Wednesday, November 1, 2017

My Kids Eat McDonalds (And Other Horrifying Truths)









I've never understood it. When a mom gives her kids McDonald's and shares the news about it on Facebook, she'll say something like, "Don't call CPS on me!" or "No lectures, it's a busy night!"

I'm all:



Because why? Why does she feel the need to say things like that? It's McDonald's. Not crack.

I proudly admit that my kids get McDonald's at least once a week without messages like, "Oh my gosh, Bad Mom alert: my kids are eating Fast Food!" I'm all, "We're chowing down on delicious McDonald's! Don't you wish you had fries like me?"

No guilt. (And you know most of the people wish they had fries too instead of kale chips.)





And while we're at it: I don't understand the parents who strive for perfection. You'll check out their Facebook feed and everything seems...well, perfect. I'm here to say that their life is not like that. Just take 50% of what they say and mark it as BS. You know their kids are eating Taco Bell for dinner and cursing up a storm in real life. You know those kids are freaking out when the Mom is all, "Oh, we all have to match for family photos!" and the Dad is like, "WTF, Laura?"


I admit it: I curse in front of my kids. It's especially bad when I'm driving because no one knows what they're doing on the roads in Texas.

I don't have parental controls on YouTube. I don't limit screen time, but my daughter loves to be outdoors. My son probably should get more Vitamin D. We're working on getting him out of his cave.


We don't have a vegetable with every meal I serve. I refuse to hide vegetables in meals because most of the time the food winds up tasting like butt. I know this because my friend gave me meat loaf once and after I took a bite and nearly gagged she said cheerfully, "Oh, I hid squash, cucumbers, and peas in there."

I shrieked, after I struggled to swallow the wad down, "Why didn't you WARN me BEFORE I ate it?"

I make my family REAL spaghetti. None of that squash or zucchini noodles. It's not wheat either. (But my kids aren't struggling with their weight. My son is 15 and is 105 lbs. My daughter is 10 and is 60 lbs.)



I let my ten-year-old watch IT, curse words and all, because like I said, I curse in front of her. I had to (semi-kindly) remind another blogger who went off on parents like me who allowed their kids to see the film. "These parents must live under a rock and I feel for their children.." is basically what her message was. And it's cool, her opinion, but I let her know that I most certainly do NOT live under a rock. Possibly a lot of chocolate, but not a rock.

My daughter was a clown for Halloween, and not a friendly one either. (She found Pennywise on Halloween and was beyond excited.)



Next year she says she wants to be Jigsaw.

Oh, and farts are hilarious in this house. My daughter was invited to a playdate once and was talking about farts and the mother said primly, "We don't use that word in our house," and my daughter and I laughed and laughed about it. (And were never invited back.)

But guess what? I have good kids. Kind kids. My son is smart. My daughter is...well, she reminds me of Haley from Modern Family, but again, she has a kind heart. I won't lie on Facebook and be all, "Straight A student who is proficient in violin and the flute!"

Nope, my daughter is a straight B/C student, who freaks out the family when she plays the violin:




So stop shaming yourself. If your kids eat fast food, share it WITHOUT guilt. There's nothing wrong with it if it's only once or twice a week. (And if it's more, hey, your family, not mine! Do what you want!) Life gets busy, yo.




What's a truth that YOU have that might horrify others? 

97 comments:

  1. I looooooove you! Always have! LOL ... I am a swear-head, fast food feeding, let's have cake for breakfast (once in awhile) kind of mom. Kids are only kids once and adulting is hard. Let them enjoy it, and let us enjoy our kids without being shamed. I don't care either... my kids are healthy, smart and kind people.

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  2. You are seriously rad!!! I feel like we are the same damn person! I love it.

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  3. I grew up on McDonald's! I have to admit now that I completely avoid it, lol. I feel so much better not eating fast food and I'm pretty much heading towards complete vegetarianism (I'd go vegan, but I like seafood). With that being said, nothing happened to me and I ate Happy Meals all the time as a kid!
    You know how much I love horror, lol. Jigsaw is awesome! YAY!

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  4. There’s nothing wrong eating at fastfood once in a while. I love McDo french fries! Yumm

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  5. Nothing wrong with fast food occasionally. Your life, your rules, no one else's business. I don't curse in front of my kids because (shocker) I don't curse at all. It's not because I'm perfect (far from it). I just hate cursing.

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  6. We spoil the grandkids when we visit with fast food. We are usually out and about all day and kids don't want a restaurant. Fast food it is. I can't eat it to often but every once and a while is okay.

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  7. I never was a big fan of mcdonald's as a kid but as a grown up I am rediscovering it! I had one yesterday! so good! I can't understand why people would judge you on your eating habits!

