Ripped from the headlines

OK, first off, I would like to raise a glass {of really cold diet coke} and offer up a toast to my long loved beverage of choice. It was announced this morning on the ticker of GMA's headlines that saccharin is no longer considered to be a "potential hazard to human health". Yippee! May all the nay-sayers hush!

With that bit of good news I now need to ask a very serious question. "SERIOUSLY? Mom in California, are you really sueing McDonalds (or here)for enticing your child to eat unhealthy food by placing toys in Happy Meals?" You have got to be kidding me. I saw the clip of the little girl (maybe 6) and she said she liked the toys because they were "so exciting and thrilling". I don't know anybody, six or otherwise, who would use those adjectives to describe the cheap crap toys in a happy meal. Now, where to begin...

1) Let's recap on how parenting works. The parent is in charge. If your child wants something unhealthy and you don't want them to have it, say "no". Shall I spell that two letter word out for you?

2) There are healthy options at fast food places, teach your child to choose the best option [bonus, this is a learning opportunity (say it with me, "learning opportunity".). You aren't always going to be with them, they need to learn for themselves]. In addition, children need to learn that healthy food doesn't always mean "yucky" food.

3) Marketing is the new way of life. Your child needs to learn that they don't always get what they want, food or otherwise, period (Please, do us all a favor and teach this lesson to your kid).

When we take our kids to McDonalds, we get them each a cheeseburger and we all split an order of fries. I bring applesauce from home. Not only is it cheap, it's really not that bad (and, my kids don't even ask for the toy anymore. We never get it, so it's become a non-issue).

In conclusion I would like to add: Man-up, parents, and start parenting. Learn to just say no...