 |
|
|
|
December 15th, 2010
02:04 PM ET
Woman sues McDonald's over Happy MealsA California woman is suing McDonald's claiming the fast-food giant uses toys to market directly to young children. Monet Parham, a Sacramento, California, mother of two small children filed the lawsuit Wednesday in San Francisco along with health, nutrition and food safety advocates Center for Science in the Public Interest . CSPI is seeking court approval to proceed as a class action. Parham, a 41-year old state employee, says her kids repeatedly ask for Happy Meals, mainly for the toys. "We have to say no to our kids so many times and McDonald's makes that so much harder to do. I object to the fact that McDonald's is getting into my kids' heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat." Michael Jacobson, CSPI's executive director accused McDonald's of "one of the most insidious marketing practices–dangling a toy in front of a small child." Jacobson called the practice "unfair, deceptive and illegal' in California and many other states. "The food industry has a responsibility not to intrude into families by using sleazy marketing techniques getting kids to pester their parents." Jacobson compared the tactics to tobacco companies marketing to kids with things like Joe Camel. "In this instance, McDonald's is worse. They are going straight at little kids. The company is using unfair techniques to persuade the kids to persuade the parents to go to McDonald's. Tobacco companies don't go after 3 year-olds. Neither does Coca Cola or Pepsi." In 2006, fast food companies spent over $520 million on advertising and toys to market kids meals. More than $350 million of that was for toys alone. Last month, The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance that requires happy meals and other fast food offerings with toys meet new nutritional standards or be removed from menus. It goes into effect next December. McDonald's says it is proud of its Happy Meals and will vigorously defend the company's brand, its reputation and its food. "We stand on our 30-year track record of providing a fun experience for kids and families at McDonald's," said Bridget Coffing, a company spokesperson. "We listen to our customers, and parents consistently tell us they approve of our Happy Meals. We are confident that parents understand and appreciate that Happy Meals are a fun treat, with quality, right-sized food choices for their children that can fit into a balanced diet." This is not the first time CSPI has challenged fast food companies in court. In 2006 the organization went after Kellogg for marketing cereals loaded with sugar to children. In that case CSPI and Kellogg reached a settlement. CSPI also sued Kentucky Fried Chicken for frying its chicken in partially hydrogenated oil, which is high in trans fat. When KFC phased out the oil, CSPI dropped the lawsuit. soundoff (2,110 Responses)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Next »Leave a Reply to Stupified
« Previous entryWhy HIV advance is not a universal cure
|
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
 |
|
|
|
What an egregious lawsuit. Regardless of what you think of happy meals, toys, or anything else, the central issue here is that this woman wants the government to be the bad guy for her so she never has to say no to her children. I am stunned by the degree of whining. If she has so little self confidence and authority that she has to say no more than a few times (it really is okay to say to your children, "No. In this family we do not eat McDonalds (or swear, or say unkind things about others, or go around naked or anything else your family has rules about) and if you ask me again, you will lose your privileges for two days." End of story. It is called discipline, setting boundaries. Will she also compel the grocery stores to stop selling candy, cookies, cereal, ice cream and other enticing things she may not agree with because she cant stop her kids from asking her over and over for them? She needs to grow up, and take responsibility for being a parent.
I totally agree with you, star! Goodness, people take accountibility, please!
Well said as are the rest of the comments. It never ceases to amaze me the ridiculous lawsuits that are allowed in this country. All of your points are spot on, but how can any reputable(?) organization join this woman in such a flagrantly frivolous suit? It really boggles the mind.I agree with the other writer – class action = big bucks. Remember the woman who spilled hot coffee in her crotch and sued because McD's didn't warn her that spilling hot coffee in her crotch would result in burns........ People are amazing. Too bad our court system can't deny a claim because the plaintiff has zero common sense.
I feel the same way Star. Where will this line of thinking end?
I agree.
I have three children and, yes, I do occasionally take them to McDonald's for Happy Meals, but I do so in moderation. I am able to say no to my children.
They also see commercials for toys on TV and will say, "I want that!" Guess what, I can say no to that as well. When we go to the grocery store, the bad stuff is at their level for a reason and they want it. I will also say no when I don't want them to have it.
I don't always get what my kids want. I guess its because I don't always get what I want when I want it. My wife is also good at saying no.
@star: TOTALLY AGREE! This country is becoming more and more about society raising our kids than the parents. If she has to tell her kids REPEATEDLY no about McDonalds, it's because she's a horrible disciplinarian and a horrible mother! i only have to tell my kids ONCE and they know I mean business.
Patrick, I don't think you're being fair. It seems unrealistic to imply that saying "no" to fast food is in any way comparable to saying "no" to drugs, alcohol, gangs, gothic garb and culture, etc... Obviously, there are parents who allow their children to participate in such things, but one still has to take into account moderation, the child's responsibility, whether Johnny actually loves Satan or is just fitting in, and the list continues for days.
In regards to her admission of unfit parenting, well, it only counts when it is verbal or written. Even then, one act isn't enough to substantially judge her parenting quality. I don't know if she's an amazing mom or a demon, neither do you.
Im sueing walmart for not closing-in the huge toy section they have from my kid's eyes if she gets ANYTHING out of this stupidness. Be a damn parent and shut up. If you dont wanna buy the meal, then dont buy it..that simple..or, be a parent and teach them a lesson about bugging you about it by getting the meal without the toy and give it to them. If you really wanna teach them something. The only thing this woman is doing is teaching her children to sue, sue, sue. McDonalds is NOT FORCEING you to buy the meal, or getting into thier heads..thats allllllll you!
She works for the state of California, there is no need to say anything else!!!!
Well written, Star. Exactly right!
you are 100% correct. this person is a poor parent, a poor example, and is trying to make a buck. hope she spends everything she owns on the lawsuit and walks away without a cent.
OMG! So agree with you Star! People need to learn how to parent their own children! Sometimes being a "good parent" means saying no, and being the "bad guy" to your kids!
You pretty much summed it up. I'm fairly sure that as soon as this case goes to court, a judge will throw it out. The problem I have is some attorney took this case knowing full well it will be DOA.
I totaly agree. Lol take responsibility for your own. This lady is so idiotic
I hope and imagine that her life will be a living hell as the public clamors to show her how easy it is to say "No".
If she can't handle her children she doesn't need to be a mother. I don't understand how society has gotten to the point that the the most ignorant, moronic people can basically run it. It's a sad day when we can sue people for our coffee being too hot, for our lack of parenting skills, and being able to sue others if we break in their home and get hurt while breaking in.
Here here.... Just tell your kids no and move on. This doesn't have to turn into a travesty.
Well said. When did it become bad to set boundaries and say no children. She should grow a spine and realize she is their parent and not their friend.
mrsmarvel, before you run around telling people to do their research. The coffee was NOT heated to 300 degrees, you are either misinformed or a bold faced liar, and both ways defending the stupid.
I am 73 years old. I am always amazed at parents whining how they can't say no to their children. Look around you parents and see what a mess we are in. In my days like STARS no was no end of discussion. It obviously did hurt me and it will do your kids more good than harm. If they are getting Happy Meal they obviously aren't driving themselves to McDonalds. DAH!!!!!
If she can sue McDonalds I will take a class action suit against every grocery store in the U.S. to move their candy selection away from the check out areas! "We have to say no to our kids so many times McDonalds makes it so much harder to do". O
So then should they remove the playgrounds too? My kids ask to go to McDonalds just for their play areas. But I'm also not stupid enough to feel like I have to say yes every time as well. There's a thousand other things (marketing related and not) that also tempt my children into wanting things not good for them. We don't live in a fairy tale. These kids need to learn how to handle real life, and in real life mommies say no to McDonalds more often than not (except the fatter mommies, they never learned that lesson either 😛 )
I too agree. if she doesn't want them to have the toys or the food,don't go to mcDonalds.
You absolutely CORRECT..... this kind of thing is going on CONTINUOUSLY on all sorts of levels in our nation. Parents can not say "no".... they are no longer playing the role of family leader. Sometimes, I think it is just this sort of thing that encapsulates the "fall of Rome" here in the U.S. We're done!
exactly. also add, "NO you will not grow up and sue mcdonalds cuz u cant take care of ur own kids" to the list
You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! I cannot believe what these lawyers are getting away with! This country has gone to H_ll as far as I'm concerned. Why are the parents of these SPOILED rotten children getting away with this?? It's becasue the lawyers of this country have dissected the Bill Of Rights to the point of no return. This is only one example of the lawyers running this country.We don't EVEN want to go any further than this.
Well said; 'nuff said.
from the quote: object to the fact that McDonald's is getting into my kids' heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat."
What a load of crap. Tell me a kid that would rather eat brussel sprouts over a McD's cheeseburger or chicken nuggets. This lady works for the state and should know better than to waste our $$ in the courts systems over something like this. My kids understand we can't eat McDonalds all the time. Make it a treat for them when they do something good. Come on lady take some responsibility and be a parent. Let me guess she is probably the same lady that sued McDonald's for dumping coffee in her own lap.
@mrsmarvel. You can't get water over 212* unless it's under pressure. You order hot, fresh brewed coffee, that's what it should be. It has to reach the boiling point (212*F in case you were unsure) to get up the tube and be disbursed over the grind. This suit is the American lottery... sue everybody!,
I cannot understand these people my kids grew up and did not have fast food except for two times a month that was there treat. I work in fast food and just did not want to eat it myself so I cooked all there meals and made there lunches for school and yes they wanted to go to fast food places but the word NO means NO and I used that word all the time and just never gave in, This is about Parents who can't really be Parents that is one of the major problems with this country Parents need to grow some balls and said NO and stick to it. They are all concern with hurting little tommys feels by saying no. Now you are finding out you should have never had Kids as your not a good Parent and you want to blame McDonalds
I think this mother is just looking for some FREE publicity. I have 4 and 6 year old children, who by the way are NOT allowed to eat at McDonalds. Not that they have never eaten MCD's but they understand that the food isn't our best choice. For burgers we do In and Out where there is no prize, but I know the fries are REAL potatoes and the burgers are sustainable (that is their claim). The bottom line is they will ask for certain foods, and depending on what night it is... we either go out, order in, or eat what I cook. As far as marketing to her children, try turning off the TV and they won't see it. If they are not bombarded by images from MCD's then they probably wouldn't ask for it...
amen, star. this women is a LAZY mother. LEARN HOW TO SAY NO, LADY.
Agreed 100%
I am a mom of five. The way to keep kids from begging items from you that is displayed on commercials is.. turn off the TV and simply say no. Children do not need to be explained why – just say it. Firmly. Easier to ignore the initial tantrums then the continued one when you give in and they want more. My children used to ask for brand name. Well sure they can ask. I made no argument, I said I would consider it. Then I talked to them later (because they were older) and helped them to understand the can have one brand name or five non-brand name. Simple. For this fast food, I would say 'fast food once every three months or frozen yougert once a month, with fresh apples and bananas weekly. They wanted what they could get now. If the really want the toys, head to your local thrift store, the places are full of brand new fast food toys.
Whats funny about all of this is she CAN just buy the toy without the meal......
Here, Here! This woman should take responsibility and discipline her children...just say no!
Couldn't agree more I raised six children they want this and that, as the parent it's your job to say no when needed. If you can't you shouldn't be looking to the government for help. By the way McDonalds was a treat for my kids not the staple of their diet. They are now all betreen the ages of 39 and 24 all are healthy and fit productive members of society and I didn't need the governemnts help. People need to re-learn how to be responsible for their actions. Stop blaming everyone else.
I can not believe this lady! My 3 year old askes for Starbucks when he sees it but does not mean I am going to buy it for him. You are the parent not your kids. It is plain and simple tell them "NO" and don't buy it. They will stop asking and if they don't deal with it. You made them who they are!
I totally agree with you! This is nothing but marketing for McDonalds, but it's up to the parents to make choices for their children. We don't eat at McDonald's and I have a 5 and 7 year old and I'm not afraid to tell them NO on occasion! Grow a pair and raise your kids.
I agree with you 100% star, we are responsible for our kids up bringing up, and saying no to your kids is a part of tough love, kids in america are spoil rotting because we dont want to teach our kids the true value of life, without the materialistic. shame on her
Good job this woman is part of society that brings our country down. So sad that a lawsuit like this can even be filed.
I call bulls*it on this star.
The easy defense is to say that bad parenting leads to fat kids. Tell me did you parents have to compete with the multi-$100 million marketing campaigns directly and aggressively targeting your children? Let's face it, over the last 20 years, we live in a new world where "parenting" is a job that competes with many outlying influences that did not exist in the past: aggressive marketing, and economic strains caused by the increasing cost of living and both spouses having to work.
If you think your defense makes any sense at all, you're out to lunch buddy.
Totally agree with you Star. It's disgusting and ridiculous that she is being allowed to bring up such a lawsuit.
I was just wondering if anyone ever told her you can buy the toys without buying the meal? LOL! Seriously, that's what I always do for my nieces and nephews. I'm not one for calling people names, but this woman is the definition of a moron.
Unbelievable – JUST SAY NO!!! She should have her children taken away for being an unfit mother.
Terrible example!!
Parents need to be responsible – it's not up to the government or lawyers...
Thank ou so much. When will parents take responsiblity for their children and what they eat,do and say. Lots of fast food joints? market to the group most likely to purchase there. So Hope this is put in the junk pile and /or gives her back the job of just say NO
you have got to be kidding me!!!!! Get a life .... say no and mean it!!! I can't even begin to think of what would happen if this suit goes thru. With all that is going on in the world, and this is her biggest worry.....OMG!