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  8. This post IS awesome!!! Say it louder for the people in the back!

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  9. Yeah we eat at McDonalds more often than we should. You get so busy sometimes it is too easy just to pick something up rather than cook up dinner yourself. My daughter loves spaghetti and would eat it every day if she could.

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  10. This post is so refreshing! We're constantly surrounded by things we should be doing and guilt trips if we don't. I love how "real" this post is, we need more like it!

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  11. I love this so much!! People are way too worried about being perfect - and there are also way too many people worried about OTHER people's lives. If it's not straight up abuse (and no - feeding your kids fast food isn't abuse) then leave it alone! It's not your business.

    And the movie IT is fantastic. :)

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  12. Your daughter has WAY MORE GUTS than I do - LOL! I saw IT with my husband and every so often... I still have to start out the night with the lights on before I pass out, LOL!!!! Oh and I still sometimes think he is randomly around about to pop out!

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  13. We sometimes do eat fast food but our parents prefer home-cooked meals. It's okay to eat at McDonald's when there's no time to cook.

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  14. I am right there with you. Kids need to live and I intend on letting them. As much as I try not to curse I do and they know it! I am terrified to see the movie "IT" but if she's ready for them I don't see why not. I do not completely shelter my child but I do let to be a child also. You're doing a great job and don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

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  15. I dont have kids but I love this!!

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    1. I am the same, but it sounds awesome, something I would want to do with my kids.

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  16. Mine are pretty similar to yours. I am sure some parents judge me for letting my youngest child listen to Hamilton, swears and all. (I didn't take her to see it though.)

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  17. I appreciate an honest post and honest picture but I also don't want to see or hear all about your dirty laundry either. Let's just meet in the middle of reality.

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    1. Nah, I'll always be honest. It's just who I am! ;)

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  18. I recently wrote a post on mom shaming. They are your kids and you are doing your best. Fast food or organic food at least they are fed!

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  19. You sound like my kind of mom friend. Can we hang out? (At McDonald's, obvs)

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  20. This is one of the most entertaining and comforting posts. I have some secrets that I don't announce to social media but I am kind of an open and not apologetic woman in person. I like you :)

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  21. The things I say while I'm driving with turn your hair white!
    And fart jokes are every hour.
    My kids eat dessert! Every night. And they are so skinny.
    Mostly though, they are kind. I think it's what you wrote about. As long as they are good and kind, we are not ruining them.

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  22. I don't have kids but I don't get why parents sometimes can't let kids be kids and love the things they want, so what if they have a McDonalds, so what if they love a good clown?! As someone who has mental health issues and spent my younger years trying to fit in and be what I thought everyone else thought I should be, I'm all for being unique, being who you fell and embracing that.

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  23. You are my kind of mom. We love fast food and scary movies and letting our kids be kids and find what they like.

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  24. I do not know why parents feel the need to always appear to have the perfect family. Nothing in life is perfect. We enjoy fast food at least once a week and I am not ashamed of that. I would hate to micromanage my kids and have them so busy with activities they never get any free time to just be a kid.

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  25. No family is perfect and I do think it's good to give the kids some freedom. Trying to do everything perfectly would be so stressful.

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  26. I tried to limit screen time, but that didn't last once the kids had their own devices. I think they turned out okay.

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  27. While our family doesn’t eat McDonalds (out of preference) we have and do eat other fast food places occasionally. I say everything in moderation and no one is perfect especially not me!

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  28. My kids and I eat McDonald's EVERY WEDNESDAY as a treat and you know what? We love it. No guilt, no shame. Just delicious French fries.

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  29. I do not let me kids eat McDonald's. But I am totally fine with all those who do. People should be able to do what works best for their family without worrying about what others think!

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  30. We enjoy McDonalds, but my heart belongs to Arby's. Their roastbeef is my favorite <3

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  31. We are a family I have lived in a car, a tent, a shed to keep us together. I am eligible for as in 2018 that will help

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  32. The whole parent shaming thing is so ridiculous. Giving your child fast food = not a crime. Not feeding your child = crime. Also we are all about real pasta in this house.

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  33. I know I would much rather have fries than kale chips any day! I love your daughter's Pennywise costume as well!

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  34. Love the costumes! Not sure when this all started about the fast food craze. I remember being a child looking forward to our weekly trips to McDonalds. My family loves McDonalds, especially the fries, shakes, all heck the entire menu, LOL

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  35. YES, AMBER! I feel that people are so damn sensitive these days! We all grew up on fast food, scary movies and swearing and we all turned out more than fine. Why are people NOW causing a stink over silly little things that aren't going to kill anyone? You keep doing you, girl! :)

    Christie's Take on Life. xx

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  36. I recently saw a beautiful picture of a plate of food, then the next image pulled back and showed what was actually going on around in the house around that beautifully staged plate of food. Screaming kid in a high chair in the background, messy house, etc. It was the perfect example of how fake everything we see on social media really is. We don't have to apologize for our lives or judge others. We just need to do our best. Sometimes our best is really good, and sometimes it's not so great!

