home.  E: "Ok.  I got a cheeseburger with pickles and mustard."  No honey, Mama didn't get mustard.  E: "Oh, just ketchup?"  No honey - just pickles (yes, this is a repeat - such is the life of a mom with a 3 year old or probably a 4 year old or just about any age I'm guessing).  You can eat it with just pickles.  E:  "yeah.  but I need mustard."  Well honey, we have both ketchup and mustard at home so if you need it, we can add it there.  E:  "Oh, Ketchup has a home?".....at this point I'm 1/2 mile from home and about to turn a few times and as, I have to pee already, I'm thinking laughing at this point could pose a problem so I had to be honest....Honey, Mama really needs you to be quiet for a couple minutes cause I really can't drive well right now with you talking.  E:  "Oh.  OK Mom.....so, we're almost home now."  ......so much for "OK Mom" 

Last note:  While typing this and explaining to Steve, he tells me...oh yeah, he wants mustard now.  I said, yeah, well that would have been good to know before.  So he says from now on, instead of pickles only - it's just no onions on little man's burgers.  Good to know....