We have been on the road this past week and have stopped frequently along the way to grab a quick meal.
This was our first time to make the round-trip from California to Oregon by car, which included overnight stays.
Driving has its advantages and disadvantages and because I’ll do anything to get out of flying, the plan worked well for me. (Yes, I’m one of those white-knuckler flyers, positive every flight is going down.)
Anyway, we’ve now eaten at different restaurants three times a day for what seems like a million years. I am now officially done eating out and can’t wait for home cooked meals.
For us, the hardest part about being away is the littlest hooligan, who is a picky, picky, eater. So when we travel we agree to go to McDonald’s for some meals since he loves their chicken nuggets. He’s part of the family too, so I guess it’s only fair.
I know, I know, you thought I wouldn’t go to McDonald’s again after my last rant. This new incident happened at a McDonald’s IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE! Somewhere very close to the California and Oregon border where there’s not a lot going on.
On this particular trip the Wild Boar and I decided to let our eight year old go to the bathroom by himself.
We would never let him go to the bathroom by himself in an airport or department store or a place where we were not right there…but we have been to a lot of small restaurants on this adventure where we can see the bathroom door and see who’s going in and out etc.
This has worked out well; he feels a little independent and we feel comfortable knowing he’s not going to disappear. This was a big step for all of us because we tend to be protective parents. It has also been great because this child refuses to go into the ladies room with me and the Wild Boar is not always there to go into the bathroom with him.
So today at a McDonald’s…in officially Nowheresville, California, where they didn’t have trays to take food to the table, drink holders for cups going to the car and soft serve cones half the size as every other McDonald’s (but I’m not complaining about that) the Wild Boar took the hooligans to the bathroom.
Thank gawd the boys did not go alone.
We had a two hour drive in front of us and everyone needed to use the restroom. I had already gone and was waiting at a table close to the bathroom doors.
The Wild Boar and the hooligans go in…and soon after the door flys open and the Wild Boar is pushing shuffling the boys out with a look of complete disgust on his face.
My six year old in his very, very loud and piercing voice is asking, “Daddy, what were they doing in there? Why can’t we wait for them to get out? Why, WHY, WHY?”
I look at the Wild Boar, he mouths to me that there are two guys in one stall…(there is only one stall)…and they are….yep, keep your mind in the gutter…doing something nasty.
Ugh.
My mouth drops open…I am so grossed out. The boys are confused and have too many questions.
I sit there paralyzed…a minute goes by and out comes the first male…oh great he’s the young guy who just made our French Fries, the friendly McDonald’s employee…Yuck…I am so disgusted.
He smiles at us and heads back to his post as the French Fry guy. Lovely.
Next, the second male exits the bathroom, a small, fortyish-looking man. He leaves out the back door (no pun intended). He does not glance our way.
Oh bee-geez-us.
And this is why my child has now lost his short-lived bathroom independence by no fault of his own.
Thank goodness the Wild Boar went in there with them THIS time. If he hadn’t, who knows what they would have seen. Those two boys would have had no problem asking those two men what they were doing, especially my younger one.
Interestingly, I have heard of recent police arrests at rest stops due to this type of behavior taking place.
This McDonald’s was coincidently near a rest stop. I wonder if the “rest stop activity” has moved its way over to new locations.
Great huh?
