This past weekend, after a trip to Home Depot to return the heavy machinery that Minh could not resist renting, we stopped at McDonald's for an afternoon snack. Although he initially requested mac-n-cheese, Tai was really very pleased with his Happy Meal of McNuggets, apple slices, and chocolate milk. He also scammed a few fries off our tray, of course. What's not to like about a meal that involves three (!) dipping sauces (ketchup for the fries, sweet-n-sour for the nuggets, and caramel for the apples)?
Now, we've been to this particular McDonald's once before and learned (the hard way) that Tai cannot focus on his food if we sit in the room with the indoor play structure. Thinking we were being slick, Minh went and grabbed a high chair out of that "kids room" and brought it into the main part of the restaurant. While eating, Tai was very pleasant and happy to sit in his high chair at the table, periodically offering to share his apples with us and asking very politely for "more fries, please." He did steal a few glances through the giant glass wall at the kids playing in the other room. But he said nothing and continued eating.
When the meal was about to come to an end. Tai announced, "I want ice cream." When we said that were not having ice cream, he pointed to the older man sitting in the next booth, enjoying a sundae, and said (loudly) "That man have ice cream!" as if to make sure we were aware that McDonald's does indeed sell ice cream.
"Yes, he does," we explained, "but we're not having ice cream." Surprisingly, Tai readily accepted this fact. Then he pointed through the glass wall to the play area and said "I want to climb on that big climber now." (And I think I heard him whisper under his breath, "Did you think I couldn't see it? Idiots.")
But the Toddler Crack was already coursing through his veins and he happily accepted our answer of "No, we have to go home now." Honestly, he was grumpy and whiny for much of the weekend, but the time we spent in McDonald's was peaceful and pleasant. I know they are evil and the food is not good for you, but we can still eat there, right?
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