Fess up -- how much TV and McDonalds

[Anonymous]

Our kids watch between zero and one hour daily M-F, and from zero to two hours on Sat and Sun (depending on how busy we parents are, whether children have earned the time, how much they watched during the week, etc.). So I'd estimate about 3-6 hours total per week.

That seems like a lot... Hm.

And zero McDonalds, or at least so rarely that we can count on one hand how many times a year. It's just not our thing. We work hard to get as much nutritious stuff into our "we hate anything that's not beige" older K student, that McD's would be too tempting a memory for her. That, and my husband's diabetic (and in very good physical shape otherwise), so we don't push anywhere close to the limits on junk food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really care what other families do, but it does make me wonder when people proclaim that they NEVER allow TV or NEVER allow McDonald's. What else can the kids NEVER do or have? Why is it so important to these people to 100% reject parts of American culture that are so commonplace for most families? I guess my point is, while I certainly don't judge people because they don't go to McDonald's or watch TV, I just wonder about the motivation behind it - even if you as parents don't watch TV or eat McDonald's they both seem pretty harmless in moderation. Also, as a pp noted, kids do tend to revolt against that sort of total deprivation as they get older.

My answer. The parents who work all the time feel guilty about their complete lack of parenting. They know that a nanny or daycare is raising their kids. In order to feel just a little bit better about themselves, they come up with all these insane limits. They can't control anything their kids do during the day. But by god, the kids aren't going to eat a chicken mcnugget because "I'm a good mommy".

Stay at home moms? They are trying to justify their role as wife and mother by micromanaging every detail of their kids' lives. And they are bored. So they create drama in their lives by worrying about allergies, gluten free diets, preservatives, and sugar. After all, we all know that kids who eat foods with red dye number 6 are definitely getting ADHD.

I'm an older mom with college/high school aged kids. Thankfully, most moms outgrow that nonsense as their kids get older and they realize that the world really isn't a scary, germy place out to get their precious kids. The moms that don't figure that out raise nutty, depressive, over-anxious kids who drink and take drugs to cope.

Just my opinion : )

LOVE THIS!!! ITA!

[Anonymous]

DD is 2, with 2 FT WOH parents.
No McDonalds - we don't like it ourselves, so it's never on the radar. At this point it's like a game - how long can we go? At one point I fed her from a gas station (banana, beef jerky - she's weird - and cereal bar) simply to avoid the golden arches. We're not overbearing about it - she's had hot dogs, chipotle, and takeout pizza - but it's just not something that we do.
TV - probably one hour of Mickey on DH's weekday day off, probably one hour total the rest of the week (while I cook and DH is not home yet and she is crankypants). On the weekends, probably 30-60 mins per day. So total maybe 3 hours/week? I felt a little guilty about that - for about 30 secs - and then I realized HOW MUCH I can get done in a 24 min episode of Mickey. And then be a much more attentive mom the rest of the day

[Anonymous]

TV is either not at all or about 30 minutes a day (more of its a movie). Kids are still young though, that may change once they get older.

They also get to play with my iPhone occasionally (mainly on longish drives/trips).

McDonalds is pretty rare. I'm guessing they eat it once every other month or less.

Whenever we go to McDonalds DS1 just eats the apples and fries and drinks a chocolate milk. DS2 will eat 6 chicken nuggets. Not a very good lunch. That's one of my reasons for steering them elsewhere on the rare chance we are eating out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really care what other families do, but it does make me wonder when people proclaim that they NEVER allow TV or NEVER allow McDonald's. What else can the kids NEVER do or have? Why is it so important to these people to 100% reject parts of American culture that are so commonplace for most families? I guess my point is, while I certainly don't judge people because they don't go to McDonald's or watch TV, I just wonder about the motivation behind it - even if you as parents don't watch TV or eat McDonald's they both seem pretty harmless in moderation. Also, as a pp noted, kids do tend to revolt against that sort of total deprivation as they get older.

My answer. The parents who work all the time feel guilty about their complete lack of parenting. They know that a nanny or daycare is raising their kids. In order to feel just a little bit better about themselves, they come up with all these insane limits. They can't control anything their kids do during the day. But by god, the kids aren't going to eat a chicken mcnugget because "I'm a good mommy".

Stay at home moms? They are trying to justify their role as wife and mother by micromanaging every detail of their kids' lives. And they are bored. So they create drama in their lives by worrying about allergies, gluten free diets, preservatives, and sugar. After all, we all know that kids who eat foods with red dye number 6 are definitely getting ADHD.

I'm an older mom with college/high school aged kids. Thankfully, most moms outgrow that nonsense as their kids get older and they realize that the world really isn't a scary, germy place out to get their precious kids. The moms that don't figure that out raise nutty, depressive, over-anxious kids who drink and take drugs to cope.

Just my opinion : )

LOVE THIS!!! ITA!

Okay, it's funny because it generalizes.

Still, I am grateful to the parents who take on the task of educating consumers and shaming Big Biz into doing the right thing by our kids. I definitely avoid nasty sh!t like BpA, phthalates, McDs (yeah, we all know it's yummy, but that alone isn't enough of a benchmark to justify more than very rare consumption), and "too much TV."

Signed,
Older, part time working mother of two (falling into the demographic that apparently is wise and knows better).

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I'm not sure why it's so hard to limit McDs or TV such that saying "no" makes the child feel deprived.

Habits are habits. We generally don't go to McDs, so the kids don't ask. They do love fries, of course, and ask for it even when we go out... and we limit, saying "after you eat your veg, you can have more". It's routine. The kids know the drill, and we adults follow our own rules.

TV: Give the kids some limited choices, and it's a done deal. If you don't have TV in the house, then it's not even an option. No biggie.

[Anonymous]

McDonalds or the equivalent only when we are on a long trip..less than 10x a year. But they eat hamburgers at other places and I am not sure how different they are. TV/other electronics less than 1 hour everyday. Kids are 10 and 12 and very busy with other things.

[Anonymous]

McDonalds. Only if we are somewhere that there isn't another real option. Road trip etc. Don't like it. We do go to Elevation Burger maybe once a month or every two months. Like that they have grassfed beef and you ca see them slice the potatoes for the fries.

TV usually only on weekends. One show a day (if any). Unless there is sports on tv. Then it tends to be more/longer.

We work full time so we aren't home much. He does getovie Fridays in aftercare at school also. Plus he likes phone games. There might be some of that during the week. Screen time is more than just TV.

[Anonymous]

Ds is 15 months so I am not sure this really applies to me yet. He watches a few minutes of TV in the morning since I have the news on when DH brings him into the living room before we leave. Mcdonalds none. Neither DH nor I eat fastfood so it never really occurs to us to go there just for DS. He has eaten other restaurant food, just not fast food.

[Anonymous]

Never any McDonalds -- EVER. But TV -- ah yes, there is plenty of Sprout along with the iPad.

[Anonymous]

I think people should also mention whether they are a stay at home mom or working outside of the house-because I think, as a stay at home mom, I do rely on tv more than I should- it's a long day with three kids under four.