A is for Authentic

One thought I had was "blogging by the alphabet".  Each day, I'd pick a word that started with the letter of the day and go from there.  I figured this might keep my brain a little sharper and my posts more interesting than "waking up to pee on the floor sucks, as does kindergarten drama."  So I'm going to give it a shot.  I might not make it every day, but we'll see what happens.

A is for Authentic

The way the word "authentic" is used today is grating.   The NY Times had a great piece on it a year or so ago.  It's gone from meaning "real" or "original" to meaning "styled for public approval".  It smacks of "I make my own ketchup out of organic tomatoes that I grow next to my organic potatoes from which I make baked french fries.  Woe unto you who feed their children Happy Meals for they will be stunted by your lack of authentic cuisine."

I thought I'd go more than one post before I outed myself as a "bad Mom".  Guess not.

Yes, my kids eat McDonald's on a regular basis. Turn your nose up at me if you want, but sometimes it just fits the "quick and they'll eat it" bill.  Other times, it's a chance to get out of the house or a place for #4 and me to get some lunch and play (her on the climbing stuff and slides and me on free Wi-Fi) between story time and picking up #1-3 on early out days.  Do I sound a little defensive?  Maybe, even though I don't think, for the most part, I should be.  However, admitting that you *gasp* like McDonald's to certain people will get you the same look as if you just admitted to having herpes.  The "Oh, dear, look where your poor choices have gotten you."

But I don't think being authentic should bind you to being an arse about things.  There's so much grey area in life.  There's a time for 5 star dining and also for Happy Meals.