Main Meal

[aka pixi]

When you are having your main meal of the day do you eat around a table as a family or do something else? Do you expect good table manners eg no elbows on the table etc? As we dont get home from work on weekdays til gone 6 our lad has usuallly fed himself so we either get something quick and easy together and sit in the room whilst eating or just grab something individually as and when we feel hungry. But at the weekend we have a huge chilli or curry, sit around the table and usually chat non stop. As for table manners, so long as I cant see whats in someones mouth then thats about it.

[rugeleyboy]

we all eat at the table, in the kitchen with no tv!!

my kids are only 4 &3 so they are both on the learning curve when it comes to manners but they both say "can i leave the table " when thay have finished!

[aka pixi]

ahhh when my kids were small we did the same rugeley, and I also teach my granddaughter good table manners, honest lol

[Katie~77]

All meals in our house take place around the table. We both think it is important for the babies to learn good table manners. Like RB, our T.V gets switched off too.x

[~posy~]

we sit round the table too. our kids know that they are not to start eating til everyone is sat down ready, and that everyone must be finished before we can get down, and also if they want anything eg sauce to ask nicely and say please and thankyou. we generally chat about our day, alot of the time this is the only time of day that all 4 of us are together so we make the most of it xXx

[DotH]

I have just bought a new table it is a pine oblong table and looks lovely in my newly rebuilt litchen diner, must think abouit getting some chaires soon. lol

Dotty
xxxxx

[aka pixi]

hi katie, I agree its important for little uns to have be taught good manners. It just seems that as they get older and you see less and less of them mealtimes become a time to catch up with each other and have a good feast and a good laugh.

Our mealtimes are very relaxed with lots of laughter and banter (my husband is half italian so this could have something to do with it) But I honestly dont mind elbows on the table or someone yelling that the naan bread 2nd down is theirs and no-one else better get it. Obviously if we go out for a meal we all have fantastic table manners but at home I dont mind.

[aka pixi]

hi posy, I too expect folks to say please/thanks but Im not bothered if someone starts eating first or if anyone leaves the table when they have finished (though this doesnt happen anyway, we usually stay in the kitchen long after the food has been eaten)

lol at dotty

[Katie~77]

Pixi, your house sounds just like the one I grew up in. Mum, Dad and five kids all sat round the table, chatting and having a laugh. I think that is why I always make sure we sit round the table now, I don't want my kids to miss out on that. That was one of the main things I missed when we all started to leave home.x

[aka pixi]

aww katie that sounds great. I think the reason I have slacked off on the table manners thing is because we eat together so little that I dont wanna spend the entire meal saying, 'oi get your elbow off the table' or such like. I dont even mind the 'eating a full chilli without grimacing' competition lol

[BuddyLeeJnr.]

My only stipulation is .. once the food has entered your mouth, I never want to see it, or hear it again ...

elbows are fine ... so is talking, but not with a gob full of grub.

I'll try and eat outside as much as possible, because the view from our garden is phenomenal ...