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  37. I normally cook our food but once in a while we opt for Taco Bell food and last night, well, we went for McRib.. that's the only food we buy at McDo hehehe.

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  38. Haha hilarious read! It's no big deal to let them indulge here and there. We all do it! Big deal. And those that act like they're perfect aren't. Let's get real.

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  39. Well every family is different and it depends upon the time and situation how to go by 😊👍🏼

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  40. Girl I have no shame that my daughter is made of like 82% McDonalds chicken nuggets lol!

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    1. My nephew eats chicken nuggets for every meal. He's not quite two. The funny thing is, my brother is a total health food nut, so this is killing him. But the kid has to eat, and he just plain won't eat anything else right now. They grow out of it, my kid living on PB&Fluff for three years, lol.

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    2. I just love the fries and the shakes. #NoShame

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  41. All kids love McDonalds. And some adults too. Sometimes you just gotta have it. LOL!

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  42. I think there is SO much pressure on moms and parents, because so many other moms and parents are SO judgy. I don't eat at McDonalds much, at least I didn't before I had step kids... Now it's a great place to take the kids and let them eat inexpensively when we don't have a lot of time, and they can play a little too in the play place. It makes it so easy.

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  43. Very honest post, love it, people are far too quick to judge especially on social media - nobody is perfect!

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  44. All about balance. I remember going to McD every Saturday evening after church with my extended memories. Convenience and memories!

    Nicole @ www.bentomomentos.wordpress.com

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  45. My kids eat McDonalds often. Always have. Don't care what other people think. I curse in front of my kids. They curse too. They are almost adults. They don't do it in front of other people. Tired of the shamers.

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  46. I love this so much, everything about it! I curse in front of my son. He's never been banned from cursing because I personally don't have an issue with a well-used curse word. It's intent that matters to me. Oddly enough, because he's allowed to curse at home, he never really does it. I also let him play "violent" video games because I taught him the difference between video game violence and the real world. We used to eat McDonalds and other fast food at least once a week. We don't lately just because I have stomach issues when we eat it. I think my gall bladder went bad but I don't have time to get it checked out, lol.

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  47. There is nothing wrong with treating your kids in moderation! I know I got to eat almost what ever I wanted as a kid, and because of that I am more responsible in my food choices now.

    Sondra xx
    prettyfitfoodie.com

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  48. We indulge in frozen pizzas more often than we should maybe, but I abhor violence so horror movies are a no no for me. Plus the world is already scary as it is.

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  49. I totally agree with everything here! Parents try to hard to make everything out to be perfect or super healthy. You don't have to do all that!

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  50. No one is perfect, and I don't see anything wrong with giving your kids some freedom to choose from a young age! Nothing wrong with fast food once in a while too - teaching kids to do everything in moderation is more important in my opinion!

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  51. You sound like the the of mum I wanna be

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  52. I am clapping before I start writing. We eat fast food and pizza it's a huge thing in this house. In my case, I don't curse so movies with curse words are a no in this house. Farts sometimes become a war here. Who does it louder. xD Yeah!

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  53. Oh my gosh... How DARE you let your children eat McDonalds?! haha... My kid's eat fast food more than once a week. At least they are fed. Some nights are crazy and that is the best I can do.

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  54. I think everyone should loosen up and stop taking everything so seriously. There are a lot worse things to worry about in this world than if a kid had fast food this week or not.

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  55. McDonald's is one of our faves! Between that and Chick fil A, it's a toss up!

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  56. Life is about enjoying it not being buried by endless rules. If you treat your kids to mcdonalds good for you. As long as things are in moderation, its good to have those treats.

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  57. Hello.

    If I will be a mom in the near future I would be a mom like you. There's nothing wrong with eating fast foods once in a while. Continue to be you.

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  58. You actually got point as a parent. But once in a while fast food is good.

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  59. You know how I feel about all of this. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

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  60. Amen to that! I am NOT a fan of McDonald's but our family totally embraces fast food. I mean, hubby and I lived most of our adult lives with close to 24 access to authentic poutine! My kids have their faults and I have more than my share of them too. I don't shelter my kids or freak out if they eat junk food or drink soda. I just try to do my best to teach them to be authentic, caring, thoughtful human beings who know how to have healthy relationships with people, food, activities - and well, just the world in general.

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  61. Kids can eat whatever they want and moderate the bad stuffs. Its okay, especially the toys from a happy meals are cute!

