I just took my daughter to McDonalds. I remember the rumors during the 90's that there were worms in the hamburgers. And then there's the recently famous Super Size Me documentary that lead many of us to swear off Big Macs forever. McDonalds has a terrible reputation.

 I'm still not ashamed. 

I can probably count on one hand the times we've been to McDonalds this year, or last year for that matter. We're doing our best to eat healthy.  Iceberg lettuce and squash have become common staples in our fridge. A quarter pounder and fries has little nutritional value. I get it. 

Still, today just seemed to beg for a quick, satisfying meal (even if high in calories, cholesterol and sodium). We grabbed our bag from the drive through and a few minutes later parked at our next destination. What happened over the next fifteen minutes might make me a believer in occasional visits to McDonalds. 

Mysteriously, the burger seemed to be some sort of mood stabilizer. And the fries? They acted as a miraculous truth serum. 

Before I knew it, my girl was telling me about an incident that happened this week that I might not have heard about it if we'd not been popping fries. She poured out her trouble as I slurped my soda. News that would typically make me fume was somehow softened by our not playing by the rules impromptu lunch.  

She talked and I listened while fries and our disappointment disappeared. 

Would Subway or carrots at home have had the same effect? I don't know. Come to think of it, I did more listening than I did talking today. (Maybe it's because my mouth was busy). I lent more attention to how she felt than I did to planning an agenda to fix everything. 

Was it fast food magic? Who can tell.  

I walked with her today while she sang "Am I not pretty enough". I didn't answer. I just let her sing. We don't always have to give an answer. Sometimes we don't have one. 

Maybe sometimes we get it right because we drop the need to get it right. Sometimes a burger and our presence is enough. 

Parenting is tough. Being a kid is too. Sometimes, I'm finding out,... you (do) want fries with that.