No Cow!

I love Chick-fil-A. I always have. Hurray for the Spicy Chicken Wrap, waffle fries, and their oreo milkshake. Yum. As a mom, I have had some great experiences there. They have affordable kids meals with a fruit option and throw-away table toppers so you don’t have to put their food directly on the table. They have milk, age appropriate toys in their kids meals, and the Chick-fil-A’s that we frequent have indoor play areas. Staff will walk your food to your table when you have your hands full, and they are always checking to see if you need a refill. I’ve even been there when it’s raining, and someone offered to walk me and my child to my car with an umbrella. For fast food, it doesn’t get any better. In fact, I’ve been to fine dining with worse service.

Which makes me terribly sad to say… I may never be able to go back again. It all started when we visited Chick-fil-A on Cow Appreciation Day. Dress up like a cow, get a free meal. We don’t happen to have cow attire, but I thought Graham would get a kick out of it. So, we ordered our meals and sat down to eat. This is when things took a turn for the worse. The cow mascot was wandering between tables greeting customers and my child didn’t see it. Until it was directly behind his high chair. Needless to say, it scared the bejeezus out of him. He threw his food across the room, starting shaking, and lunged for me. I pulled him out of his chair and tried to calm him down. Thinking I was helping the situation, we walked up to the cow to say hi. Maybe if we got up close, it wouldn’t be so scary. I was wrong. Terribly wrong.

I think he has suffered something akin to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Everytime there is a loud noise, he wakes up from his nap, or we go to get in the car, he says in a very concerned voice, “No Cow? No Cow? No Cow?” I’m sure there will be very expensive therapy in his future. I’d like to send Chick-fil-A the bill. Or at least get free waffle fries for life. I’m willing to bargain.