Seating at McDonalds
 

This morning I took my 90 year old parents to McDonald's at Colony for breakfast. Mom can barely walk but with a walker she manages. We tend to gravitate to the nearest table but a male with a hat and newspaper was thrown on a table for 4. I navigated towards the wheelchair assessable table and there was one woman sitting there also alone reading her book. We squeezed in a table and borrowed a chair from another 4 seated table where another lone person sat as well. If this were just me I would not think twice. When one is disabled, it is daunting to find a spot to store the wheelchair/walker and have the elderly person sit down.

Thank you for reading my post.

Tell them. If we don't say anything.....nothing happens. Tell them.

The wheelchair sign on the table is there so you keep it
open for someone who needs it!
Sorry for your experience.

It sounds like you needed help and no one noticed. I'd like to think everyone in that room would do whatever it takes to make your mom comfortable. It's a mom thing.

Maybe the next time, before things get complicated you go in first and pick out the best table. Ask someone to move and explain why.

Helping someone feels pretty good all day. Besides it's not like you're asking for their Jimmy Buffet front row seats.

Bob Evans, Perkins or Bonifay would have been a better choice.

Why would these be better food choices for us?

They didn't say they were better food choices but probably better experience.

Missypie, that was a frustrating experience for you and I'm sorry.
I just want to say that you are lucky to still have parents alive, mine have been gone for a very long time and I miss them.

Sometimes if people are reading, they just don't notice what is going on around them.
I agree with Tom that if you'd gone in first and asked someone at a large table to move, explaining the situation, I bet the person would have had no problem moving and making your mom and dad comfortable.
And they probably would have felt good about it all day.
It doesn't help make today's experience better, but Tom's suggestion could make things better for future visits.

Thank you all for your suggestions. It made me feel better to read these.

It's not about the food. It's about seating availability. Bring a card table and set it up outside. LOLn

As an 'aside' to this...I for one, have to wonder "why" a person uses up a seat and reads at a McD's?! If they'd want to be where there's people...why not B & N. where there's actually comfie seats for doing that. I think in a restaurant of any kind it's rude---especially if they're not eating.

Sometimes I know that I am so focused on what I am doing that I miss seeing something like this happening.

Please give your beautiful mom kisses on both cheeks and then do it again from Gracie.

Thanks Gracie, I was just venting. Many times I am also guilty of not being perceptive to others' needs as well. Also will do as you have requested.:)

I am one of those readers and eaters. Once my nose is in a book, I rarely notice much of anything around me, so would probably would not have noticed your predicament. So, I will apologize for the lady reading -- who knows, it could have been me.

I would have bee more than happy to move or share my table with you if necessary had you asked. I'm sure other patrons would have felt the same way. Most single diners Re more than happy to help out another. So, please don't hesitate to ask the next time. The worst that could happen is someone saying no and that's their loss, not yours.

In the meantime, vent away

I think many people who go out by themselves for a bite to eat like to read a newspaper or a book. It's not uncommon or rude.

I believe it is when people are waiting to sit down.......................

So, it would be okay to have a group be seated, done eating and just talking or finishing their drinks, but not a single person who wanted to finish a chapter?

I don't think the OP said there no tables available, just none that could be easily used by her mother.

(Sorry, missy, this just got under my craw.)

Some people are just completely unaware of what is going on around them. Not that they are rude, they just don't notice. I took my 90 year old grandfather to the aquarium in Charleston. It is a huge place, so we got a wheelchair. I wheeled him from display to display. You wouldn't believe how many people came up and stood right in front of him while he was sitting there in the wheelchair looking at the fish. I want to think they just got so excited about the next display (and boy, they were some fabulous displays) that they just didn't see us. Maybe they were just down right rude, but it sure didn't stop me and Pawpaw Darby from having a grand old time.

Who you be callin missy?

The apology was to missypie, not to you, you ole codger. He he I'm still mad at you. ;-)

:wave:

To say that they just didn't notice your grand dad is no excuse. Should have hit the back of their ankle with the wheelchair and said " Oh I'm sorry " and then smiled.

Tee hee
 

Well, okay, I'll confess . . . I might have done that a time or two. Accidentally, of course. :angel: