More Drive Thrus, Please

Hey there parents! We want to hear from you. Why do you really go to McDonalds?
Is it because of the low prices?
Maybe.
The free toys?
No! I don’t want another cheap piece of plastic under foot.
The high-quality cuisine?
Yeah, right.

We go because they have a drive thru. Let’s be honest; how often have you not stopped at a store, skipped an errand, or waited to go to the bathroom because it would have required stopping the car, unbuckling the child—or worse—schlepping the infant seat in and out of your vehicle?

So, as parents, we have a simple plea: more drive thrus please!

As a child in California, I remember stopping at the Alta Dena dairy on the way home from ballet practice. My mother drove up to the little kiosk, paid for a half-gallon of milk, and kept on driving. Now, you could argue that Los Angeles has a car-oriented culture, but why has this not caught on?

Imagine…you’re running a little bit late; it’s your spouse’s birthday. You’re not celebrating until the weekend, but you should still have a card to present at dinner. You zip through the CVS drive thru: “Yes, I’d like a card for my spouse. Mmm hmmm. We’ve been married for a while. Something with a bit of humor and perhaps a slightly naughty innuendo. Great. Perfect.”

Or even better, what if Target had a drive thru?
“I need some size four Pull Ups, Goldfish crackers, Dawn detergent, a 5”x8” brown picture frame, and are there any DVDs you’d recommend?” Imagine the jobs this would create! Multiple Target employees helping customers complete pesky errands…without having to leave the car.