How long have you worked for McDonald's? Or are you a franchise owner?
thank you bizmommy, you made me laugh
Agreed! Well said.
Very well said! We live in a society where parents are either unable or unwilling to actually parent their own children. They need to learn to say NO and mean it and their children need to be shown that their parents are responsible adults who make the rules in their households. What a ridiculous idea that an adult has to sue a chain food restaurant because they are marketing to children. Maybe she should also sue ToysRUs because they market and sell items that she may also not want her children to have....or how about Wal-mart......they sure do sell unhealthy items aimed at children. Your post makes me happy to realize that there are still sane people in this world!!
I agree with star and I will take it one step further. McD's does not reach my family, I can't remember the last time I saw a TV commercial for a Happy Meal. My children watch TV and so do I. In fact I am in the marketing business myself. The only time my child has ever asked for a toy is when we pull into McD's, about 6-9 times per year. There are so many things wrong with this lawsuit I find myself going in too many directions. There is definately something wrong with this lawsuit, I am writing this asking everyone to not participate in the class action suit as it is not needed. Step up, take control of your own children, and don't go through the drive thru so often!
at a time when half the country is screaming to reduce the size of government and the other half is defending health care reform, we now have a parent who can't say no asking the courts to stop a retail establishment from selling toys. She was interviewed for TV...says she can't fight the influential marketing and enticement imposed by McDonalds, that her 6-year old is no match for the corporate giant. What a crock! Don't like the food? DON'T GO THERE TO EAT!!!!! How is it that some of us NEVER eat food from McDonalds, NEVER smoke cigarettes, NEVER abuse alcohol, etc. and live perfectly good lives without these health-sucking habits, while others need legislation and lawsuits to prevent their will from weakening. I hope a reasonable judge will throw this out of court before it can gain any more traction. Teach this woman and her cohorts some worthwhile parenting skills. This will do their children a lifetime of good, not a restriction on toy selling.
Apparently in California the lawyers will take any case and sue anyone. Since Happy Meals are for kids who is McDonald's going to advertise to, "Senior Citizens"?
Taking away the options for kids is not the answer, If you can not say no to a child the you should not be a parent. It is your job to raise your children right my kids never ask for happy meals. We pass McDonald's every day on the way home and never has my children said hey dad can we get a happy meal please. You know why my kids have been taught at a young age that fast food is not a treat nor am I going to waste money on it, They know its bad for you and my kids eat healthy and like healthy food. Yes they have eaten there before but to be honest neither one liked the food that much. It is your job from the start to raise your kids. and teach them whats good and bad. Suing a company for your own lack of conviction to your children is dumb.
I truly hope that the court order that those bringing this lawsuit are forced to cover all court costs and the legal fees of McDonalds. Ideally, there would be a way to hold this woman individually liable for her share of these penalties with a proviso that none of the others are allowed to cover her share, with the hope that it causes her and her family sufficient financial pain and hardship that it deters other people from wasting the courts time and the defendants money on such publicity stunts in the way of frivolous lawsuits. Sadly, even that probably wouldn't encourage many parents to start accepting the responsibilities and obligations of being a parent rather than trying to foist them off on the state.
This is the type of lawsuit that should cost the person filing it and their ill-advised lawyer. if you can't man up and say no to your children about a happy meal you've got greater problems coming up that won't go away at the threat of litigation.
it is a travesty that irresponsible parenting is now becoming the fault of a marketing ploy. Teach your children not to eat the crap and they will not. Whats next suing a school because your kid isnt doint his homework, and you dont make him...
By focusing on the mother you miss the point. The bigger question is whether a corporation whose sole objective is profit has a moral (or any) obligation to conduct business in an ethical way. I applaud all parents who are capable and say "no." The real issue is were do we set limits for corporations when it comes to deceptive marketing aimed at children.
Well, the lady is a 'state employee'. An incompetent mother but a very vigorous defender of the Nanny State that feeds her and her kids. Now we will have food police... Not impossible, in Montreal they have a 'language police' that vigorously enforces their local laws commanding the merchants to have everything in French (big letters!) and only then (small letters) in English or whatever.
McDonald not only gives out silly toys but also, in many places, provides playgrounds for the kids. In my 'McDonald' nights, now about 1 in three months, I do not recall watching any kids using them. So, they may not be sued by another government employee...
@ Star. I completely agree with you. I have one child (3 year old boy) and every time we pass McDonalds, I hear, "I want chicken nuggets please." Funny, I don't hear I want a toy (well, not yet, anyway). He wants the chicken nuggets because I brought him there before and gave him chicken nuggets myself. No gun to my head, no one forcing me inside, I didn't want to cook that night, and grabbing fast food seemed like a good idea (it was, i like the nuggets too). She obviously let them have happy meals before or wouldn't they just say, "I want that toy!" BTW, you can go to McDonalds and just buy the damn toy, the same way you can go to Wal-Mart and buy a toy, or JCPenny for clothes, Home Depot for tools, etc., etc., and so on. Would she sue Wal-Mart because she wanted frozen vegetables but they came in a non-recyclable plastic bag that would pollute the environment? (Stretching a bit, but you see my point). JUST SAY NO. It isn't going to kill you or your kids by putting your foot down and not giving them everything they ask for. I love my son. I would love to give him everything he wanted to make him happy. Unfortunately, even if I could, I wouldn't. That isn't how children should be raised, to think they can have anything they want. It would just make them spoiled. SAY NO. Look it up on Google, or read some of the comments. They all seem to have the right idea.
Oops, I meant the last few sentences directed at the irresponsible mother, not you Star! Sorry if it seems like I meant you! 🙂
what an idiot, grow up, get over it and learn to control your own issues within your household.
This is to be expected from a tax dollar parasite feeding on California taxpayers for a living with an equally unscrupulous lawyer enabling her. Probably expects at least a nice out of court settlement to go away.
Absolutely right Star, this mom needs to be a mom and just say no. I teach in a high school and I see so many kids today who don't know how to deal with being told no. No you may not talk when the teacher is talking, no you may not get up during class to give a brush to your friend to do her hair, no you may not curse in class. When you tell them no they act as if you are being completely unfair and actually throw tantrums; and these are high school students! If parents would just start being parents instead of their kids' friends then the schools would be in much better shape.
What is really odd is you can buy the toy without the Happy Meal so her complaint that they want the meal just for the toy makes no sense. Not only that but she can choose to get apples instead of fries and milk instead of pop, making it a much healthier meal.
Waaahhhhhh! So, you are saying that McDonald's is a bigger influence on your kids than YOU are? And it is THEIR fault? Musta missed Mommy 101.
Easy fix, just say no after all you are the parent, yeah?
So many things wrong with this article, in no particular order...
"Learn some parenting skills"
"ALL advertising is aiming at someone in a non-direct way, pay attention"
"Who the hell still things the Golden Archs is real food?"
"Super-Size Me"
"LOL"
I would hate to see a parent like this in a toy store- they better bring a U-haul to take all the toys home that their children demand. Tough love means saying no.They need to try cooking a good meal for their children.
I agree totally with you Star and the others who actually have a BRAIN and a SPINE!
Wake up lady! It's called being a parent and being in control and setting boundaries. NO...means NO. The sooner the kids learn that tough lesson...the better off they will be in the REAL, GROWN-UP WORLD!
What other decisions does this stupid b**ch want the Gov't to step in and make for her? What else does the want them to do in raising HER children?
Do you want the Gov't to tell you when YOUR kids can start dating, what time they have to be in by? PICK the college of THEIR choice for you?
It's people like this and these STUPID lawsuits that are tanking America! They shouldn't even allow this stupid crap in court.
The only reason they should even accept the paperwork, is so the SMART, FREE people can identify the idiots of the world and remove them from this still great country of ours...before they RUIN IT BEYOND REPAIR!
If you can't resist all the temptations of the free world...or tell your children no, then keep them AND your dumb-a$$ HOME lady!
Someone....PLEASE....make this woman have her tubes tied, before she has more children she can't say no to and taints the gene pool even more. When will the Gov't protect US...from idiots like this!?!?
I hope she wins the lawsuit...and the judge awards her $1 million worth of Recycled, McDonalds TOYS that were never given away !!!!!!
Im onl 15 and i find this to be completely ridiculous. If the women dosent want her kids getting the toy then dont buy the happy meal. Its nothing to sue McDonalds about. Just get your food eat it and get out. easy as that.
This woman can't cook, so she takes her family to McCrap, then complains when her children want CRAP for food... GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY!
This woman is not acting out of sheer stupidity...we've read that Monet Parham (or should we call her Monet Parham-Lee?) is a state employee. This is true. Perhaps it should be added that she works for the California Department of Public Health, specifically the "Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section" of the California Department of Public Health. It is her job to get kids to eat healthier. Therefore, it is professionally in her best interest to file this suit. She is throwing up a smokescreen by using her daughter as an example...but this really has nothing to do with her being too weak/stupid/bad of a parent to say no.
I didn't get through all of the 400+ comments... but it seems unanimous.... this woman is an idiot!... if she can't say no to her children.... she is an unfit parent! I have two boys, I have never been a fan of "fast food". However, I will take my kids now and again as a treat. McDonald's is an awesome company!!. When my kids were young I would take them to McDoanlds only when they had the Hot Wheel toys in the Happy Meals. At my local resturaunt we were given the same hot wheel three weeks in a row. I had six of the same car, and was told that's all they had. This resturaunt wasn't rotating the toys. I called Headquarters and explained the situation.... the day after 9/11 we received a package from McDonalds with two entire sets of the series.... What a blessing for my Kids ....The boys were young and frieghtened by the news of the "Airplanes crashing into the buildings"... this gift was so generous, and gave my kids something else to think about!.... They remember to this day!.. Thank You McDonalds! They still have the Hot Wheels. OH.....Now my kids want the newest cell phones, IPods and Gaming systems.... Should I sue these companies.... NO. I tell my kids...It's good to want....now you have something to work towards.
Agreed. In fact, mom ought to use the constant pleading by her children as a lead in to simple discussions about nutrition, making smart choices, thinking for themselves, etc. It's a fantastic teaching opportunity that McDonald's has handed her. Unfortunately, she isn't one of those people who understands that while you can't change the wind, you can set your own sails.
"A California woman is suing McDonald's claiming the fast-food giant uses toys to market directly to young children". I think everyone knows they market to children...funny along with its absurdity.
I totally agree with you; I think it's crazy to send a message to these companies absolving ourselves of parental responsibility and placing the burdon on them. The ramifications are endless. Here is a lady telling our government that companies, not us, are responsible for our children, as if we are unfit to parent. Please, control us, take away our choices, we are unable to guide our own children! It's ridiculous.
You know, you can BUY the toys without the happy meal.....I have family members who do that ALL THE TIME.
Ummmm, what's wrong with saying "No?" McDonald's hasn't forced any parent to drive to their restaraunt and buy their Happy Meal. It's a simple decision, go home and make their lunch. I guess while she's on a roll, Burger King, Taco Bell, Hardees, etc. better watch their backs, too!!
Right on the money, if you can't or won't tell your children NO, then you fail at being the parent in the family. Good job on showing that your children rule your life.
I agree also! It's up to the parents to determine what our kids eat. I use McDonald's as a reward system if my son brings me an A on a big test we go to McDonald's as a reward. This is a great way to instill values and hard work for later in life.
Agree 100%! If all they want is cr@ppy toys, take them to the dollar store. Part of being a parent is saying no. I personally do not eat McDonalds, but if others wish to then by all means go ahead. But why should you expect the government to parent your kids?
People just don't want to be "Parents" anymore, and have responsibility to raise their child, they just want to be friends with their kids......blaming everyone else, if their child does wrong etc.....I don't like McDonald's food, I do think its terrible for you, at the same token, its about choice and responsibility, if I don't want to eat that food or I don't want my child to eat that food, then I take it upon myself not to eat there and tell my child "NO" whether they like it or not. Its about being a Parent and taking responsibility, even if your child is mad at you....big deal, they'll get over it!
"We have to say no to our kids so many times and McDonald's makes that so much harder to do. I object to the fact that McDonald's is getting into my kids' heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat."
I want to sue this woman for bad parenting. Saying "no" is a responsibility she accepted when her children were born.
Of course they are advertising to our kids to some degree, but WE as the paretns are responsible to say no!! Growing up as a child- going to MC Donalds for a happy-meal, was very exciting, and actually made for some nice chidlhood memories... I think some vegan liberal in California, has decided to crucify MC Donalds, and this is what this is really about. What will be next Cartoon network, for they show cartoons to entice our children, and therfore any/all food advertisers who are deemed unhealthy- will be punished. I hope there is a judge with an ounce of common sense- who will throw this out of the courts... THE PARENTS are obviously eating there themselves, if their children are so exposed to happy meals, that it is causing trauma.
AMEN!!! AMEN!!! AMEN!!! I've managed three children and four grandchildren through the "perils" of McDonalds, and they're all doing just fine. While they may have enjoyed some of the toys, the main focus was always the food. This woman is looking for her 15 minutes of fame. I'm sure you can see dollar signs shining in her eyes. Talk about frivolous!
I bet she wasn't complaining about the toys when she was a kid. Oh my goodness give me a break.
AMEN!! Lets Eat!! 🙂
Star I couldn't have said it better.
I agree completely. After raising 3 daughters that knwo how to eat becasue my wife and I taught them I can tell she needs to be the parent and say no and mean it and secondly, if Mcdonald's is getting into her kid's heads then turn off the TV. Tell them to go outside to play or find something else to do. Again, part of her responsiblility as a good parent. We did this to our kids. She's just lazy.
