“Happy” Meals
By Stacey | Posted on January 19, 2010 | No Comments
We are very blessed that my husband’s workplace is only a few minutes down the road. Therefore, most of the time he is able to come home and eat lunch with us. It’s really nice to see him, even though he’s usually kind of distracted and rushed. It gives him a break, and a decent meal. It gives the kids a chance to hug him, and tell him what’s gone on so far that day.
The other day right after lunch, my three-year-old daughter said, “This is a happy meal!” Of course, I was delighted at her happiness and said, “I’m so glad you’re happy.” Later my fifteen-year-old son brought up the fact that most kids think “Happy Meals” come from a drive through. I thought about that and was so amused.
This little girl lives in a world where she is surrounded by people who love her and watch out for her (sometimes read “boss her”). She has at least one parent immediately available to her almost all the time unless we’re out together. She is warm, safe, and regularly fed. She climbs in clean sheets at night, with clean jammies on. She has a big sister right near by if she’s scared at night. There’s always something going on around here to join in on. There are usually potential playmates available. Even Daddy has been known to play dollhouse! And this day, after a lunch with her family, she stood up on the bench and told me she had just had a happy meal.
What was so great about that meal in particular? I don’t know. The lunch fare wasn’t special. No exceptional things had transpired. She was just happy about having shared a meal with all the faces that fill her world everyday. That’s the kind of happy meal I can afford, and the kind I can feel good about providing. We all have so much to be thankful for. I’m glad my little girl told me about her happy meal.