Is it the larger than life mascots? The colorful interiors? The over-salted-over-greasy food? The fact that they only get it during “special occasions”? I don’t know what it is about fast food, but kids just LOVE it. I admit, even I get those fast-food cravings every now and again, but the extreme joy that kids get from a Clown, a Colonel, a King, and (here in the Philippines), a Bee, seems almost irrational.
My kids, I’m happy to say, have good eating habits. They like home-cooked (in our case, Filipino) food, they enjoy their fruits and veggies, and generally eat well. But when they hear the words, “ok kids, we can have (insert the name of a fast food joint) today”, the smile that comes over their faces is indescribable. Then when they’re actually in the middle of their fast-food feast, my younger daughter usually says, while licking her lips, “mmm, delicious!” while her older sister proclaims “this is the perfect day!”. See, irrational joy.
The other day, we were on our way to pay our final respects to the dad of an uncle, and my older daughter was with us. This is her conversation with her Mom :
Daughter: Mommy, does it hurt when we die?
Mom: Sometimes Sweetheart.
(My Thoughts): Phew, good thing she's asking Mommy and not me.
Daughter: When Papa Jesus died, did He say "Ouch, ouch, ouch"?
Mom: We don't know, but I think he probably did.
(My thoughts): Probably too early to have her watch Passion of Christ.
Daughter: Mommy, what does Papa Jesus say when He calls us?
Mommy: We don't know that either coz we haven't been called yet.
(My thoughts): Great answer Babes, you're on a roll!
Daughter: Mommy, how does God make people alive again in Heaven?
Mommy: He's God so He has that power.
(My thoughts): OK, we're getting into some serious theological areas now.
Daughter: Mommy, can we pray that when we die, it won't be ouchy?
Mommy: Of course Sweetie. That's what we all pray for.
(My thoughts): How to change topic? How to change topic?
Daughter: Mommy, when I go to Heaven, can I go to McDonalds?
Mommy: *Laughs* Sure!
(My thoughts): Ah, McDonalds, you did it again!
You gotta hand it to these Fast Food guys, they know what they’re doing! And they’re living proof of the Marketing adage: You wanna get to the parents’ wallets? Hook their kids!
Disclaimer: This post is NOT brought to you by McDonalds, nor do I have any association with the Golden Arches aside from being a sometime-customer. Now, would you like to upsize those fries and drink?