I can not believe this. If you don't want your kids to eat Mcdonalds just tell them no. Last time I looked we were the parents and we have the control over what our children eat. There have been many times where my kids have gotten mad at me for saying NO to them but they get over it. This is a frivilous lawsuit that should be thrown out. What about the times you've gone into a store and your kids want a toy or a video game. Is it stress to tell them no there are we going to start a lawsuit because they sell toys next. This is a prime example of how some people will not take responsibility for their own lives and put the blame on others.
I have 2 kids age 5 and 7. The 7 year old has only asked to "go to McDonalds" for a toy twice in her life. The 5 year has never. We go to McDonalds with the kids maybe every 4 to 6 weeks. If they want a happy meal, they can get one, but we as the parents HAVE THE CHOICE to either say no to the happy meal, or maybe get the apple thingies instead of fries or whatever and a milk instead of a pop (confession: we let the kids have the fries but they get the milk for the drink). There is a happy medium. No pun intended.
Also, exactly where are the kids seeing the great toys. I guess we don't watch that much kids TV so we don't see a lot of what the happy meal of the week is or do you just go to Mcdonalds a lot so the kids constantly see what is available.
I am not a perfect parent, but it is up to the parent to say yes or no to the kid and guide them. What kid of message are you sending when you don't want to make the decisions yourself and must rely on lawsutis or government intervention for the simple things in life?
McDonalds sells the toy separately, without any other purchase. She has the freedom of choice to not buy any food. McDonalds should counter sue her personally and make her pay for McDonalds legal fees. Since she is incapable of parenting maybe they need to report that to child services.
Okay, she says that her kids ask for McDonald's because of the toys, not the food. If it's that serious, why doesn't she just go buy the toys from McDonalds. As far as I know, most fast food restaurants allow you to purchase the toys separately, McDonald's included.
I 100% agree with you! Just because children want something doesn't mean you HAVE to give it to them. This is basically a mother who seems to have no control and who is afraid to say no to her children. If her kids are eating bad food, it's her fault that she chose it. No one says you have to get french fries, a burger, and a soda. Get chicken, apple slices, and juice/milk. If the kids are just looking for the toys, they won't care what food you chose to put in the Happy Meal.
@ McDonald's lawsuit
I think it is absolutely rediculous that you would blame McDonald's for their marketing techniques. It is a personal issue when you cannot control your children, and even more so when you dont teach that that no means no, end of discussion. Children are supposed to be taught that they dont and are not supposed to get everything they want. My 2 year old asks for Happy Meals daily and daily I tell him no. He understands that is not always appropriate. She needs to really re-evaluate her parenting skills and notice who is really in control.
Why hurt others for our own weakness ? If you can't handle your own kids, why not sue father of Kids for giving her sperm ? Was he market his sperm with toys ?
It amazes me of what We as a country are doing to ourselves. Greed has done as much harm to this country than al Qaeda has. Frivolous lawsuits that cost company's, stock holders, tax payers millions of dollars cannot be helping our economy. To bad we can cannot sue this lady for not having the common sense God gave dirt.
Oh geeeeez. When are parents going to stop trying to blame everyone and everything else when it comes to their children??? When I was growing up, McDonalds was a special treat once or twice a month and if we whined and cried about it or pestered our parents for it, we would lose out on that treat.
Everyone wants to blame these fast food places for everything."My child's overweight because of it, my child's my child had temper tantrums for a happy meal and the toy inside"
Well parents.. YOU are the parent, say no!!!! If you do not know how to say no to your child and you cannot control your child, take a parenting class, stop being so lazy! Stop placing the blame elsewhere and look in the mirror at the problem. If your child is that out of control, you have certainly done something wrong.
I raised my 2 kids on my own for the last 17yrs. I worked full time and yes, it would have been much easier to just get fast food than to take the time and cook healthy meals for them BUT I had a responsibility to my children to raise them to be healthy and active. Not sit for hours in front of a tv, computer or video game letting them get unhealthy, overweight, lazy and spoiled. Fast food was a treat once a week with my children and if they misbehaved they did without that treat.
It's time some parents learned to be the parent and take on the responsibility of that role!!
Ok, getting off my soapbox now!
Amen. It's a parent's job to be a parent, and part of that is making decisions for your children. If you can't teach your children discipline at a young age, I fear they will be a severe disadvantage later on in life.
As a college student during finals week, I have been saying "no" to fast food (along with alcohol and pot, naturally) because I HAVE NO MONEY. I think I'm going to sue anheuser busch, mcdonalds, and my drug dealer because their prices are too high!
How this case even was able to be filed and how she found some crackpot attorney to represent her is beyond me. There's very little legal precedent behind this case. If you're having that much trouble saying "no" to your kids because of their never-ending lust for happy meal toys, maybe you should buy them an Wii or something. A wii is a lot more fun, and economical in the long run (less baby furbies, less cholesterol).
Then again, it is California.
This is looking like a corporate attack trying to sway the public. Not one comment supporting the lady. I am a good father of 2 boys and yes do not feed them the Mcdonalds or Burger King food regularly and have to deal with there crying and tantrums over getting the happy meal for the toy. The toy that is always linked to a popular movie or tv show. McDonalds and Burger King do it for no other reason than to make Kids demand the meal. If you don't see this you are the problem.
How many corporations give things away for free just because they want to be nice.
Yeah, It seems there are a lot of Mcdonalds employee's responding. Protect that income at the expense of our children.
What a waste of a mother figure she is.
Seriously??? I totally agree – it isn't McDonald's fault. Tell those kids "no" .....suing because your kids want happy meals is as bad as suing because your kids got fat eating McDonalds.... Maybe those two mothers are friends... lol.
If the hardest thing this woman has to do is tell her child, "no," when they ask to go to McDonald's then ho ho holy shhh it's going to be a long year! I better be careful though, my kid might sue daddy for being, "mean." LOOK OUT!
How much you wanna bet that her kids don't even eat Mcd's. She's going after large corporation hoping she'll get something out of them..Pathetic.. like the women who sued because the coffee is hot!
Star – you and so many others have hit the nail on the head. You said exactly what I was saying to my daughter last night. Who is raising these children – the mom or the kids themselves? We raised 2 boys and 2 girls, who are healthy, well adjusted adults. We bought them Happy Meals – occasionally. The rule was they couldn't play with the toys until they finished their food. That applied to any meal, fast food or home cooked. It comes down to the PARENT being in charge. These frivalous lawsuits are so prevalent today because nobody takes accountability for their own actions anymore. It's much easier to blame everything on someone or something else. And you get paid for it! When will it end? As others have said, this is a prime example of CA and the government telling us what to eat and where. Today I'm going to McD's and get a Happy Meal because I have that right, at least for now.
Real simple, if you don't want your kids to have a happy meal just say no... be a parent don't ask the government to be the parent for you. if you cant handle the responsibilities of parenthood, then maybe you shouldn't be a parent in the first place. this is an egregious act of utter laziness and goes to prove that we are quickly becoming a nation that asks what can the country do for me rather than what can i do for my country.
What a crock.... When I was growing up.. they had no kids meals... Iv'e been cheated. So now adays I will buy a kids meals. Eat the smaller portion.. take the toy and end up giving the toys to charity... for the less fortunate..
I think the best Kids Meal is Wendy's.... burger, fries, and a drink.. and the topper a small chocolate Frosty. and the toy...I have noticed some of the toys are good learning tools too. ie an audio book...
We all need to pray for this mom...
I'm suing Disney World for being too desirable for kids. These parks need to tone it down a notch so my (future) children will not desire to go there until I can afford it. I would also like to sue Apple for making their products too cool but unaffordable so I put myself into credit card debt to get their stuff.
I think its getting out of hand if we cant say know to are kids we have a problem ,They advertise toys everywhere do we buy everything are kids see The Answer is NO. Also if you put a well balanced diet in the kids meal they would still want to go there , Kids eat what we eat .Diane
What a crock.... When I was growing up.. they had no kids meals... Iv'e been cheated. So now adays I will buy a kids meals. Eat the smaller portion.. take the toy and end up giving the toys to charity... for the less fortunate..
I think the best Kids Meal is Wendy's.... burger, fries, and a drink.. and the topper a small chocolate Frosty. and the toy...I have noticed some of the toys are good learning tools too. ie an audio book...
We all need to pray for this mom... As the kids are throwing a tantrum in the markets
Where are the parenting skills?????? Just another person out there trying to get money is the way I see it. You are the parent & are in total control of what they eat as children, no one forces her to go to mcdonalds and place the order. She makes that decision. I wonder igf she bads potato chips or will that be her next lawsuit! get a life AND SOME PARENTING SKILLS!
I'll sign onto this one and agree with you, as well. I am raising two kids. Happy Meals with toys existed for their entire childhoods. We go to McDonalds or another fast food restaurant two or three times a month, at my choice, when I want to give them a treat. In reality, they never even cared that much about the toys. Both are lean, fit, athletes and as healthy as horses.
Monet Parham shouldn't be blaming McDonalds for her failure as a parent. She should be blaming herself as a failure and start taking some responsability for her actions.
Instead of starting a law suit she should spend her time learning good parenting.I can see who runs that family
i find this woman's behavior extremely irresponsible. Assuming that this previous comment is true:
"FCSelous
This woman is not acting out of sheer stupidity...we've read that Monet Parham (or should we call her Monet Parham-Lee?) is a state employee. This is true. Perhaps it should be added that she works for the California Department of Public Health, specifically the "Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section" of the California Department of Public Health. It is her job to get kids to eat healthier. Therefore, it is professionally in her best interest to file this suit. She is throwing up a smokescreen by using her daughter as an example...but this really has nothing to do with her being too weak/stupid/bad of a parent to say no."
Any parent who will use their child for the purpose of promoting the agenda of their employment is the dreck of the earth. I would not like to be in her shoes if her child at a latter point in life has come to the conclusion that her mother used her as an object of a lawsuit in order to have a means for a covert action in her position as an government employee. She is by far the greater and more evil predator of children than McDonalds. They are selling a product to children using a well thought out advertising technic. She is using her own child to attack a firm using a well thought out plan of activism. Shame on her! Although it is true that McDonalds aims much of its business at children and therefore its advertising, it has also proven itself as a protector and promotor of childrens' well being. McDonald Houses anyone? IF you really have such a difficult time controlling your child Ms. Parham, get parental counseling. If you do not, please stop abusing your own child.
It is called a happy meal, because the child will be happy to get the toy when they finish the meal. If you as a parent give the toy before they finish the fool, then who is the fool. And if you as a parent can't control your child then why did you take them there? I agree this should be thrown out, and she should be fined for wasting the courts time.
Couldn't agree more. Some people will use any excuse they can think of to make a buck; including their own ignorance. Is the 3 year the one who pays for the Happy Meal? Can you drive past the McD's, or do you have to go there, so you can complain about it? This lady sounds like a true idiot fishing for a free buck. Like the McDonalds coffee lady. Yes, coffee is hot. Especially on the crotch. But, what happens. She gets a pile of money, Where does it end? I have to work hard for my money, and some clown with some stupid reason for a lawsuit gets paid millions. Our country is becoming lamer and lamer by the minute because of fools like parham. She'll be suing Penthouse next, because her 3 year old needs the staples from the magazine for a school project, but is forced to see the centerfold when removing them. Get real you twirp.
what kid doesn't all ready love burgers fries and a soft drink regardless of the toys, honestly when I was a kid that's what got me excited. If burgers were not tasty without the toy, the great American tailgate experience would disappear
Any kid is just looking for the line, it's just normal to find their boundaries.
Draw it, and just tell your kids NO.
Parenting 101
I can't believe parents these days. Stop trying to find any new way to make a buck. Doesn't the stupid B***h know that if her kids want the toys, she can just buy them without buying a meal. She makes me sick because a good member of society like myself that is on his 3rd deployment to Iraq is really fighting for a country full of people like this. Why hasn't someone tried to sue the government for sending troops in harms way and then paying the civilians over here 3 time more then us troops and then give the money to troops. That I could understand.
Well said! I think if her lawsuit goes through, I'm going to sue her because now my kids won't have the option of getting a toy with their Happy Meal and I lose out on a parenting moment!
Damn those cereal makers that put toys in the cereal boxes and cute cartoonish characters on the box fronts. Kelloggs, General Mills - I'm coming after you!!!
She claims McD's is marketing directly to the kids.....where? Does McD's enter the child's classroom and advertise? Oh, I know....television.....she places her children in front of the tv instead of spending quality time bonding with them and teaching them sensible nutrution. She should be held accountable for admitting to not being a good parent.
Here is a strange idea. TURN OFF THE TV. Letting your children watch TV too much is not good for them either. Your a sad mother if you can't control your kids eating habits. This is a ridiculous lawsuit . JUST SAY NO
"...go around naked." ??? Hilarious!
Amen, Star. Just a sue happy idiot who can't say no to her kids.
Star, I TOTALLY agree. She is suing McDonalds because she has not taught her children how to behave??? Every parent goes through a stage where their children will ask for this/that/and EVERYTHING. It is up to the PARENTS to teach the children what is acceptable behavior and what is not. This sounds like the type of parent that will blame the teachers when their kids get in trouble in school. While she is at it, why not sue McDonalds because the coffee is too hot or because the ice is to cold in her coke...
I agree completely. It is not the governments job to control our options in life. It is up to us to make our own choices, if that means you have to tell your children No, so be it. Maybe if more people controlled their children instead of expecting society to do it for them, our country wouldn't be in the shape it is in right now.
