Do you want fries with that?

Braveheart is ecstatic! She is ready to conquer the fast food world. This week she was offered her first real job at McDonald's. It is adorable how excited she is about minimum wage, just wait till she learns who FICA is. Funny how you never really want your child to grow up and say, "do you want fries with that?" And, yet, for a first stepping stone, it is entirely appropriate. Do you remember when you thought McDonald's was the best restaurant ever? Well, this child not only grew up with that mentality, but she is also a product of the Playland generation. Which mostly meant that we always ended up fighting some unknown virus 7-10 days later, but when you're desperate for grown-up conversation a McDonald's Playland will always offer up another mom in the same boat.

I want her to learn so many lessons from this experience: the value of GOOD customer service, how to stand up for herself and not be taken advantage of, how to SAVE a buck or two, how to organize yourself so that work doesn't become your entire life, how to balance school and work, how to stand on your own two feet and NOT fall for the completely sexy, wild and possible drug addict that works with you.

I suppose she would object if I tried to go to work with her. No doubt, she would be made fun of if her mom stepped in when customers were rude to her. I'm sure she would be completely annoyed with me if I tried to work out the best possible schedule ever with her manager. Maybe I can sneak in a good comment card on her behalf from time to time.

She is growing up and I am sipping the mixed cocktail of anxiety and pride served best, of course, with a side of piping hot fries.