McDonalds,.....Should we laugh or cry?

Have we failed as parents? We try to give Alec good and healthy food, both western as Asian. Still, the golden arches are being pointed at as if it was paradise, the Burger King can only be passed with great caution, and the KFC holds no secrets anymore. Yet, this is typical of the era we live in today. Everything needs to be fast, even the food. This is something that kids already learn at a very young age. Therefore the number of McD's and KFC are ever increasing and even the smallest cities already has a number of at least one of the chainstores present.
And every time Alec is pointing at those arches, we look at each other, and ask the question:"should we laugh, because he recognize the McDONALDS, or should we cry BECAUSE he recognize the McDonalds?"

When I was kid, the McD was the first and only fast-food restaurant opening a store in Amsterdam, I think it must have been in the late '70's or early '80's. I remember having our birthday parties there, after going swimming or to the movies. Which was really special......to go to the McDonalds. It was the highlight of the party, and was talked about for weeks. Untill the time you get your own allowance, and have the possibility to visit the big city. Then it starts to become normal. It starts to become part of the every day life.

And now people teach the kids that McD stands for fast and convenient food. So, basically what Alec knows about fast food, he learned from us. And I think that even though we don't really like it, and maybe even feel a little bit embarrassed about it, I also think that maybe we shouldn't be embarrassed. It's has become part of our world, whether we like it or not, and we have to accept it. So, to answer the first question. If this situation would have occurred about 25, 30 years ago, I would have said "yes", but now? No, it is just that the times have changed.

Besides, anyone with kids knows that going to a "slow-food" restaurant with a 2 year old, or any age for that matter, can be quite a challenge, since they hardly can sit still for 15 minutes. Which usually is the time it takes for the waiter to come to take your order.
So, in a way, the fast-food restaurants are a way for parents to go out for dinner, and bring the kids along too. The only things we have to miss is the romantic candle light and the sweet guitar music. But then again.....does a 2 year old make a good combination with a romantic dinner?