We had waited our turn at the DMV, browsed the Grand Asia Market next door, and were on our way to Trader Joe's (love that place!) when Baby A said she really, really needed a drink of water, no, she needed a drink of milk. Pleeeease, Mommy, I really need it now.

I bit my lip to keep from saying, "See why I told you to take drink of water before we left?," and chided myself for not taking a bottle of water with us on this hot afternoon. McDonald's was the only place around with a drive-thru—important, because I didn't want to get Baby A in and out of the carseat again. I needed to get on to TJ's.

So we went to McDonald's for the first time, and Baby A pointed out "that clown man," which she knows from TV. More than that, she was mighty confused about the ordering process. It didn't help that there was one broken-down ordering place, then the working one, then two windows.

Baby A: "Mommy, why do we have to pay two times?"

Me: "We don't. We pay at this first window, then we pick up our order at the second one."

Baby A: "Oh. Why?"

Me: "The restaurant thinks that will make the line go faster. Do you think it's helping?"

Baby A, looking thoughtful: "Ummmm. Yes. Yes, I do."

This from a three-year-old's first impression. Want a more scientific view on this topic, and all things drive-thru? See the QSR Drive-Thru Study.

And isn't it nice I was able to get her a cold, fresh, kid-sized drink of milk, in two minutes, without getting out of my car, for 99 cents? Yes, I have my lazy moments. Would've been cool if it were organic milk, but on a hot afternoon I'll take what I can get.

UPDATE: (6/28/07) I remembered this morning that Baby A didn't learn about McDonald's and the Ronald McDonald character from PBS. That was Chuck E Cheese that sponsors a spot on PBS Kids in the morning. Ronald has ads on cable channels, where A. loves to watch "Little Einsteins" and "The Wonder Pets" (which, if you haven't seen it, is just about the most adorable show EVER).

So I've edited this post to take out the reference to McDonald's on PBS. My strong opinion remains that ads DO NOT belong on public television, and I won't vote for a candidate who wants to take public funding away from public TV and radio.

[Image courtesy of McDonald's media web page]