Do you eat at the table?

PasturesNew

There is, of course, a divide... 1-2 people in a 500-700 sq ft home won't probably see the need, nor have the space, for a table.

Those in a 4-5 person home, with more than one living area, perhaps a house 1000-1500 sq ft or more, would've bought a table years ago and so it's there so it will be habitual to use it.

phoebe1989seb

PasturesNew wrote: »

There is, of course, a divide... 1-2 people in a 500-700 sq ft home won't probably see the need, nor have the space, for a table.

Those in a 4-5 person home, with more than one living area, perhaps a house 1000-1500 sq ft or more, would've bought a table years ago and so it's there so it will be habitual to use it.

Again, it obviously depends on the people/how they were brought up

When DS and his partner had a one bedroom flat (about 600 sq ft) with just the one reception room and separate kitchen, they still had a small dropleaf table against one wall in the living room which they opened up at dinner time. Not just when they had guests either. Breakfast was eaten on stools at the end of the kitchen worktop and lunches at work. For several years they didn't have/want a TV so there was never any question of watching TV whilst eating.

Just before selling the flat and buying a three bedroom house they had a baby, so meals at a table have become even more important.

Fortunately both DS and his partner were brought up eating meals around a table and no TV/phones allowed......

maman

PasturesNew wrote: »

There is, of course, a divide... 1-2 people in a 500-700 sq ft home won't probably see the need, nor have the space, for a table.

Those in a 4-5 person home, with more than one living area, perhaps a house 1000-1500 sq ft or more, would've bought a table years ago and so it's there so it will be habitual to use it.

I think the see the need to eat at a table is probably a higher priority than space. A number of people have said that they've found room for a computer desk or use their table for dumping stuff.

If eating at a table (and all the social things that go with it) is important to you then you'll find a way. I remember when my DD had her first home, Ikea did a drop leaf table that had folding chairs that fitted inside it. I once worked somewhere where the boss cleared his desk so everyone could sit round and eat together. I think it's a case of priorities.

I found your post rather sad Organza Lace. Doesn't what you want count?

phoebe1989seb

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Again, it obviously depends on the people/how they were brought up

When DS and his partner had a one bedroom flat (about 600 sq ft) with just the one reception room and separate kitchen, they still had a small dropleaf table against one wall in the living room which they opened up at dinner time. Not just when they had guests either. Breakfast was eaten on stools at the end of the kitchen worktop and lunches at work. For several years they didn't have/want a TV so there was never any question of watching TV whilst eating.

Just before selling the flat and buying a three bedroom house they had a baby, so meals at a table have become even more important.

Fortunately both DS and his partner were brought up eating meals around a table and no TV/phones allowed......

Although I do admit that if I were single I'd probably choose to eat the occasional main meal on a tray on my lap

mummygems

We have a lounge/diner. We eat at the table most of the time unless we have something easy like hot dogs or pizza (on a saturday night perhaps) then we might eat on the sofa. I hate eating proper dinners on my lap it gives me such a tummy ache! Even though our room is also the lounge we don't have the tv on during dinner. Our kitchen is small so there is no way a chair would fit in there let alone a table and 6 chairs!

I also use the dinner table to use the laptop and plan meals etc. I like the space! There are 5 of us in our house and we would have a table even if it was a drop side table pushed to one side. I lived alone in a small flat when I first left home and even then I have a two person dinner table in my lounge.

We dont all eat together on a weekday. Sometimes its just the three kids (with me sat with them but not eating depending on work and evening classes), sometimes its me and the kids and 9/10 times mon-fri husband eats later on his own (again I sit with him even if I am not eating).

suki1964

Always have eaten at the table.

Even when I had a tiny studio I had a gate leaf table against a wall which I used one side off and only pulled it out if had company

I prefer to eat at the table. You take more time to eat, you often eat smaller amounts. I know if I take a sandwich to eat on the sofa its down the hatch before I know Ive eaten it and will get up and find something else to munch on

I bought the children up to eat at the table and the grandchildren too. They learn table manners, how to use cutlery, and we have time to talk to and listen to them

maman

mummygems wrote: »

W
We don't all eat together on a weekday. Sometimes its just the three kids (with me sat with them but not eating depending on work and evening classes), sometimes its me and the kids and 9/10 times mon-fri husband eats later on his own (again I sit with him even if I am not eating).

suki1964 wrote: »

I brought the children up to eat at the table and the grandchildren too. They learn table manners, how to use cutlery, and we have time to talk to and listen to them

That's interesting. When our little granddaughter comes to stay, she needs to eat earlier than we'd want to on a Saturday evening. I generally make her pasta in a sauce and DH sits with her with a really tiny bowl of his own. We firmly believe that eating should be a social thing.

suki1964

When the grandchildren stay we shift meal times. Mind they aren't babies now, 6 and 13

We would normally eat 7:30 to 8pm, when the grandkids come its 6pm

But yes when they were wee and in highchairs, we sat alongside with a cuppa. I think its very important to show children from an early age that meal times aren't just for shovelling the food down as quick as one can to get away to do something else, but as you say, a social thing. A time to be with others and share some time


Three adults in this hose, Mum 82, and me and Mr S. We both work different days and times to each other, Just Sundays and Tuesdays we match. Mum has always taken her breakfast and lunch in front of the tv as did her husband when he was alive. But now she lives with us, she too has to come to the table for the evening meal. Sitting down together means the end of the working day for me and he and mum gets to catch up on any news we may have and lets us know what her plans are ahead. Plus the usual discussions on whats happening in the world

When we have guests staying or just company for the evening, the table is where we all gather and tend to linger if the company is good

LameWolf

In the lounge on the sofa, with our plates on lap-trays.
We have a really tiny bungalow, and though we have a kitchen table, it's kept with the leaves folded down as it takes up too much space otherwise, also it houses a few items of kitchenware; and as there's just my husband and myself, we find it too much of a faff to set up the table for dinner; plus we prefer to eat away from the cooking detritus.

Dinner is the only time we watch tv; I actually dislike wasting time watching tv, but can tolerate one programme while we eat. I should mention all our viewing is recorded so that we can watch when we choose and fast-forward through the adverts.

Once dinner is eaten, if, as is frequently the case, my husband has selected a programme of no interest to me, I will go and wash up while he watches the rest of it; if it is something I find interesting, I clear the plates away and pick up my knitting or cross stitch while the programme finishes, and either he will wash up or we wash up together afterwards.

I don't have guests for meals - ever.

Kassiopea

If you have children it can be so useful to all eat together, even if its not every day. The time can be used to chat about ' stuff'. If you get into the habit, it can turn into a time where you find out things that they may never have mentioned... I.E. I know of a family where they established the child was bullied at school, but he would never ever have brought this up .... it was just a casual mention which led to the parents gently questioning.