Ms. Parham, I am sure that you heard this all before on previous posts. So I will try a new vain. Can I come to your house for Christmas if you have such a hard time saying no to your kids. Santa must empty his sleigh into your house bringing every goodie your kids ask for. And judging by a Facebook page with your name I would suggest cooking more at home with your kids instead of displaying this. God Bless all during the Holiday.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Monet-Parham/1574445891
I so agree!! What next? She needs to seriously stop whinning and crying over what HER kids cannot have. It is just a fact of life you cannot have everything you want just as much as all things are not good for all people (kids included). Lady get a life...we are not here to raise your kids into spoiled brats. You are the mother...make a decision and stick to it and stop thinking that corporations or government should be responsible for you not being able to say NO to YOUR kids...JUST SAY NO!!!
I take my friend's kid to get toys at McDonalds all the time but I just buy the toy.Sometimes I get her a toy and let her play at the play place. You can get the toy and the happy meal box without the McDonalds food. It is very easy to make something good for them to eat and put it in the box with the toy. Then you can both have a happy meal.
This just goes to show what parenting has come down to these days. It's amazing how quickly some parents will pass the buck so that others can do the parenting for them. Your kids shouldn't be eating that over processed crap to begin with. That would be like me suing HER for letting her kids eat that crap, letting them become obese and in turn raising taxes. Thanks, mom.
God i hate stupid people if you don't like it then don't eat there DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, what next burgerking, wendy's
I'm 77 + and we brought up five and we said no ONCE. Not ten to twenty times like some of today's parents. What happens in a grocery store where it's stacked with candy by the cashier?
I have to agree! I do not care for McDonalds that much but I have to be on their side here.This is like the hot coffee they were sued for. This is all a big FAT joke here. I do not see why this is even allowed. Toys have been in their meals for a long time. And there were a few times in getting adult meals I have asked for the toy for my neice and nephew or my grandaughter and guess what I was given a toy. So I feel no they are not pushing toys with just HAPPY MEALS. So as a adult can anyone say they are pushing the meal I purchased on me??? I do not think so. This lady is a real nut case and this is one time I can say I hope she does not win and MCDonalds can turn around and sue her in the end. I do not want to give anyone else any Ideas but what about Wendy's they have kids toys too? Oh and Arbys and Burger king! So I guess next they will get sued also. I think the courts had better start to scrap these bad ideas of taking these restaurants to court for not selling burgers to people's kids and getting sued for it. I can remember every day kids I ran around with used to go to red barn almost everyday for food and the one way my parents stopped it way back then was they did not give me money to buy any. So this lady is a real nut case or just wants money she does not have to work for is all I can say. And I hope she does not win this case in court. As I do feel everyone is trying to sue McDonalds for everything and that stinks real bad. But one got away with it so another will only try again. This lady oh and the courts needs to go soak their heads in some cold water and wake uip.. Oh and buy the way the crap of taking all the machines out of the schools is another stupid thing as well. They take the machines out but have snack bars selling pop and every thing else junk. And I gave my Grandaughter money to buy something for her self. I do think next all stores should close down or be sued for selling candy, pop , cookies and what ever junk as well. BIG JOKE! This lady's claim needs to be put in the garbage can before it even goes to court.
Maybe if this woman didn't use the TV as a babysitter her kids wouldn't get brainwashed into thinking they deserve a happy meal.
In the many years I have visited CNN, I think that this is the most I have ever seen anyone agree on a topic
Why do you even go there?
What's wrong withg going around naked? 🙂
I agree with everything else, however.
not everyone has the capability to say no to their children... because their parents never said no. There are more people than you think that have this problem. Some for of protection for these people, for instance to provide healthier food with the toys is a good idea.
Could not agree more! This is about personal accountability, or lack thereof, and one woman's lazy parenting hidden under a guise of sanctimony.
I hope she chokes on a carrot stick.
What about Burger King and all the others ? Dairy Queen gives free Ice Cream treats in their meals my god the lady needs to stay home and cook food if she wants her kids to eat healthy ... Why attack just one? Lady grow up I agree with real law suits but these stupid ones my God what is happening in this world?
good post star....i hope that dumb lady reads this...and she works for the government? gotta be kidding me
I have two daughters, one is 16 and the other will be 9 in a few days. I grew up on fast food but once I became a father I just never bothered to take my kids to these places. Their mother or grandmother always prepared meals and I made sure that if I was going to drive thru McDonalds or somewhere, my girls had already had good food and believe it or not, they never once asked for Happy Meals or anything else. My oldest has eaten at her fair share of fast food joints now but doesn't live off it, and my youngest has never had a carbonated drink. She has tried them a cpl times but she said it burns too bad. My long drawn out point here is this, don't introduce this stuff to your kids and they will never want it. I mean imo it's no different than giving your kids crack then whining b/c they want crack all the time. Then if they do ask for it and you don't want to give it to them then don't! Get a spine lady. I have to tell my girls no so many times when we are in wal-mart b/c being typical kids, they want everything they see, but I don't feel compelled to spend my last dime for their every whim nor do I feel the need to sue wal-mart for selling things kids want and making me look like the bad guy by telling my kids "no". We need to stop being such cry baby whiners and take some responsibility. Stop trying to sue your way into early retirement on the backs of your kids. Incredible.
YEAH sue for $$$$$......to lazy to work so lets find somebody to sue & see if we can get some money, typical america......
Say no!!! Don't drive them there. My kids love McDonald's only for the toy and I just don't give in. I don't need a lawsuit when I have free will.
I bet you people have some fat kids. McDonalds is part of a bigger problem that teaches people that this type of "food" is "food" when in reality it's greased meat and fried starch. The reason America is so fat is that we haven't been able to intellectualize our biological impulses to consume without end. This impulse made sense when we were hunter-gatherers, but we aren't anymore. Go visit a Wal-Mart or Golden Corral and tell me you have the same opinion.
I so agree with you STAR. It just amazes me that the "few" get to control the "many" in so many issues!
I have 8 kids and the have all grown up just beautifuly – all had "happy meals". If people don't like their kids having the toys, do like I did, save them throughout the year and give to kids who won't get any Christmas present, along with a basket with a turkey and the fixings! That is what I did in Panama! Please – somebody do something about these gold diggers out there!!!
amen star amen
Sorry, but I disagree. I think she is being a responsible parent as well as a responsible member of society. Yes, it's important to set boundaries by saying no to your kids, but if people don't speak out about the negative effects of marketing on our children, then externally we have very little control over that large influence affecting their lives. McDonalds is ubiquitous and unhealthy not to mention a cause of deforestation to make way for grazing space for their cattle to produce even more greenhouse gases. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?newsID=20772&CR1=warning There is nothing good about McDonalds, and ganging up on a mother trying to change the world around her and her family for the greater good isn't going to change that.
I agree all the way. This woman is ridiculous. How hard is it to say "no" to your children? If it is, then she is a pushover and needs to show them that she's their parent and they should listen to her. I also worked at McDonalds for two summers and it's possible to buy the toy by itself, it's $1. I hope this lawsuit doesn't pull through and that she feels like a complete fool, because she is.
....ah...yes... the shortcut to the American Dream now is the lotto ticket or the lawsuit.... what a shame. Next up she sues cereal companies for putting in toys to the box....then sues Wal-mart for putting toys and candy in the check out line....then maybe sues YOU for not teaching her child what is wrong or right....LOL
Quit whining. Be the adult, and tell your kids "NO".
Star!!! You are right on with your response. This lady needs to learn how to parent – end of discusssion.
Well put Star!! Everyone is "lawsuit happy" nowadays. Do people sit at home and try to think of reasons to file lawsuits - is it in hopes of big money – the attention ...? Being a parent is not easy, but if you can't do it and feel you have to place blame somewhere else – go to counseling and parenting classes! There's no shame in doing this - there's shame in trying to drop the blame for what you've done (or not done!) on someone else.
I agree McDonalds should stop pushing our kids. The toys were once unusual and an oddity. Now they are making them to sell the food that will clearly not sell otherwise. The food is bad for you and we all know it.
No need for a lawsuit if McDonalds just listens to its customers. It is not an unreasonable request.
I totally agree, take responsibility for your children and stop blaiming everyone else. McDonald is not to blame for your weaknesses, you are. I hope this lawsuit gets thrown out, this is supposed to be a free country.
The main issue here is not that McDonalds sells hamburgers and fries, but that their food is unapologetically bad for you. These items are actually not all that bad for you when you make these items for yourself, but when purchased from fast food vendors it is.
So, to the comparison between McDonalds and Candy Bars is flawed. Candy Bars are Clearly marked as candy and we all know candy isn’t good for you and is certainly not a meal. McDonalds does not make that same claim now do they?
Think about this; what would you think of a parent that consistently fed their children a meal of candy? Would you support legislation that helped prevent parents from doing this; especially considering that they may unknowingly be doing just that?
In addition to this woman just riding the tide from San Francisco, McDonald's does in fact serve smaller portions than any fast casual, casual or fine dining establishment. The ordinance that San Francisco has placed on McDonald's easily makes it so that kids have to eat at least double the amount of food (the additional veggies and fruits) in order to receive the toy. They might as well have taken the toys out all together. Portion control is part of the obesity problem, not just diet or the types of foods you eat. But the real message here is that parents need to get control of their kids and tell them "no" if you don't want them eating McDonald's.
I really can’t get over how stupid people can be. Heck yes it’s a marketing tool just like all the toy adds at Christmas and every other type of advertising. McDonalds the last time I check is a private business that you choose to go to purchase “FAST FOOD!!!!” Tell what else if anything on the menu is good for you. What the apples???? Take a slice of a McDonald’s apple and set it on the table… If it were a real Apple like we grow in Washington St then it should turn brown rather quickly. Sadly it takes some time to even get a hint of brown. Lady get over yourself and Learn to “COOK” FOR YOUR KIDS!!!!!!!!
Totally right, Star...So, Monet Parham, what you are really saying is your parenting skills suck and you see this as an easy way to make some cash. Shame on you.
OMG who is dragging this woman to McDonald's anyway? Just don't go! Stop being so lazy and cook your family a nutritious dinner for a change lady!
I believe this woman would burn her mouth on hot coffee (from McDonald's, ha), then blame the cup.
I agree with you completely. The unfortunate thing is she will probably get some liberal judge and win the case. There seems to be a lot of that going around, which is probably what her lawyer is counting on. However, those comparing this to the coffee incident are a little wrong. The woman that spilled the coffee on her crotch was only trying to add cream to her coffee. The coffee served in the mcdonalds was served 30 degrees (I believe it was at 180 degrees) when normal hot coffee is served between 130-150 degrees. It is my understanding that the coffee was so hot that it actually melted her pants and caused 3rd degree burns to a very tender area of the body.
I could not be a judge, I would be using common sense and if someone brought a frivolous lawsuit before me, I would fine their lawyer for being stupid/greedy enough to bring such a case before me and wasting my time and the tax payers money on it, and tell them to get out of my courtroom.
If any of you feel like sharing your opinion in a way that matters, here is the e-mail address for the organization that is helping this moron sue. Feel free to let them have it!
cspinews@cspinet.org
Banning the way they do their business will lead to many other rights being taken away from people. Can't wait to see what happens with this one in court. It's unfortunate in this issue, but important in many others, the peoples right to sue for what they think is wrong. I don't think McDonalds did anything wrong, and I rarely eat there.
I agree too! All companies try to get their product in the hands of consumers with unfair practices but that is where you are ultimately the one who has to say yes or no. My kids have eaten McDonald's in moderation. I have often said no and they don't like it but oh well...it's called being a parent!
to the poster that said the coffee at McDonalds was brewed to 300 degrees...you might want to get that fact straight: "McDonalds also said during discovery that, based on a consultants advice, it held its coffee at between 180 and 190 degrees fahrenheit to maintain optimum taste. He admitted that he had not evaluated the safety ramifications at this temperature. Other establishments sell coffee at substantially lower temperatures, and coffee served at home is generally 135 to 140 degrees."
Well said Star. No one wants to take responsibility for themselves and lawsuits such as this one are encouraged by the mindless judges that accept them into court.
McDonald's anyone?
WOW!... I have now heard it all. This is so crazy. She should be embarassed that her name is even associated with this crazy suit. I agree with you Patrick.. what is she going to do when they want to try other things in life... How about turn off the t.v. and spend time with them, that way they will not see the commercials..Such a waste of time and money.
I agree, Star. I hope that this lady and CSPI have to pay the legal fees for McDonald's and any associated court costs if they lose.
With her way of thinking, I sure hope she doesn't shop when department stores offer rebates, additional discounts for spending a certain amount, and such. Because, that would mean she's a hypocrite.
You are exactly correct. I don't let my son eat Mc Donald's. I just explain that it isn't healthy and at 4 years old he understands that. Mainly due to me taking the time to explain it rather than giving him the "Just because answer". If you want to Stop kids from eating Happy meals let them eat one, then ask them how they feel a hour after eating it. The next meal make them a lunch meat sandwich with fruit on the side, and ask them how they feel after eating that.
I completely agree with you. Can't say no to your kids so lets get someone else to do it. I think I am going to go out today and file a lawsuit against G.M. because my wife loves the new Malibu but we can't afford it. They put so many nice options on it though that it is getting difficult for me to keep saying no. I think I will file a lawsuit so they eliminate the options that make it so appealing. Plus the exercise she will get by walking 15 miles each way to work will be a added benefit. Now doesn't that sound like a crock.
Didn't San Fransisco recently pass a law outlawing toys with Happy Meals. How did that happen, how did that law get passed. I wonder if that's going to start a trend in other city's. Aren't they trying to ban salt in New York city restaurants, whats going on in this crazy world.
