Fess up -- how much TV and McDonalds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think I can say with all honesty that I didn't think these types of parents actually existed. I've heard about them. But to see real parents posting about it is really creepy. I can see the future for these kids...and it isn't bright. I have older kids. I've seen what happens to the kids who are over-controlled and deprived of junk food, television, etc..... They are the kids that go completely nuts when they get their first taste of freedom.

I'm the parent who only gets the apple dippers for my son, and I'll tell you why ... because both DH and I have weight problems, and I had GD when I was pregnant with my son, all of which puts him at risk for obesity. For that reason, we believe that introducing him to healthy eating as early as possible is the way we should go. Don't think he has never had fries ... he has. I just refuse to get him McDonald's at this point. He will have it at some point I'm sure, but I just don't see the point of taking him to McD's when I could make a minor effort to prepare (or order in!) something vaguely healthier.


Plus, McDonald's food sucks.

Yeah, lots of things suck.

[Anonymous]

And when all the little kiddies are headed to McD's to celebrate the big tee ball game or on the half day from school, they do wonder about the freaky little kid who's mom won't let him to come.

Kind of like the 3rd grader who didn't know Hannah Montana. Not sure she felt comfortable at all those birthday parties. Well, until they stopped inviting her . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And when all the little kiddies are headed to McD's to celebrate the big tee ball game or on the half day from school, they do wonder about the freaky little kid who's mom won't let him to come.

Kind of like the 3rd grader who didn't know Hannah Montana. Not sure she felt comfortable at all those birthday parties. Well, until they stopped inviting her . . .

exactly. these little weirdos will have zero social skills and it is sad. but i am guessing their parents are similar.

[Anonymous]

My kids don't watch a ton of tv or eat a ton of fast food, but they do enjoy both. I ate McD's plenty when I was young and ate it almost daily (no joke, and it horrified my mother) from junior high through college. No weight issues during that time, and I was actually pretty thin. I could stand to lose 10 lbs. now and I rarely eat McDonald's (hmmm...maybe I should go back to my old ways). I also love, love, love tv and am gainfully employed with 2 degrees. So, I don't think all of these major restrictions are necessary, but to each her own.

[Anonymous]

If I tried to limit my 2 year old's Caillou TV time, she'd probably figure out a way to kill the family. She loves that little boy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The nutrition in a Chipotle burrito is no better than a big mack and large fries. Look it up.

OK but mu kids aren't having a burrito. They are having a tortilla with cheese and pork and a side of rice and beans. Does that compare with a big mack and fries? (or even a small verion of that)???

[Anonymous]

Hmmm... my kids have never gone to McDonnalds but they eat organic chicken nuggets a few times a week. Good? Bad?

[Anonymous]

McD's- average once every 6-8 weeks

TV- 1/2 hr in the am and about 1 1/2 hr in the evening. I count DVD's and PBS kids shows as total tv time.

For those that say no tv- does that include DVD's? If so, how do you fill 12-13 hours in the day? I do classes, outside time, craft time, stories, etc. Without some Curious George or LIttle Einsteins I'd be lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4 year old. No McDonalds (gross) and no TV. I would love for her to watch some TV but she has zero interest (I know, crazy). Sigh.

You have a deprived child and she will hate you for this.

OP, mine are older and now prefer pizza to McD, though I do like Big Mac and fries, once a year. TV isn't a big deal. When they were small I did let them watch cartoons on Sat mornngs. Some of the cartoons I liked, e.g., Jane and the Dragon, the vegetables, whatever they were, and a couple of sit coms. They are fine--good grades, haven't committed any crimes, and don't complain too much or hate me.

Hate me for what? Practically begging her to watch TV? Don't get it, PP. Take your vitriol elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Nice to know Northern Virginia's in the house tonight.

[Anonymous]

TV - about an hour a day while I get ready for work/fix dinner

McDonalds - 1x/week for plain burgers, apple dippers, and white milk. I figure it isn't that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And when all the little kiddies are headed to McD's to celebrate the big tee ball game or on the half day from school, they do wonder about the freaky little kid who's mom won't let him to come.

Kind of like the 3rd grader who didn't know Hannah Montana. Not sure she felt comfortable at all those birthday parties. Well, until they stopped inviting her . . .

So pleased that my 4th grader and my 1st grader think that Hannah Montana is trash.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I guess I am out of touch because I am shocked both at the amount of TV kids are apparently watching and the reactions of some parents that children are somehow being deprived if they don't get McDs and TV because they're part of the American culture. What a sad statement about how people characterize "our culture." My kids are 18 months and almost 4 and we don't watch TV, grown ups either. Both parents WOTH and we frankly all have better things to do with our time than watch TV. I am sure we will have family movie nights when the kids get older, and if TV is on at someone's house we roll with it, but honestly I can't imagine that I'm depriving my kids of anything by teaching them to entertain themselves while I make dinner rather than parking them in front of the TV. Same with McDs. Don't get me wrong - we eat out, we order pizza, and they eat some processed food during the week, but McDonald's? Yuck. Their food is nasty. I was raised with no fast food, my husband was raised with McDs every Friday night (and he loved it then) but we are both not interested in feeding our kids food from McDs. They have it (or similar food) on road trips, but we don't eat there when we have other options becasue we simply don't like their food.

And for those who think we're raising kids who are going to freak out and rebel - we had the same rules with my stepsons (although we opted for Wendy's on road trips, not McDs because their food is tastier I think), and they are both thriving in college and guess what? They still don't watch much TV and don't play video games, and yes they have girlfriends and plenty of friends. One eats freakishly healthy (way better than us) because he's a pretty serious athlete, and the other eats not as healthy as that, but not much fast food either.

[Anonymous]

We allow both in moderation. Moderation varies week to week, month to month depending on what we have going on. I was raised no TV, no fast food, no sugar, and all sorts of other restrictions...and frankly, when I left home to go to college, I went buck wild and became a total sugar addict, ate all sorts of junk, and watched a ton of TV (mature, right?!) - it was just so amazing to try all the stuff that I had never had before - you want what you can't have. I'd like to avoid the same for my kids. And frankly, they seem no worse for the wear thus far

[Anonymous]

DS is 11. He doesn't eat hamburgers by personal preference. We end up at McD about once every 2-3 months and he gets chicken nuggets. We actually split the kid fries, and share the soda, (unless he gets milk), so we eat less calories each. I get a burger.

TV: Depends on homework. about an hour a day on weeknights because we watch the news together. If not much homework, there is usually something on PBS: Sherlock Holmes, Antiques Roadshow (his favorite), NOVA (loves science) or PBSkids and we watch together. If nothing appeals, we do something else together since I a a WOHM. If lots of homework, then no tv after the news and this can be for several days in a row. On weekends, he channel switches and watches cartoons/movies/cooking shows on PBS, Qubo and CW in the mornings and evenings since we are out. We don't have cable. I honestly don't care how much TV he watches on weekends, but I care what he watches and I censor what shows he can see. He actually turns off TV shows that he thinks are inappropriate for him or if I ask him to do so. He works really hard on school stuff, and is just as likely to play than to watch TV. I am really trying to help him to be an educated media user. We talk a lot about what people put in front of us on the tube.