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.

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.

PP here. We don't value it. There are a gazillion other things to occupy our time, and to eat.

No deprivation here.

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.

Kids are 4 and 2, we don't own a TV; we've never been to McDonald's.

We're a TV family; TV is almost always on. Oldest has a TV in her room that is on probably through the night; her room is in the basement and I think that's the only way she feels comfortable sleeping on her own (recent move...her decision) She's an honor student, so I'm not worried about this being a problem for her studies. My life is not lived around TV, but I enjoy watching my favorite programs. Unless the TV show is excessively violent, sexual, etc, I don't limit what my children watch. Children are 15, 11, 8 & 2.

McDonald's is anywhere from 0-2 times/week. DH and I WOH and some weekday activities (i.e. Bible study, unexpected shopping trip) doesn't see us getting home until close to 9PM....not exactly in the mood to make a pot roast at that hour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i believe all of you, but this just reinforces my opinion that people here are SO out of touch. Every time I go to McDonalds they are packed with families and kids of all ages, and their financials support this.

Yes, and the people at suburban McDonald's are fatter than your average DC resident.

I'm not sure that's true. I see lots of fat people in DC -- maybe not upper Northwest, but DC as a whole.

clearly obesity is more an issue in DC than in the suburbs, and it is not even close. check out diabetes ad obesity statistics for DC compared to any other "state"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:dad here. my wife doesn't get McDonalds for my 3 year old daughter but I get her a hamburger there at least twice a week. She loves it. I think McDonalds is way better now than in the past - they have smoothies, oatmeal, all kinds of good stuff.

tv - at least 45 minutes to an hour a day. Dora or Wonderpets or something like that. Seems educational to me.

Get ready for a teenager who cares about nothing beyond brand names, boy bands and suburban shopping malls. You're raising a real intellectual.

yeah, as opposed to every other teenage girl I know? her parents have 5 degrees between the two of us, so we are not too worried about lack of education being an issue.

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.

I think we might be twins separated at birth--I have the exact same thoughts when I see children who are placed under such heavy restrictions. Maybe I am too laid back but I think as long as it is in moderation, fast food and TV are not going to harm your child. You just have to teach them how much is OK and when to stop. This is what teaches them how to control themselves as adults and keeps them from overindulging when they are finally free to make their own decisions. I'm obviously not referring only to McDs and TV here......

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 : )

Anonymous wrote:Kids are 6 and 3.

TV a hour or so a day, but only 1/2 hour of "kiddie" programs. The rest is the news, if we are watching it, or maybe a sporting game.

No McDonald's, ever.

And they've only had soda once in their entire lives, when we were at a ball game and they had sold out of bottled water. They were amused by the fizzy taste.

I would SO much rather let my 3-yr old watch Dora, eat McDs, and drink soda than watch the DC NEWS! OMG, it's all about crime.

We're in the hardly-ever camp at McD's, too...but suddenly I'm hungry for a southern chicken sandwich and fries.

Almost 6 year old watches 30 minutes/day. Some Fridays are movie nights, which ups her time to about 1.5 hours. If we are doing something on the weekend, like cleaning the garage, we will park her in front of the tv while the almost 2 year old naps. Almost 2 year old does not watch unless something unusual is happening.

We only do McDonald's on road trips (3-4X year) or when the youngest was a baby and I couldn't get her to sleep except while we were driving then I would take us all through the drive-through.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i believe all of you, but this just reinforces my opinion that people here are SO out of touch. Every time I go to McDonalds they are packed with families and kids of all ages, and their financials support this.

Yes, and the people at suburban McDonald's are fatter than your average DC resident.

I'm not sure that's true. I see lots of fat people in DC -- maybe not upper Northwest, but DC as a whole.

A friend of mine has three kids in elementary school and middle school, and they do not even own a TV. (We do own a TV but rarely watch it.)