Of course they are going to want the toys, what kid wouldn't? She is worried that they are controlling what her kids want to eat? What was she planning on them getting at McDonalds that is so much better? If she is so worried, stay home and cook hamburger helper. What is next, are we going to sue General Mills because Trix cereal has a bunny on the front and appeals to kids? This is ridiculous to say the least. Learn how to take care of your kids and if you can’t, STAY HOME!
If the kids are in love with the toys: McDonalds should have an option to sell the toys separate from the meals. Problem solved. If the real problem is that parents can't be true Parents and regulate what their kids put in the fat little faces, then that's not McDonalds fault. What's next? Sue santa for toys that are not used the proper way and kids get hurt from them?
I agree with you completely. The unfortunate thing is she will probably get some liberal judge and win the case. There seems to be a lot of that going around, which is probably what her lawyer is counting on.
I could not be a judge, I would be using common sense and if someone brought a frivolous lawsuit before me, I would fine their lawyer for being stupid/greedy enough to bring such a case before me and wasting my time and the tax payers money on it, and tell them to get out of my courtroom.
I agree. What a frivilous action. How in the world does the child even get to McDonald's? Perhaps they should take away the parents' driver's licenses! To paraphrase an old Bush era slogan, :Just say no... thank you!"
I had so much to say.....but then read Star's comment. She said everything I was GOING to say, so I'll just agree with her. Good Lord.....
Thankfully, most, if not all comments about this story are encouraging. Having raised seven kids (ages 13-29) and still raising my last two at home I cant believe the total lack of parenting that goes on in America. Perhaps she should not have anymore children or just hand over the keys of the family to the kids and let them raise their mother.
What a waste of time and shame on the attorneys and others supporting her legal suit.
Be a parent which means having a back bone at minimum. This "mother" isnt much of a mother.
It is up to the parents to set boundries for kids meals, they can see and want whatever is advertised on TV, but it is the Parents responsibilities to see that the children gets nutritious meals. McDonalds and who ever else will continute to advertise and they have already set them selves up in the market place, so this woman complaining and whining aboutthe happy meals, then she has no control over her family life and meals
My kids are always whining about taking naps. "Mommy, I don't want to!" and fighting it all the way. I think I'm going to sue the sandman for not properly knocking my kids out when it's nap time. Why should I have to do any of the work?! It's like, just because these are my kids they're my responsibility. What's up with that?
AMEN!
email Ms. Parham monet.parham-lee@cdph.ca.gov
Well folk..since she works for the California State Board of Public Health everyone should feel free to let her know how you feel....here is her email address.
Email: monet.parham-lee@cdph.ca.gov
Star – how right you are. As a parent, our job is to keep our kids safe, teach them, feed them and love them. We are the adult.
Mrsmarvel – water boils at 212 degrees farenheit, it cannot get hotter than that. It will turn to steam. Impossible to serve coffee at 300 degrees. Stay in school.
PERFECTLY SAID!! Try being a parent and raising your kids without the excuses and blaming others. This will cause my Big Mac to go up in price now!
I completely agree with you. Is she going to complain about cereal with cartoon characters selling them? Toys are marketed to kids. Does she say yes when ever a kid wants a toy? As a parent it is her job to set boundaries and to teach her children why they are there.
I totally agree with star, that lady needs to grow up !!
Star- Couldn't agree with you more. Well said. It's individuals like this that are piece by piece dismanteling this country!
You got that right Star! What is wrong with the idiotic people today! Don't this parents realize how stupid they look when they file these frivolous lawsuits? She needs help with her parenting skills. I take my granddaughter maybe two or three times a year to MacDonald's, even though my son tells me not to:) It's a treat! By the way Star, I beilieve you are my sister.
I agree. If you don't want McDonald's to tempt your child with toys, the answer is simple ... stop going to McDonald's.
@johninmemphis: The car was parked and the woman was in the passenger seat when the coffee spilled.
I could not of put it a better way, Who is the parent in this case? It is just a poor excuse to not feed you kids a proper meal.. So if thats the case of going after Mcdonalds because of there toys ... Hmmm i think maybe i'll go to walmart and come after them for some money.. because my daughter in a run of a day could ask me 10 times for a toy.. or wait.. even Le chateau because the dresses in the window i really want and its changing the way i think. Come off it.... lol. some people just have nothing better to do.
Get a grip, woman! It's not McDonald's fault your kids are spoiled brats and you don't have the spine to tell them "no" and make it stick. You probably cave in after they nag you for awhile, and now they've learned they can nag you into doing anything they want. Turn off the television and be a parent, not a doormat.
I never got Happy Meals as a kid. We rarely went out to eat, and my siblings and I knew better than to harangue Mom about it.
AAAAMMMMEEEENNNN!!!!
I totally agree. What a stupid lawsuit and what an irresponsible mother. Just say NO!
We are becoming a society that thinks it is everyone else's responsibility to raise our children. Just say no!
Actually Chuck, the famous hot coffee lawsuit was warrented. She did place the cup in between her legs but did not spill it on herself. The coffee was so hot that it in fact melted the cup and that's how it burned her. In court, McDonalds admitted to increasing the temperature of the coffee to make it last longer. That poor woman was in the hospital for a very long time and had to have constructive surgery on her private parts. I think anyone that happens to should absolutely sue them. And the outrageous amount of money that her lawyers sued for was decided upon for a specific reason. It was the profit that McDonalds makes in ONE DAY on coffee sales alone. That poor lady got a bad rap for a completely justified lawsuit.
I agree with you. She should be ashame of herself for this stupid move.
Agree with you 100% Star. Chuck is wrong in mentioning the woman who sued over the coffee she spilled on herself. Check out the real facts at http://www.slip-and-sue.com/the-famous-infamous-mcdonalds-coffee-spill-lawsuit-revisited/
what next we sue toy companys for making toys marketed to kids....Good grief learn to parent and just say no!!!!
I could not agree with you more. Well said.
I totally agree with Star.. I guess she never had a happy meal as a child....hmmmm
this is crazy. It isn't hard to tell your kids No. after awhile they will stop asking. My kids know that it is a special reason if we have McD's be it that we are running and they have to eat lucnh before going back to school, or maybe a treat cuz i have some extra money or they did a good job at something. But never did they do it cuz they wanted the toy. I think they could give out the stupidest toy and my kids still would want a happy meal
Star, I agree with you COMPLETELY. I have two small children and I don't mind putting my foot down as it relates to their nutrition or any other house rules that my husband and I have set for our children. This lawsuit is ridiculous and the mother should be ashamed of herself. In my family, we do allow our children to eat McDonald's once a month or every other month and when they do, I actually like the little toys they get but that is my personal philosophy. If I decided tomorrow that they could no longer eat McDonald's then that would be it. I am the parent. What I say goes. Period. Mrs. Parham needs to take a Parenting 101 class. Geez!
Amen!!! No one is suing Willy Wonka because my kids want a candy bar! Cook and then she won't have to worry about it!!!!
The sad part about this is...and this will answer the question of why a lawyer took this frivilous lawsuit on...there WILL be some sort of settlement in this case, most-likely out-of-court. The lawyer knows this, and probably interated it to his 'client(s). McD's will make an offer, just to keep it out of court(and wasting their time). The lawyer gets his fee, and the woman will continue to tell her children that "this is how you do it honey". She works for the state, so she probably got the job from knowing someone, not from her qualifications. It just goes to show how things are going in this country(world too?). How do you like you're free ride? I bet you take fries with that too! The woman, anyone that signs on to the class-action, and the lawyer, are all degenerative idiots and should be locked up for "unauthorized use of taxpayer money". We are slowly becoming sheeple.
Very well said. Totally agree with you. There are so many other things worth fighting for than a Happy Meal.
Here's a novel idea. Tell your kids "no" to the fattening foods and instead reward them with a healthy "happy meal." They eat a healthy meal, they get a Hot Wheel or some other prize. They eat junk, then get nothing. Parents need to stop suing these companies because they lack the guts to tell a young child no.
I totally agree. The mother should put on her big girl dress/pants and teach her kids what the word"no" means. End of story!
Stop taking your children to McDonald's or any other fast food place for that matter if you don't want to have to say "NO". When you do that, don't complain that you have to cook and clean at home. Be a parent instead of a 41 yr old spoiled brat like your kids.
@Bizmommy... I take major offense to your comment about fat mommy's taking their kids to McDonald's all the time and not learning that lesson. I for one am an overweight mother and let me tell you something...MY eating habits are changing drastically and as for my children...they have a completely different diet than I do and they DO NOT eat a lot of fast food, I think it's been almost a year now since their last happy meal. I DO NOT back this woman up who is suing McDonald's, I think it is utterly ridiculous what she is doing. Telling your children no should only need done once and if you can't handle them bugging you for something than you are obviously doing something wrong. This woman needs a serious reality check. The saddest part about it is there was actually a lawyer out there who backs her up.
@Star! I completely agree with you.
I have a feeling that the parent in the article is a "kids will be kids" kind of parent. No means No in my house but I also expect my children to push (a little) when they really want to change my mind. It teaches them a lot of skills, like negotiations, out of the box thinking, the ability to see if what they are requesting is really worth it or a knee jerk reaction, etc. Along with that, they also know "the look" when their argument, is getting them no where and they need to drop it or lose privileges, etc.
Good grief!! Get over it! Do your parenting job like the rest of us, and the generations before us. Just say NO to your children! If we sued every retailer and restaurant for targeting our children, this country would be in court 24/7! I think you should be sued for wanting the courts and tax payers to do your parenting!
"take accountability..." Exactly, the fastfood industry should take accountability for "Fat America" and especially for obese children. A parent shouldn't be constantly saying "no" to their kids, however, when the kid sees that McDonald's has a new toy and run the same commercial over and over again on different channels, the kid(s) being brainwashed into asking their parents to take them to McDonald's so they can have a toy. As the CSPI said "Tobacco companies don't go after 3 year-olds. Neither does Coca Cola or Pepsi." So why should the fastfood industry be allow to target 3 year-old kids???
Fine, if a kid is obese because their parents takes them to McDonald's every day/week, it is the parents' problem for their kids' weight problem. But corporations should be allow to (keep) tell(ing) the kids "tell your parents to take you to (fastfood chain name).... And yes, tobacco companies do it all the time with sweepstakes and stuff, but they target people over 18 years of age, not little kids....
Think about it, you want your 3 year old to see you as the bad guy because you don't wanna feed them poison? I support the lady 100% for wanting the fastfood chain to stop brainwashing her kids.
Ya the toys in Happy Meals are bad for you, but she doesn't care about the feces in the beef patties.
The article reads more like the suit is a strategic suit on behalf of everyone – more than a whiney suit. I suspect this mom does not have the issues noted in these comments. Rather – that she sees the problem that McDOnalds creates for pooorer moms and dads who are enticed by low cost and pleasing kids. It is a parenting mistake, but one the rest of us pay for in high medical costs.
for real...hasn't mickey D's suffered enough...what with the whole lady pouring coffee on her lap and then sueing for millions of dollars...now this....i have 2 kids...they are gonna be 3...i think they have eaten mcd maybe 3 times....4 max.....you know why...cause we dont' make it a habit of going....and if they want the toy so bad...pay the 2 or 3 dollars and get the toy with out the food....BE A PARENT and PARENT....just another get rich scheme for this lazy women
The mom should look in the mirror. The example is set by the parent. Most of the people interviewed on the CNN presentation were too heavy. Why should people not get something fun because others can not control themselves?
Star, you said it PERFECTLY. I agree with you and the others. When I hear this on the news this morning, I was dumbfounded. If this "woman" (and I use the term loosely) has admitted to being an unfit parent, then maybe it's time for her children to be taken away from her. I can say this from experience. I was taken away at the age of 4 because my Mother came down with M.S. and my father wouldn't take care of me or her. So, if they can do that to my family, then they can do that here also.
Obviously a parent (used loosely) with no control over her offspring. Sounds like the kid is in charge. You need to do some growing up Ms. "Parent".
I am so glad to see so many supporting the idea of good parenting and discipline. I have 3 children between 12 and 9. We have eaten a McDonald's and occasionally go for the Happy Meal toy. We also frequently choose to eat healthier foods. I tell my kids no all the time. No they can't eat cookies all day, no they hit each other. No they can't go skate board in the parking lot in the dark. It's part of parenting. Turn off the TV is the commercials offend you. Drop the lawsuit and start parenting.
@mrsmarvel – nice try, but Coffee's boiling point is 210º, so it would be impossible to serve coffee near 300º. That was also a frivolous lawsuit yet because McDonalds didn't think it was necessary to warn someone about common sense, they succeeded. I would liken it to an idiot touching a hot stove, then suing the stove manufacturer for not warning them that the coils could actually be hot.
As others said, Only a state worker in California could bring up this most idiotic lawsuit. And shame on CSPI for backing it up. They probably do so to get their on publicity when it will probably backfire and make them look like a useless ignorant organization. This woman needs only to take responsibly of disciplining her children and there would be no issue. Stop clogging our courts with this wasteful lawsuit.
My kids love McDonalds Happy Meals, but they also know that Mickey-D's is a "sometimes food choice" and not an "every day food choice." When will people start stepping up and being parents to their children by telling them NO? So what if you have to do so repeatedly? It's the nature of children to ask "repeatedly" but my kids (3, 6, 8) hear the word "NO" quite a bit and usually don't harp or keep on asking after they hear that word...WHY? Because I'm the parent and they are the kids. NO means NO. Geez! As a parent, grow a pair and follow through on what you say. I'm not in this "parenting" thing to be their best friend, I'm the adult and I get to make the rules about bedtime, bath time, play time, how much TV they can watch, when they can have a snack, what they can have for snacks, what they eat for dinner, etc. They don't get to make decisions, that is MY job as the parent. So I really hope this particular parent grows up, learns how to say NO and drops this absurd lawsuit.
