A Lesson at McDonald's

It seems to me that my parents were consistently encouraging us to reach a little beyond our comfort level as kids.  While this philosophy may not beneficial with all personalities, for me it encouraged, strengthened and stretched me to understand I was capable of more than I thought I was.  One such occasion sticks out in my mind, not because it was a perfect scenario, but because it wasn't, and we handled it just fine.

Becky and I were sent into McDonald's to place the order for our family dinner.  As I remember it, this was an exercise in independence, one that I relished, because I liked knowing I could do things.  It was not uncommon in our family for the kids to complete an errand that mom or dad could have more easily completed themselves.  As a parent now, it is easy to see that they were allowing us individual experiences to help us gain experience and confidence.  (Reminds me of teaching my girls how to clean a mirror.  Would it be easier and faster to do it myself?  YES!! But if I never gave them the opportunity to do it themselves, they would never learn how.)

Becky and I went into McDonald's and stood in line.  Both she and I were blond-haired girls with mostly straight hair somewhere between the ages of 10 and 6--I don't remember exactly.  We had a list of what we needed to order and I remember being very serious about what I was going to say when it was our turn.

When we were next in line to order, and I was rehursing our order in my mind.  Suddenly felt a yank backwards on my hair. Someone had grabbed a hold of my hair--in a pony tail fashion--and was pulling on it. I tried to look back, but whomever was holding my hair had too close a grip on it, my balance was thrown off, and I could not twist and look.  I could see Becky's face, it was white and scared.


Next thing I know there is an adult male at my side, trying to pry this person's hand off my hair.  He is talking very sternly to the person holding my hair. I can't remember what the words were exactly, but the gist was LET GO of the little girl's hair.  However the person kept pulling my hair, saying "pretty".  It was painful and I remember telling myself to be tough and don't cry.

A store manager came around the counter and began talking to me.  "Hold on there little girl" he said to me.  "We are going to get him to let go."  Then, at once my hair was released and I was free to turn to look at the guy.  He was a mentally disabled boy, I would guess about 17 years old.  Strong enough to make his dad work to get free my hair, but not mentally aware enough to realize that he had hurt the girl with the "pretty" hair.

The manager of McDonalds asked me if I was okay.  "Yeah" is all I remember saying, very grateful to be free.  Then he opened up a new cash register line and took our order.  It was quickly filled and Becky and I were on our way out. We looked at each other, and I believe it was by mutual agreement that we decided to not tell anyone what had conspired in McDonald's.  "How'd it go?"  Dad asked us as we hopped in the car.  "Great Dad!" was our response.

I have learned many things over the years by asserting myself.  One big thing I have learned is that I can't plan for every contingency.  I didn't know that boy would yank on my hair, or that another time a lady wouldn't take my order until my mom came.  Life is not a straight path.  Instead it is full of twists, bumps and turns. Some turns take us wonderful new places, where we have incredible experiences, others take us to sad or unhappy places we never wanted to go.

I love this quote from Martin Luther King Jr. "The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges."