Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Job Offer


I took the kids to Burger King last Friday for lunch. BK Germany is running a special: buy one adult menu, get a kids meal free. (No, no the German economy isn't hurting. I was also heading to the mall to take advantage of the 50% sales that were nonexistent here until recently.)

I discussed strategy with my staff on the way over.

"Ryan. Andrew. Listen closely. We can get FREE FOOD if we buy adult meals. Do you two really need a kiddy menu and a cheap plastic toy?"

Ryan and Andrew evaluated the importance of a cheap plastic toy to their well-being.
Ryan opted for an adult menu in order to help me out. Andrew was torn, but decided to check out the toys first, before making his decision.

By the time we reached the counter, I knew that Ryan and Matthew wanted chicken nuggets and that Andrew and Aidan were going to split a burger and some nuggets evenly between them. Andrew decided he really did need a cheap, stuffed wrestling figure that made music when you pressed his belly. (It is now sitting in the kitchen, on its way to the trash, with Aidan and Matthew's cheap, stuffed wrestling figures.)

I was pretty impressed with myself. The man in the business suit behind me was less so.

"Are you guys still running that buy one, get a children's menu free deal?"

She looked at me - and then the four kids - warily.

"Yeah. But uh...you only get ONE per meal."

"No problem." I smiled. I had this under control.

I ordered the two adult meals, got my two free kids meals and ordered a third for Andrew. We had the sauce and ketcup worked out in a matter of seconds. Ryan then marched the three boys off behind the counter to pick out their dolls. (Let's call them what they really are, c'mon guys, ACTION FIGURES? Really.)

Next I asked her to lead the twins upstairs and find a table. The three of them went. I asked Andrew to help me carry the second tray with fries. He was a gentleman. (I am LOVING these older children; I hardly get a chance to carry my own bags anymore!)

I smiled at the businessman behind me. He still wasn't impressed.

Later, he sat upstairs with his three friends, also all in business suits. They studiously ignored me as I organized the table, complimented the kids for eating everything on their plates, er napkins, except the fries and who can ever finish those?! Andrew and Aidan then went off to play in the kiddy cage, Matthew did a back-dive onto his head off of his seat, and I carried him screaming with me while I talked to the six-year old girl in the kiddy cage who was beating the stuffing out of my eight-year old and four-year old boys.

I imagined I was the perfect image of a living hell for most German men.

But I heard them as I was herding my staff down the stairs, meals entirely eaten and table wiped clean.

"Maybe we should ask that American lady with all the kids to work for us."

Sorry boys. You couldn't afford me. I really like the job I have.

But thanks for the compliment. It's nice to know people are noticing.

6 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So the answer is a definite YES Claire. It really does get easier as they get older!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The only thing I can say is this, yes they grow up and can help themselves more but the kiddie meals DO NOT fill them up. EVERYTHING has to be supersized........the buy one-get one free deals are Never on super sized meals, Ever notice that?? Wonder why? They probably know every Amish mom in the country would show up with her 10.5 children and order 4 meals and make them stretch to feed the whole clan and BK might lose money in the deal. (wouldn't that be a shame)

    ReplyDelete
  4. What I wouldn't pay to have the Germans get a load of you and YOUR family! I get comments on the size of MINE! The other day at the pool the lady didn't understand that I wanted to pay entrance for all the kids I had with me. (Four.) When I finally convinced her they were all with me, she said "Well, goodness, I hope they're not all yours!" I think she was trying to be friendly! Another friend of mine with four has taken to carrying her family book with her to prove they all belong to her. Otherwise she - and I - sometimes have to fight to get them all in under a family ticket! Family, in Germany, means one kid, maybe two if you're feeling crazy!!! Being an American excuses you a little - but they still look at you like your something out of a museum!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't know, I was pretty psyched about the free kid's meal! Okay, it would be tougher if the twins were older...
    And I'm sure it will be better when they're all older, but I don't want to raise my expectations too much - you never really know what's to come.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lower your expectations! The key to healthy parenting! And don't get me wrong - I liked the free meals too. Where else can I feed four kids and myself for 14 Euros?! WITHOUT having to cleanup dishes afterwards?

    ReplyDelete