It is amazing that this parent feels compelled to ruin it for the rest of the families who enjoy going to McDonald's as a family. The Happy Meal has a genius marketing campaign, but what of it???? No one if FORCING her to buy it. AND, it is not addicting. Bet her kids don't let her check-out at Walmart without purchasing some fool toy at the register. Is Walmart guilty of target marketing? Of course they are. They make an extra 10-15% of their ticket sales from check-out line non-necessities. Regarding McDonald's, they offer healthy choice Happy Meals. Also, a parent could refuse the toy when purchasing the meal, as well as, buy a toy without the meal. Last I checked, this is a 'free' country – if she really wants to put the chaibash on free market trade, maybe she should consider a different country....
I could not agree with you more. My son is only 2, in the tantrum phase for sure, and watches only Nick Jr, which has no commercials...so I can't say how hard it is to deal with the "I want!!" reaction from kids when they see stuff on TV. But I don't understand why she can't just tell her kids no, and why she believes that the company has to stop selling toys because she is somehow unable to refuse her children's demands.
what ever happened to.......just say NO!!??
Very well state, Star, and I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you.
SERIOUSLY. It is called a backbone. Something this woman apparently doesn't have. Sorry, kids, the answer is 'No'. End of story. I don't care how much you whine or throw a tantrum. Jeez...
Well said, star.
Gee I wonder if I should sue Walmart then, every time I go in there with my 3 yr old grandson he wants a toy. I have the commen sense and the strenght to tell him NO. I'm sick of parents who expect others/gov to raise their kids. We go to MCD at least a couple times a month, pretty much half the time he doesn't even remembers he got a toy with his HMeal. If my memory serves me right and I am kinda old now, MCD has never come to my home or grabbed me off the street and forced me to come eat there. This woman just wants some bucks has nothing to do with her kids. MS PARHAM grows some B*lls and tell your kids NO.
I agree with you Star! This is just pure craziness. if this lady can't say no to her children then that is her fault, learn to be a real motehr and not give in to what your kids tell you they want because you are the adult not the kids. This country has got to re-evaluate it's system and priorities. Many parents say no to their kids and are perfectly happy about it. Lady get a backbone and life so your kids can have a decent rolemodel.
I agree as well – 1. Where do they get the marketing from?? Stop letting your young children WATCH TV!! Parents that can't parent are ridiculous– or maybe you should tell the daycare they are at to turn off the tv??
"one of the most insidious marketing practices–dangling a toy in front of a small child." Jacobson called the practice "unfair, deceptive and illegal' in California and many other states. "The food industry has a responsibility not to intrude into families by using sleazy marketing techniques getting kids to pester their parents."
Are they for real? Perhaps they didn't notice that all the sweet, sugary cereals are at the eye level of small children in the grocery store? As are all the most expensive, most advertised toys at the toy store?
I find this organization and this woman, especially, highly offensive. I remove my children from the store and go back later without them if they don't behave. Sure, its inconvenient, but it certainly gets the point across.
I completely agree with you star on the fact that the mother should ba able to say no to their chuildren. She shouldnt have to blame the government for not being able to control her own children and whine about the fact that she may have to deny her chioldren meals that are appealing to the children. But dont you think that if we were to limit the marketing tactics of fast food restaurants that we could make a change in public health. After all we are the fattest country in the world. Approximately 30% of american citizens are obese. And about 17% of children the ages 2 through 19 are overwieght. people who are severely overweight is at an increased risk for heart attack, hypertension, glaucoma, cancer of the colon, uterus, breast, and esophagus, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, depression, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, and much more. i remember when i was a little kid the toys from fast food resturaunts would always compel me to want to go eat there. today i severly regret the distress that i must have brought towards my parents about the constant nagging about whanting to go eat at mcdonalds. i look back and think that i could have not past through the years of criticism and ridicule and be reffered to as the butterball or the fat kid and be known as just a little kid.
Only in America!!! What BS, the law firm should be ashamed of themselves for even taking on such a ludicrious case.
I say this: if the darn Happy Meal is too enticing because of the toy, and if she doesn't have control over her kids...then she should not be stopping at McDonalds because she knows she is going to be frustrated. Go somewhere else or better yet, be a good mommy and cook at home!
Lame lawsuit...
LOL, unbelievable story. Only in USA can people whine for living.
Its not the kids fault, its the adults fault for not knowing when to say no. If a child is overweight its because the parents of said child is constantly giving them junk food or giving them access to it. This damn lawsuit is utterly rediculous and I hope this woman that is suing mcdonalds chokes to death on her damn health food!!!
# CHEERS,,,,This is a very smart person..PARENTS need to be parents,,The sad thing is we are having irresponsible people being parents...PARENTS EN-CHARGE!!! WHO is responsible in this picture..Mc Donalds IS NOT THE PARENT!!! It's a FAST FOOD joint,,,that the parent CAN go to,,OR NOT go to!!! IF this woman GETS money out of her Irresponsibility,, watch out POP of other industries that are trying to make money off our immature ego ..the people that are obese will be screaming YOU MADE ME DO,,Just like Flip Wilson once said,,THE DEVIL MADE ME DO !!!
+1
I really wish more parents were like this.
I agree completely....maybe my husband should sue dairy queen because they entice me with the candy in the blizzard and he doesnt like to say no to me.......wow this lady needs to learn her kids arent in charge...and if they are thats her fault!
Un freaking believable. Don't have kids if you don't want to raise them. Turn off the friggin tv and parent your children without the influence of the marketeers. Do your job Mom.
I agree with you as well. It's absolutely ridiculous to start a lawsuit of this nature. This reminds me of the infamous "Hot Coffee at McDonalds" lawsuit. She needs to learn to set boundaries for her children and quit expecting ANYONE else to do it for her. It's her responsibility as a parent to choose what her children eat. As a mother of a seven year old I can honestly say it's NEVER been about the toys for her. She likes chicken nuggets and french fries and apple slices. Like most other American children. My daughter also tends to ask for the apple slices and milk or juice with her happy meal, going on her own towards the more healthy choices. If your children are that starved for a 50 cent toy from Mcdonalds perhaps you're not providing them with enough entertainment at home?
Star, you are a STAR!!!
The Happy Meal has been around for years. They've recently taken steps to make it more "healthy" by introducing apple dippers and 2% milk. If you need to be reminded that this is a fast food restaurant, and you don't like saying no to your kids, then stay away from it. What about every other fast food restaurant that has kid's meals with toys in it? Even sit down restaurants have kids meals that aren't necessarily healthy. You don't like it? Stay home and cook the meals yourself. It's all about the choices that YOU make as a parent. I'm tired of idiots like this bogging down our justice system with these inane lawsuits. Can't say anything good about the attorneys that take them on either.
Well said Star. No one said being a responsible parent is easy. Trying to outlaw anything and everything for which we disagree is absurd. Kids need to learn that there a choices in life; some are good others are not and consequences are part of learning. Our job as a parent is to guide them until they are able to be responsible citizens.
The San Francisco Department of Health (I believe this was the city) recently told fast food restaurants that they were only allowed to give toys for their "healthier" meal options. We need to make kids want to eat healthier and they are setting a great example. We also need to get the FDA to force companies to list trans fats even if there's less than 0.5 grams. If there's less than 0.5 grams they aren't required to list it. I wrote an article about it here: http://applebananacoconut.com/2010/12/26/what-is-hydrogenated-vegetable-oil/
Don't they offer the happy meal with juice and fruit now as an option instead of the fries and a soda?
we get it... parents need to be able to say no. that is a given. now back to the REAL PROBLEM:
mcD does not offer free lap dances for the older kids *toy* in their happy meals!
yeah they dangle a damn toy made in thailand or taiwan by kids no less in front of our little squirts face to get him to sink his teeth into a processed environment killing burger pumped with illegal hormones and antibiotics but WE NEED SOMETHING to encourage us to eat that garbage too!!
Against the ads these companies are pitching to our children, there is really little defense. They are made with the intent to have the children pester the parents. Interesting use of the word "pester," by the way, since it is the exact word used by ad companies. The parents should go after all of these companies that use psychologists to pry into the minds of our children in order to make them lifelong consumers of a brand. The parents should take a stand against all of the companies that use ad campaigns specifically designed to get into the heads of our children and teach them that adults can't be trusted.
AND, parents should keep the t.v. off until the children are old enough to decipher what an ad is and what it is trying to do. Not an easy feat for parents, and I think that parents need help; like responsible companies.
All,
It starts with our ACLU, who pushes this mess! Tell the woman to get a second job if she's trying to upgrade to a double wide.
Hey, can i join the class action retroactively and get my several hundred dollars back now that my kids are grown up. I can't believe my wife and I were such lousy parents by getting our kids a cheap toy from time to time. I know we listend carefully to our kids requests for everything and always gave them exactly what they wanted. By the time they were 4 they knew how to shut out the lights and lock up before they went to bed.(we couldn't make them go before us that would have been unfair). Honestly lady, do you have any idea how ridiculous you look. For goodness sake, grow a pair so to speak, and take control of your children.
Amen, Star! My parents said no to me a lot while growing up, especially with Happy Meals. My mom and dad were being what some parents forget to be nowadays...PARENTS! McDonalds has been advertising to kids for years. She should be a parent and learn to say no and discipline her kids.
Unbelievably ludicrous!! This kind of thing must stop, how many taxpayer dollars are at waste here? I would hate to know. If you can't say "NO" to your children, you should not have children. This kind of story makes me sick.
What a load of crap. You want them to step in and say drug dealers cant sell dope to your kids right? So why is this woman any different for wanting them to step in and protect her children from sleazy marketing from McDonalds? These sellers use psychologist and other experts to craft there marketing so they catch as many "fish" as they can. Whats next? I suppose you will cry foul when a lawyer sue's a bar who over serves drunk drivers and they kill some one? Sadly these kind of groups are needed because the politicians are in the hands of the corporations who serve the poision to us.
agree with star 100%
Star you are correct on what you say,
But I have to say, this parent just has to much time on her hands she should spend time on how to teach her kids of the right food they should eat, if they wanted to toy that mcdonalds is giving out, then she should just go there without her kids and just buy it alone and then that will solve her problem, she more into getting paid then correcting her way to disciplined her kids, she needs a life, why not sue a car wash, maybe the water isn't water.
Really? REALLY???
Why do we want government telling us how to live....she clearly needs to move to Russia!
Thank God we still have smart people out there! It's sue-happy people like the lady in this article that make me lose faith in humanity. Some parents just let their kids walk all over them and then the parents blame everything else instead of taking responsibility like they should (granted there is crap out there that we can't control). That woman needs to find something better to do with her time!
Everyone on here seems to have a brain except the lady who started all this nonsense. Being a good parent means saying no sometimes! Just think where we will be in a few years when all these kids grow up and have never heard the word no or taken responsibility for their actions....
First off can I sue her for being stupid. I have a 5 yo child and she ask me for all kinds of things all the time, I can't even give a number of how many times I have said no. It is apart of life our kids drive us up the wall with trying to get there way and we as adults have to set rules for our kids to go by.
LMAO This woman is just looking for free money if she has ever ate a happy meal this she is a hypocrit in my books its about money I FEEL maybe she lost her welfar check and needs money
Well put, STAR....and I might add, this parent is either too weak minded to say, NO, or someone is looking for a quick pay off... If you cannot say No to your kid when they are young, I pity you when they get to be teens.....This is why so many teens today are out of control and appreciate nothing. SAD
Get over yourself, this is the most wasteful spending of money. No one dangles toys in front of kids. If you can't be a parent and stand up to your 3 year old, you are not much of a parent. Stop telling everyone else how to handle their lives. This whole world would be better off if we did not have wackos like you and the attorneys who help promote these legal battles. Get out of our lives!!! We have cities and boards and councils full of people like you and it has gotten ridiculous. We must stop this take over of our country and return our lives to the people. Stand Up America and get off your Big Mac and put a stop to these people.
Why would a mother deny her three year old child Happy Meals. If she is going to McDonalds to ea then just huy it for the kid. If my sons were kids and they wanted Happy Mealls I would buy them without hesitation. Appreciate them while have hem. Many parents have lost their kids at a young age. Parents today are telling the teachers how to teach and the prinipal how to run the school. They need to mind their business and shut up.
Well Duh!.did she just figure this out? What took her so long?
It's not like the mascot of the company has been a clown or anything for the past ~50 years....oh wait...
You know, as much as I agree with all the posts that this mother should be responsible for her own kids, I have to agree with her point that McDonalds is trying a little too hard to entice children who haven't learned the importance of restraint. And the stats are continuing to prove more and more that parents are incapable of keeping themselves healthy, let alone their children. Perhaps, with the epidemic that obesity is to this country, we need to start taking measures on a government level to curb addicting food advertising and marketing, much like for cigarettes, in order to try and help people make healthy choices and keep children's minds off the next toy they can get in a happy meal.
It completely amazes me just how rediculous some people really are! Its like back when th women sued McDonals becouse she burned her hand on a cup of hot coffee that she ordered! What happened to taking responsibilty for our own actions! If you cant say no dont go to these places!
