Do you eat at the table?

jimbo6977

At table.

I'd prefer to have a dining room, but when we were looking at houses to buy, it seems very unusual these days.

flanker6

We eat at a table. . . even though there's only the two of us.


It makes meal times more of an "occasion" and moves us away from the distraction of the TV.

dan958

I live alone and tend to eat at my computer desk, which is a kind of table.

Primrose

We have a though lounge/dining room with no room for a kitchen table so all meals are eaten there on a wooden table with table place mats to,protect the surface. . I never use table cloths now even at Christmas or when entertaining.

Breakfast is eaten in relative silence as we both like to catch up with the newspapers. For the rest of the day The table is often cluttered with IPads, the daily opened post etc but is cleared for our main meal which is where we catch up with our conversations.

The posh Wedgewood dinner service has been disposed of and we use practical Denby pottery plates for all occasions as they go uncomplainingly from oven to dishwasher with accident. And my crystal wine glasses are rarely used because I only want things which are dishwasher safe these days.

We might very occasionally have fish and chips on the sofa if we've just come home in time to watch a special tv programme but very rarely.

And NEVER are mobile ohones allowed anywhere near our meal table, even by guests!

VJsmum

Morbier wrote: »

How do you teach children 'table manners' if they never eat at a table?

I must be old-fashioned thinking this, I do realise, but if you want to bring up a child to become a well-rounded, socially acceptable adult, then eating at the table is one of the necessary experiences, surely?

rach_k wrote: »

For me, it's important that we sit down together and, although we are a long way from formal, I think children need to see how to sit down with people and eat nicely. Grown-ups need a reminder sometimes, too! I spend enough time in a school to be horrified by the number of children who don't know how to use cutlery and don't have even basic manners (school does a good job at helping them catch up). I'm not talking about something you'd expect at the Queen's table, more not talking with your mouth full or pointing with a knife. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I'd prefer to teach these things at home rather than have my kids having to learn it in the work canteen!

A teacher friend once told us that the best thing we did for our children was to eat dinner at a table all together with no TV. He said it teaches them the art of conversation and shows them that we are interested in their lives. He said it is really obvious at school which families eat at a table and which don't..

We still eat at the table, it is a rare occasion when we don't - even though we are now 4 adults who all do different things. if we are in the house together, we eat together.

svain

Breakfast at kitchen table - Lunch and dinner on sofa unless we have guests - I had a seperate dining room once, even bought a table and chairs for it but hated the formality and never used it.

onomatopoeia99

Morbier wrote: »

How do you teach children 'table manners' if they never eat at a table?

I must be old-fashioned thinking this, I do realise, but if you want to bring up a child to become a well-rounded, socially acceptable adult, then eating at the table is one of the necessary experiences, surely?

Why do you assume everyone has children?

Pollycat

On the subject of 'table manners' and children, I've noticed (we drink in a local pub that does a lot of meals) that a lot of young people hold and use knives and forks differently to how my generation were taught.
My younger-than-me friend used to feed her small children sat on the floor with food cut up for them without any cutlery - this is at an age where I would be sat at the table with a metal knife and fork.
I did notice that her children were very awkward with cutlery when we went out to eat in cafes.

Morbier

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Why do you assume everyone has children?

I don't! I didn't assume everyone has a table either.

It was just my (humble) opinion!

Cyclamen

Years ago I ran an A'level (16-18yr old) field trip where we stayed in a youth hostel. We visited beaches, sand dunes, aquariums and the Eden project as part of our studies. Yet every year a couple of students would say the highlight of the week was eating meals together!

The whole group (40+ students) would meet for breakfast and tea and nobody left until we had all finished. It just sort of happened that way but was a lovely atmosphere on each table with the students inviting staff to sit with them or asking to sit with us.. no telly on just chatting.

My husband and I always eat together at tea time we aim for the dining table but as i have disabilities it may be a table by the sofa or a table over the bed. In nicer weather it could be the garden. We also aim for a cuppa mid morning once my carers have left as its quite busy.. my optimum would be breakfast together too.

I dont have 'best' china, my sideboard contains hobby stuff and grandma's candlesticks. I have a table cloth for colour in the winter but it gets washed and put back on un-ironed.. (oh the shame)