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  62. You know what, my mom also used to feed my brother and I fast food when we were kids and we loved it! Pizza were one of our favorite meals of the week. I don't think there is any harm in feeding fast food to the kids unless you balance it with the healthy food!

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  63. I get so fed up with all the LA moms acting too posh for Mc D's. It drives me crazy. All things in moderation.

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  64. LOL - we're human, you're human. Folks get too caught up in rubbish. It's all futile. As long as the kids are loved and safe.

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  65. Its ok to eat fast food once in a month specially at Mc Donalds. We also love to eat their burgers as well as fries.

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  66. Honesty is great! I don't know why people feel like they have to be perfect and do everything right. Sometimes you just have to have fun and other times it's about surviving a rough day. We have been to MacDonald's too don't feel bad lol.

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  67. Good for you and your kids. My children are in their 20's and won't touch pop, sweets or fast food. The loved chicken McNuggets when they were kids and an occasional Sprite. Many mom's judged me I'm sure. At 12-13 years old they started to dislike junk food (on their own). Kids always want what they can't have. We used the same approach with alcohol and guess what? Yup, they hardly drink and when they do they don't get plastered. Set a good example and they'll follow. The only time I stress intolerance is when it comes to life-threatening things such as smoking or drugs.

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  68. I let my kids eat cereal for dinner and on occasion ice cream. While we have not been to McDonalds in a long while my kids do eat chicken nuggets.

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  69. LOL! Sometimes you got to do what you got to do. Great, honest and REAL.

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  70. You got to do what is best for your family. I'm always super lenient on vacation!

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  71. You guys are living your best lives and I'm ALL ABOUT IT. YASSSS Mama!! So good.

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  72. I am right there with you girl! My life is insanely busy and my kids like McDonalds and other not so organic things so it is what it is, people may judge on, lol.

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  73. I love McDonald's fries, although I have been on a homemade kale chips kick lately, and I honestly think I love them even more than fries!

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  74. Who doesn't love McDonald's food, although it's best to eat food which is prepared at home. We have different life so stick to it and never mind others. Stay cool everyone.

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  75. Best blog post ever! You rock!

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  76. You're amazing!!! This got me laughing and thinking about my fiance, god forbid we all wear something besides greasy garage clothes for a family picture lol. The "WTF, Laura." Got me... I don't hide veggies in my daughter's food either and she loves a good taco bell soft shell! She loves her veggies and enjoys salad (weird I know for a 2 yr old...) and hears every curse word in the book. :)

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  77. I feel like we could be best friends! Haha! I get so sick of everyone acting like perfect parents and then shaming other parents when they admit they're not.

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  78. Great job mama! Keep doing what your doing, you got this!

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  79. I'm with ya. We love McDonalds around here! And Doritos...yum! Hot dogs!! All this with a balance of green stuff thrown in. You only live once! lol

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  80. For me, there is nothing wrong with letting kids eat fast food. For as long as it's in moderation and that they get the nutrients their body needs by eating various foods.

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  81. My kids eat McD's too! To be honest, they really love it!

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  82. Seriously, the society we live in today that "shames" mothers for doing what we have to do or what we want to do with our children is RIDICULOUS! You seriously rock as a mama!! <3

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  83. I applaud you on this! Not a lot of parents agree with me when I tell them I rather show my kids the world than try and hide it from them. I've let my kids watch Jurassic Park since they were both two. They love dinosaurs, but it's good for them to understand not all of them are like Barney and Friends.

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  84. I've never understood why some parents like to bash others for choosing to do things their way. Dining out is something we enjoy with the kids every so often, and they love it!

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  85. Go Girl! If my son one day will say he wants to go to McDonald he will get his McDonald and I don;t care what other people will say about it

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  86. I only let my kids to go to macdonald probably once a month, too much fast food is not good for kids health.

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  87. Fast food is OK if given in limits. One should have habit and taste of everything, it applies to kids too.

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  88. Hmmm, I'd say my discipline. Most people are surprised that I don't spank my children because of how well behaved they are.

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  89. I'm not even going to lie. McDonalds fries are so good. We typically don't eat there but sometimes when we travel it's literally our only option.

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  90. I am for the idea of healthy eating and living, but can`t lie - one a while we eat McDonald's! Yes, it`s amazingly delicious!

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  91. Today I offered to host a play date to a friend of two children while I am at work - my husband is at home and will be welcoming them. I offered to come home for lunch and grab McDonalds (my treat) on the way, since I would not be there to feed the friend's kids. I was snubbed, pretty sure I was blushing when I read the text - she would not feed her kids that food. I needed this post today - thank you!

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  92. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  93. Indisputable blog article. A duty of appreciation is all together for sharing.. McDVOICE Survey

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