March 22, 2012

McDonald's Playplace: a good place to catch some Zs

Last night Shrinky Dink and I took the kids to get some grub at McDonald's.  Like anyone who values her sense of hearing (and sanity!), we opted for a table outside of the playroom.  Our kids ran through the place emitting girly shrieks here and manly sonic booms there.  But we were cool with that because we were safely out of hearing range. 

As parents should be.

We were digging into our Angus burgers when we were irritatingly interrupted by another mom.  She asked us if the girl with the purple striped shirt belonged to either of us.  Shrinky Dink owned up and the lady said, "I was wondering if you could ask your daughter to be quieter.  She's run by several times screaming and I have a 10-day-old baby."  Then she looked at us all smarmily--as if to say, I have given birth to the Christ Child, ladies.  It is right and good that I am addressing you.  Surely you agree that concessions must be made and obeisance is owed.

I'm pretty sure I looked like this at the time.

    
Now I understand the whole sleeping baby thing, and if this was the library, I'd also understand this woman's request.  However.  This was a McDonald's Playplace at 8 o'clock at night.  On Spring Break.  And she wants it to be quiet so her baby can sleep?  Girl, please.  She could have walked the 10 feet to the room where Shrinky Dink and I were sitting and still had a full view of everything going on in the playroom. 

I ask you, dear readers, what kind of person goes to a McDonald's Playplace and asks other parents to tell their kids to be quiet so her baby can sleep?!


Now, you might be thinking, A desperate postpartum woman who wants her baby to sleep more than 5 minutes at a time, that's who!

Okay, I'll grant you that.  But who chooses a McDonald's Playplace as the location for said nap?  And furthermore, does her desire for a public baby nap outweigh Shrinky Dink's kids' need for some boisterous, kid-centric play after a very rainy Spring Break spent indoors?  Or more importantly, our need for a little adult conversation after such a week?

Shrinky Dink has a higher tolerance for bullshit than I do, so she was all classy and agreed to ask her daughter to tone it down.  I don't blame her.  Somebody's gotta be the level-headed one.  My (internal) response was, "If you don't like noise, get out of the playroom, beeotch!"  But I didn't say that.  Because I'm on medication that helps with such things. 

And I was really into that Angus burger.

9 comments:

  1. Dani, your honesty, wit, and hilarity never cease to delight me! Thank you!

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    1. Aww, thanks Kerri. (You've been quiet on the blog front lately!) I hope Grandpa's doing well and that you two are still laughing together often. :)

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  2. Maybe I need your medication because I would have said (more or less) what you didn't. Unreasonable people of all varieties really piss me off. I guess I need a more moderate friend to go to public places with. Thanks for sharing the laughs (: --Mama

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    1. One of the things I love most about you (besides that you appreciate my humor!) is that you're a Christian who isn't afraid to be REAL. We are in total agreement that Christians can have fun!

      And sometimes, a showdown in a family restaurant is the kind of fun we're looking for. (Dinner AND a show!)

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  3. I would have given her the hairy eyeball and that would have said it all. Maybe I should be on medication.

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    1. And then your mini-me would have raised a perfectly arched brow and snickered at her stupidity and the woman would have backed away very slowly to avoid further upsetting the owner of that hairy eyeball!

      You seem to function pretty well without meds. I function much better on them. If you ever feel the need for some self-restraint, however, duct tape is a nice alternative. :)

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  4. Hey...a client could be around ANY corner. 4 out of 5 Walmart trips I run into someone I counsel! I gotta mind my P's and Q's! Plus, my sweet second daughter screetches REALLY loud. I know this first hand. All I said to her was, "Please don't shriek near the baby." So she still got to screech everywhere else in the play place. And the lady came back by afterwards and complimented me on my non-shrieking child. :-)

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    1. Yeah, but that takes all the fun out of the story!

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  5. If she would of approached me with that i would have looked at her and said,"Are you for real,are you serious?"Then I'm sire a few not so nice things would of erupted as to tell her if she wants quiet there's the door and pointed to it. Some people are just so Damn stupid.....ajd they give birth!!!

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