There is a family sueing one of the tobacco companies bcouse their loved one died from mouth and thraot cancer yet we have all known since the 1950s thats chewing and smoking caan couse cancer!
I have come to the conclusion that nobody wants to take the blame for their own stupidity! I say to this woman if you cant say no to your children i think its you that needs help !
Most people are ignorant of the McDonald's hot coffee lawsuit. Here's the details: McDonalds was serving coffee at 180-190 degrees F whereeas the rest of the industry was serving it at about 130-150 degrees F. The car was parked when Liebeck (an elderly woman and passenger in a car that went through a McDonald's drive-thru) went to open the lid to add cream, the coffee spilled on her crotch, and she suffered 3rd degree burns to her groin. She was in and out of the hospital for 2 years and sued for $20K to cover her medical expenses. McDonalds offered $800 to Liebeck to settle out of court and to stay silent about the incident–like it had done with over 700 other coffee burn victims in the past 10 years. Liebeck took it to court. In court, McDonald's quality control manager argued that McDonald's coffee causing 3rd degree burns in 700+ people over the past 10 years was a statistically insignificant number of victims compared to how much coffee McDonald's served over that time period, so McDonald's would not change their coffee temperature policy–even though the quality control manager admitted that anyone who drank McDonald's coffee without first letting it cool would suffer burns to their throat. The jury found in favor of Liebeck and awarder her several million dollars (the jury was stunned by McDonald's callousness about unnecessarily burning 700+ people with their coffee and then calling these victims statistically insignificant), but McDonald's later settled out of court with Liebeck for less than $600K.
yeah the ladies pants actually melted on her legs
This women is an idiot!
Way to parent! Blame the restaurant because you don't want to say no to your kid. Good luck with those kids when they turn 16. Or 12 for that matter.
I assume the other commenters are not parents. While they are correct in saying that parents can and should set limits and establish rules, the issue isn't whether this woman is a good parent. The issue is marketing directly to children. Young children can't distinguishing ads from entertainment (http://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission/age-appropriateness-grid). After seeing ads for unhealthy food, children eat nearly double the calories compared to children shown ads for toys (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101028113608.htm). And even the most cautious parents underestimate the purchasing influence of their children (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316075853.htm). If marketing to children wasn't incredibly profitable, companies wouldn't bother. Instead, they prey on young, impressionable minds, trying to indoctrinate them into a greed-based consumer culture, and they make big bucks doing it. Go ahead and criticize the parents if you want, but it is pretty clear that this is a bigger problem than teaching a child to say "Please." Dedicated, responsible parents are trying to push against a mountain of ads aimed directly at their children, and unless they keep them locked in a basement until they are 18, there is little they can do to prevent their children being exposed to such influences, or getting such products from their friends or with their allowance. Marketing directly to anyone under 10 should be illegal.
The real problem is that these people continue to breed. Besides being a lousy parent. Can she be convicted of some crime that has to do with the raising of her kids? Maybe child endangerment for letting her kids eat that stuff.
Stupid breeds!!
Low income, high reproduction. Studies show this trend. Four children is the average of low-income families, versus the average of just one child for high-income families, if I recall accurately.
Not claiming this to be the case (I'm simply reminded of it), but I hate the irresponsible parents with five kids running amok in fast food places. One of numerous reasons I avoid fast food. These types of adults tend to be be so devoid of active and successful traits, they look for excuses to make money in a court room. It makes me chuckle when people accuse those with "power" of being the only source of corruption.
GrammarGnatsie
I am a mother of five kids, and honestly it is not about having a ton of kids that makes a parent a bad parent, it is the fact they cannot put their foot firmly down and keep it there. My kids used to think I was pretty strict, but now that they are older they have very good eating habits, spending habits and look at things from the perspective of a pie you have to divide up. The more slices you have to dole out, the less you have for later.. when your really hungry. I know it starts out because fast food is quick and mom/dad has worked hard all day and does not want to cook. Who says they have to (all alone)? Get everyone into the kitchen, give each an assignment and go round robin to say how you day was in one sentence. It is all a matter of perspective.
Interesting,
Oh no, I wasn't trying to suggest that giving birth robs a mother of brain cells. I only meant that I hate to see irresponsible parents with so many kids. It's like a guy with one arm and one leg playing basketball: not gonna tell him he can't, but the challenge it would be is too much if he isn't incredibly motivated. I feel the same way with parents of 3+. I think one has to be realistic about challenges and overestimate them before undertaking them.
Truthfully, how you claim your kids act now is how I always was. I actually had horrible parents, for more than just good things they didn't do. We all have different morals, and learn in different ways. It's good your kids needed you to be as strict as you were. I plan on teaching mine anything they want to know. If (s)he is 3 and doesn't understand why I can't buy him/her something, I intend to explain earnings versus spendings. I'll explain it all I need to. I remember being a kid, and I remember "because I said so" always pushed me over the edge. I don't advocate that type of parenting, but it works in some cases, and it's good it worked for you and your 5 kids. It's parents like you that are why I don't imply that anyone with 3+ kids is a lazy, stupid redneck. It's difficult raising all those lives, many people aren't fit for it, so I hate seeing the wrong people "try".
Maybe "mommy" needs to tell her kids NO and leave mine alone.
Dear Ms Parham,
Learn to educate your kids about the benefits of nutritious eating habits, and allowing for treats every now and then to encourage a balanced lifestyle. Everyone, young and old, wants to be healthy and live happy, it's in our evolutionary genes to want that. But, we still like to have a treat now and then. As parents, it's our job to be the one setting the guidelines, but also treat our kids every now and then, just because we love them.
Suing McDonalds is nothing but a publicity stunt, and a way to blame a lack of parenting skills and incompetence on someone (thing) who is big enough to make headlines, but also big enough to not want to deal with the hassles of going to court against imbeciles. Targeting young children without the cognitive skills to understand the persuasive intent of marketing? I think YOU don't have the cognitive skills to understand what it means to be a parent. And dragging your daughter into this, saying you're suing on HER behalf? If it is as you say: 8 year olds do not have the cognitive skills to understand, then how would she understand what you're doing? IF she doesn't understand, then aren't you really doing this because you need a fall guy for your incompetence?
Very well said!
Last I recall, you can buy the Happy Meal toy without actually buying the Happy Meal... just throwing it out there. If you can't say no to the Happy Meal, turn off the tv, they won't see the commercials and they won't even know what they're missing.
True words of wisdom.
If she wants to really rack up some happy meal toys without ordering the nasty food, she can go to any thriftstore and find BAGFULS of recently rejected meal toys donated by kids who realize that they are only fun for the first night.
You can! Great point – I believe where I live a McDonald's toy is $1.83. Just last week when my daughter wanted one of the Hello Kitty watches, I went in and just bought it outright for less than two bucks and she went without the junk food. Although there's another point – you can get the apples & milk now instead of fries & coke so, it's not like this lady has to choose the junk food even if she buys a darn Happy Meal...
Perhaps the lawsuit is not as it seems. Understandably, this woman has found that her children, much like any other children, are succeptable to these particular advertisings and seeks to remove the problem from ALL children. If the lawsuit is aimed at garnering her money for her hardship then she is foolishly attempting to gain money through compalint. If, however, this lawsuit is to demand alteration of the advertisement then perhaps she is only attempting to do the right thing as she sees it. Perhaps I missed it but I do not see anywhere in the article where she is demanding payment. I think this might bear further looking into before making a setting on a hard opinion
Phrrrpt! You can't legislate stupidity. You can try to give her a leg to stand on, but Happy Meals are like TV Channels. They can be denied (or turned as in TV) and it's a lesson in life. "Learn to live with disappointment!"
She should be sued for being a bad parent. We will have to support her kids for the rest of their lives most likely!
Of course, a lawsuit is far easier than turning off the TV now and then so you don't see so many commercials.
People, especially parents, are supposed to use good judgement. Legislating to ensure good judgement is folly. The Prohibition Act resulted in an unanticipated crime wave because alcohol was made illegal. The best rule is to legislate only what is absolutely necessary. Parents have a responsibilty to train their kids to live in this world. Some of them succeed, some fail. They are accountable for the results no matter what happens.
While I understand your point she has no right to decide what the rest of us get to see or be involved in. She's a moron.
True – TV commercials targeting kids really do their job. So it is parents job to squash it. How do I do it? Simple, so.. you want a Kids Happy Meal, that is what $2.00 plus tax? Let's see what chores we can find for you to do to earn it. Of course I have to stop cleaning the sink to take you, so you will have to pick up the rest of that chore for mom, and then I have to consider the gas it takes to go to MacDonalds, so you can either give me 1/2 of your meal or the toy or you can do another chore. Usually when I say 'you – can do'.... the hop off.. with 'nevermind mom'. But yes, I have stopped in and gotten them salads, and the healthier choices when the were good. Except, the last time I did, my one daughter chastised me saying 'do you know whats IN that ! (and would not eat it -and- made me go look up its ingredients online as a punishment for getting a burger for myself. Think I taught them too well.
What about all the toy ads on TV? Aren't they designed to get into childrens heads? LOL
no demosthenes this is about government control over what we eat .they are just starting with mcdonalds. after they shut it down then it will be all fast food restaurants and then soft drinks, cookies, candy etc until only what they deem "healthy" is allowed then they will move on to forcing everyone to join a gym with punch cards to prove you went...we must aim for a perfect utopian society where individualism is "they" have deemed us fat (obesity a nat'l security threat), stupid (our schools are failing) and lazy (jobs americans won't do) "they" must transform the ignorant masses to fit their agenda of a perfect society
that should have read "where individualism is frowned upon
Do you honestly believe that? That she is doing what she thinks is right? If so you have way more faith in the stupidity of people than I do. This is nothing more than another money grab attempt. Then again it could be a cry for help, showing others what a poor parent this female who gave birth (notice I didn't say mother) is by not being able to make a tough (see easy) decision on behalf of her offspring.
Her kids are being ex;posed to these advertisements because she lets them watch TV. Perhaps she needs to turn off the TV and send some quality time with her family.
Now that's just silly! She should just sue her cable provider to stop them from offering Nickelodeon and Disney.
I am 47 years old. I never see the Happy Meals ads. I will sue for discrimination. Happy Meals are not advertised at 11am when I watch the Price is Right. I only see AARP and motorized wheelchair ads.
This Lady needs not to take her kids out anywhere to eat plain and simple! And it is so stupid to take your kids to McDonalds and let them have apples with thier Happy Meals too! How do you take your kids out to a place like this and say they can have a happly meal but it must have apples in it. Well do these people not know that really if you want to get down to it fruit has a lot of sugar in it too. I say forget all the good stuff as they are calling it and if you take your kids to McDonalds and want to feed them that kind of food then let them eat it and do not force These places to carry what you are calling better stuff. There is nothing better no matter what they change to eat at places like this you are feeding your kids junk any time you go there. If these stupid people wants to feed thier kids hamburgers then take them home and buy the best ground meat and cook for your kids (MAKE THEN A BURGER YOUR SELF) Oh and give them a cut up apple that does not have any preservatives at home. As the apples from McDonalds and other places like subway do have so many preservatives in them it is not funny as they have someting on them so that they will not turn brown. SO let your kids eat all the Happy Meals they want if you take them there to eat. They are getting junk no matter how you look at it.They do not use the best of the best of everything they sell and take a look again at the burgers too LOL! Just what a joke this lady is here. I am just so sorry that some of these people can not go out and work for a living instead of trying to sue people for reasons they make up in their heads. And the best thing if you want your kids to eat right is cook them meals your self. And Restuarant you take kids as well as an adult had junk it . Most of all meats they are soaked in crap to marinate that is not good for you either. Get off your lazy butts and cook for your kids my mom always cooked for us every night oh and she worked too!
You actually have *healthier* choices in the happy meal. Drop the fries, get the apple dippers, throw the caramel sauce away, get milk instead of soda. Then the only unhealthy part is the nuggets or hamburger. Who is the PARENT here!
She can't turn the TV off because she doesn't know what to do when the kids whine and complain! Saying "no" is not as easy as giving them what they want.
Just don't come crying when your kids are out late, on drugs, drinking, bad mouthing you when they are 14 because you don't know how to say "no" to them.
Let's all eat lettuce....ONLY
So I suppose this mother is completely powerless to tell her kids 'no.'
Freedom of choice is what you got....use it, protect it.....or end up a Nazi nation ruled by lawyers.
This lady is an absolute MORON. Why stop at McDonalds, Burger King & Wendy's also have kids size meals that come with a toy. Learn to say no and the issue is over...the kid will cry and stomp and then get over it.....This woman needs to get a life!!
Hello, McDonalds offers some healthy selections. White milk, apples (Throw out the carmel)??? My son never gets soda or juice at Mc Donalds and asks for the apples. Also, teach you kid moderation!!! They don't need it every day but as once a month treat french fries and chicken nuggets are fine!
So NOT true! My son like`s hamburgers and fries because thats what he likes. He NEVER asks for a Happy Meal!
Just make your own Happy Meal days at home once a week where you give your kid(s) a small toy as a reward for eating a healthy meal. Problem solved and no legal fees.
I wish I had a restaurant to offer you.
I am pleased to see all of these blogs regarding this woman's obvious inability to be a parent. I can't imagine how many lawsuits I'd have to initiate if I expected others to take responsibility for things I do not want my child to have. Patrick's comment was particularly on point. So we'll be paying for this lawsuit and future lawsuits because her kids were arrested and it wasn't their fault. On a similar note, I'm getting tired of all of the nutrition changes because of the number of obese children. My child is not obese and has to pay the price. When I was in a school, you got a hot lunch and it always had a cookie. Well not anymore.
My child actually prefers home cooked meals from scratch than any other food choice out there. She's 12 and she eats asparagus, Brussels sprouts, artichoke, mushrooms, etc... not because we make her eat it but because we eat it. And no, it's not doused in cheese or sauce, though she does enjoy hollandaise. She doesn't have access to television, so for the most part doesn't know about which toys come in the Happy Meal. She might get to eat fast food of her choice once every few months. She gets told no with an explanation for my decision as necessary. It isn't difficult, you just have to make the effort and live up to the same expectations you have of your child.
I would also like to add that we aren't hippies and we aren't rich. In fact, we're both college students and we work on campus, so we're pretty much broke most of the time. Anyone can do this. It just takes some effort on your part.
Tori
I agree when you teach kids good eating habits at a young age, something happens to them. My children are now teens and when I get groceries announce things they WILL not eat (and I end up not buying). Butter, most condiments that smother food, anything fried, anything that would be cosidered dressing up the meal and fattening, any fake food (i.e. tastes like the real thing but is not).
This lady is CRAZY, and hope she has to pay court costs for both sides as that would stop BS
lawsuits like this. I'd pay to watch a video of her choking on a McDonald's toy somebody shoves
down her big fat mouth!
WOW! I think she wants to win the dumbest lawsuit award. I applaud all of the people here that are TRYING to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she's the parent and it's her money.....and her kids. Tell your precious babies "no".
Gosh... I can't even remember there being an advertisement lately that shows what toy they have. In fact, I don't think you know at all until you are in the drive-thru? How is it that they are marketing to the kids if you are already in the car in the drive-thru? Anyway, I agree with other posters, this is just a lazy parent. Not surprising that she also happens to be a state employee (which we commonly refer to as "skate workers').
You should check out the Facebook page I just made: " McDonald's did not make the child fat, bad parenting made the child fat.
The child made the child fat. His choice to eat nasty food and let it stay by watching tv and playing video games. McDonald's is just a source, and the parents are just enablers.
Now, in all fairness, I watch lots of movies and play video games when I can. However, I play sports and jog routinely, in addition to being picky about the quality of food I put in my gullet. I hate grease and processed crap. Not big on sugar either. If genetics don't teach this to my kids, I won't have much trouble doing so the old-fashioned way. Parents just need to teach their kids why being active and eating right is so fulfilling instead of just throwing around "because I said so"s.
Tim51370 – completely agree. We don't have cable or satellite or anything in our house, and my child doesn't ask for any of this crap.
Funny...the church gets in to childrens' minds from a young age too....no one is sueing them for misleading stories and fake holidays.
Well, taking any church to court is pretty much an automatic blacklist. The smart legal move of requesting your peer jury to compose of other Atheists would be a terrible social decision. I imagine the smart thing to do is also the mature thing to do: live and let live.
As for those fake holidays, well, it's true that most (if not all) holidays actually have nothing to do with the image on the front of the greeting card, but they are still great excuses to get off work and enjoy time with friends and family. Yes, anyone can Wikipedia Christmas and find out that Christ wasn't born in December, but if rasing heck over such a thing means more work and less play, I'll let the merry red and green fantasy play out.
Funny! I bet you don't celebrate Christmas either. Let's not forget the reason for the season. Look religion, whether you believe in it or not, has good and bad aspects to it. It isn't the fault of religion, it is the fault in the how people believe and lets not forget that everyone feels their way is the right way. Even the Aethiests think they are right, so they make religion out to be a bad guy. Personally, I will believe in God and Jesus because that is what seems right to me. If that means that I do something kind or good because of religion then I would say religion is good. It made me a better person.
So very true. Maybe I'll call my lawyer tomorrow.
Do we really need more anti-theists pushing their agendas in non-related articles?
Clint,
(If you were refering to me,) I celebrate it by being with family and friends. I understand the original intent, I understand why the celebration was moved to December, and I understand what the reason for the season has become. I only speak of (non-)religion from a critical perspective; it is what it is, we all believe what we believe, I try to be unbiased.
Sadly, it is too true that so many are set on proving themselves right with arguements that can be seen as attempts to convert or attempts to call others stupid and illogical. I, of all people, have no intention to turn a lawsuit/fast food article into anything religious. The trouble is often just that someone likes to start problems as a means of avoiding their own internal problems. I ignore it, though I sometimes try to help both sides understand the other's perspective is just a perspective, if a discussion turns into a flame war.
Don;t forget freaking Chuck-E-Cheese while you're at it dumbalina! Cripes, I'm ready for the second revolution!
This woman needs to take responsibility for her own children, that much is obvious and everyone here agrees. What I don't get is all the ppl talking negatively about her instead of just stating the obvious. There's a reason that American kids are fat and stupid and getting fatter and more idiotic by the minute and i'm sure that reason isn't this woman alone.
Get a backbone woman! Since the beginning of television companies have been marketing to the youngsters to sell everything from sugar packed cereal to yes happy meals. I am so sick and tired of wishy washy parents letting their kids be in control. It scares the liver out of me to think our spoiled, self-centered, disrespectful upcoming generation will be our leaders and caregivers of tomorrow. When these same kids start loving the beer commercials are they going to jump in the family van and run down to the liquor store for a six-pack? Give me strength..
Better yet, sue the toy company's for making you overspend at Christmas, thus overcharging your credit cards every year, thus causing you to take out second mortgages on your house, thus causing you to not having any savings when get sick and have to pay co-pays at the hospital, thus causing you to go into forclosure and losing your house and having to move in with grandma, thus abusing grandma's good graces and bleeding her dry and putting her in a crappy nursing home....SEE THIS IS CALLED "CAUSE AND EFFECT OF THE TERMINALLY STUPID" who think like numb-ovaries in this story!
NICE!
Good point. It made me think I should sue my real estate agent for showing me a nicer home than what I could afford. What she showed me was nicer. This wanted me to overspend my budget. I felt bad that I could not afford the nicer home. It lowered my self-esteem and made me feel inferior to the wealthy people. Then my self-esteem was really lowered when the mortgage company told me I could not get the loan at the best interest rate. I should sue the mortgage company as well because they were not nice to me when they rejected my request.
AMEN!!!
How ridiculous! The only way her children would know about the toys is if she's letting them watch TV commercials, in which case they would also want Cap'n Crunch, Lucky Charms and any number of other products that are being marketed to children. What an amazing idiot this woman is, which isn't surprising since she's a state employee. Stop letting your chidlren watch TV if you don't want them influenced by the outside world, in fact, take all that money you're saving on Happy Meals and invest it in a bubble for each one of them. We should all file a lawsuit against her for wasting the tax payer dollars it will cost our court system to deal with this frivolous lawsuit. I hope McDonalds fights this one to the end.
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT, IT'S EVERYONE ELSES FAULT BECAUSE I'M PERFECT AND DON'T MAKE MISTAKES IN LIFE"....this must be her view of the world.
You're forgetting that she is from California.
What a joke!!!! This woman is a disgrace to her kids and herself. Take some responsibility for how you rear your children. My kids were rarely allowed to eat fast foods when they were young and only occasionally as a treat. As teenagers, they rarely eat fast food but prefer healthy eating which they were exposed to early on. Stop the needless suing, it is destroying this country. It figures she is a state employee who is used to laziness and freebies the rest of us in the private sector pay for.
This is so rediculous. They dont even show commercials on McDonalds commercials anymore so the only time they would see these toys they want is when they are already there. McDonalds food is not horrible for you if you eat it in moderation. Most diets that work allow you to eat food that is not that great for you the trick is just moderation. I bet if you set a day like once every one or two weeks that you take the kids to McDonalds (which is fine) the kids would stop complaining all the time. This lady needs to put her food down and grow up. I bet if these kids asked for alcohol that she would give it to them because she cant seem to say NO.
Uh, you can usually buy the Happy Meal toys without buying the Happy Meal. No added calories when you just buy a toy.
I'm mad because they haven't introduced the adult happy meal. Why not? Just drop a novelty adult toy in each bag and were good to go! For men and women! Maybe introduce the super happy meal which requires a person to enter a room with no windows, a hole in the wall, and 20 dollars cash!
haha, what a joke, sounds to me like shes trying to compensate for being a bad parent because she cant influence her kids and push them in the right direction, she needs to make excuses for why she cant handle her children, oh mcdonalds is the reason my kids dont eat healthy, come on, you buy it for them. tell them no and use a correct, ("legal" for people who are gunna tell me im wrong) form of discipline when they keep asking, that will teach them a lesson... im sorry but this lawsuit is outrageous, it just shows how ridiculous society is becoming
Really? When I was young I got happy meals. Of course I didn't get them every day, every week or every month. Mainly, when my MOM DECIDED it was ok she brought my sisters and I there. Plain and simple, educate your kids that they can't whatever they want whenever they want.
You are forgetting that she is from California. Next, she will be suing her bank for allowing her to buy that 1.5 million dollar home on her $30,000 a year salary.
Oops, she is a state employee. I bet she could afford that 1.5 million dollar home.
If she's suing McDonalds for marketing to her kids, then she'd better also sue Kelloggs, General Mills, Pillsbury, Parker Brothers, Matell, Nintendo, X-box, Hello Kitty, and anyone else who markets to kids. She also needs to sue the NFL for their new Play60 campaign, because that is targeting kids to get outside and exercise more. Don't forget Disney, Dream Works, and all of the other companies that make animated movies. Hell, she should just sue every single company in the US, just to be safe ... and then hit the ones from overseas because they will end up getting to her kids too. What a mental midget and bad parent. Any judge who agrees to hear this case should be disbarred.
So instead of telling her kids no,she sues Mcdonalds?? How about you stop taking your kids to fast food places. When your kids grows up to be fat and gets made fun of, Im sure this mother will find some "bullies" or unaware teachers to blame. the fact is parents need to start acting like parents and stop trying to fid someone to blame for thier lack of parental control. I don't care if the market a toy with a happy meal or a brand new car. If you don't want your kids to eat the food, DON"T TAKE THEM THERE. this lady is probably going to sue the entire television industry saying the are the reason her son is lazy and uneducated. How about you stop bringing legal actions against everyone and start being a parent. I should sue this parent for whats wrong with America today, and why my kids will grow up in a soon to be 3rd world country.
" 'We have to say no to our kids so many times and McDonald's makes that so much harder to do. I object to the fact that McDonald's is getting into my kids' heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat.' " – Parham
....As a parent to see that you said those words makes me want to HIT you. Even my mother would want to hit you. Quit being a lazy parent and stop whinning on how "harder" it's getting to say no to your kids. Get a grip for crissake. No one forced you to have kids so take accountability as a parent.
you tell her roomie!!
When I was a child a lot of cereals had toys in them, or games and contests to enter. Was this improper? True, it gave me one more reason to want a cereal that was loaded with sugar and artificial coloring, but I was very trim as a child (the bulge began after I turned 20, and not because of McDonald's.)
These Fast Food companies really should offer more healthy alternatives, and maybe a little less enticement. But the responsibility is with the parent. Do you think I never asked my mother for McDonald's? I asked for it A LOT. And my mother knew the magic word – NO – and she said it often. OK parents – repeat after me – "No, and that's final. Stop bugging me."
You know the Happy meal doesn't even resemble the one I grew up with in the 80's. I mean my daughter can get a hamburger, apple slices, and milk. We normally do not give her the caramel dipper sauce for the apples. I would say that is way healthier than say the hamburger, fries, and a coke of my day. Darn starch in the fries and corn syrup in the soda.
well, this woman is everything i expect from a state employee. Apparently she is very comfortable with the lazy way of doing anything, including raising her kids. Too bad she never got the idea that she is the adult in the picture and that it is her responsibility to draw boundaries and enforce them when it comes to her children.
Good Lord, i have a 4 year old grandson and I can easily say no to him when he asks, at least 3 times a week, to go to McDonalds. Really, he gets over it and so will her kids.
I wonder what's in her cupboards at home since she can't seem to say no to her kids, surely nothing any healthier than McDonalds fare...
I am 55 years old and I always buy the Hamburger Happy Meal. The portion sizes are just right for me (I share with the dog) and I can always find a child to take the toy. My dog adores McDonalds and gets excited every time we drive past one - apparently they smell great!
So I got really grumpy to hear that someone is causing trouble for McDonalds over Happy Meals. Let's "time out" this woman on a desert island and feed her nothing but sprouts and tofu until she apologizes for her bad behavior.
Hahaha! GREAT! "sprouts and tofu"!!!!!!
You actually share your 'Happy Meal' with your dog? Perhaps you should give your dog some anti-freeze too because your killing him!!!
California and San Fransisco! Is anyone surprised? We need to implement an embargo lest their craziness spreads any further.
I live near San Francisco and completly disagree with this lawsuit. People are individuals, don't judge us solely based on where we live. Of the 300 million American citizens 38+ million of them live in California; we're just as American as you. And as a former military brat who lived in nemerous states and even more cities from coast to coast, I have to say that Americans are pretty much Americans regardless of whether it's in California or Rhode Island or Indiana or Nevada. We have far more in common than people tend to think.
As the flag of my home state, Kentucky says, United we stand, divided we fall. Don't divide the country with aribtrary and often nonsensical judegments. I spend half my time trying to convince Californians that Kentucky isn't a thing like the movie Deliverance. . . and the other half of my time is spent trying to convince my family in Kentucky that California isn't half as crazy as they think.
One out of many, people. E pluribus unum.
Someone needs to tell this loser that we as parents have the absolute right to say "NO" to our children. Just CA ghetto trash looking for easy money so she can feed her kids even more junk food.