Is is possible to get them to stop talking with their mouths full? - Grandparents, that is

[MagNacarta]

I find meal times with either set of GP's quite vile as they all talk with their mouths full and often across each other. Next weekend I have them all coming for a meal, so four adults all chewing and talking. It's really very horrible and hard not to notice. One of my dc's once told my Mum off for doing it (in the way I would if they did it) and my Mum was quite cross. I told dc that they shouldn't tell adults what to do, but not that she was wrong (she wasn't).

I have tried chatting to my parents about how someone I know talks with their mouth full and how surprising it is in an adult and they agreed. In fact they went on to pontificate about how horrible it is, so I guess they don't realise they do it.

So, I realise I should probably try not to notice and put up with it, but do you think there's anything we could do or say to stop it. Honestly meals are noisy and stomach churning.

[Getthekettleon]

I just had my mum stay for a week. She talks when she has food in her mouth and throat....its sooo horrid.... she kinda swallows it half way down but not fully to talk.
What can you do???? Look away or don't enagage in conservations while eating?!?!

[Hassled]

It's when FIL blows his nose at the table in mid-meal that I have to get up for a bit. Why do they do this stuff? If we know it's not OK, that generation must have told us so. Why have they all forgotten? Am I destined to be picking bogeys at the meal table when I'm 70?

[whomovedmychocolate]

Gah - it's hideous isn't it? Mine also don't wash their hands after they cough or sneeze, which they do openly over the children anyway, and use manky old hankies which have clearly been up the sleeve a fair old while too

I did make it slightly better by talking to mine about 'things we must do to encourage the DCs to eat more civilly - can you please be really careful because we are having a problem with X and I know you wouldn't do it but can you just be extra careful please'

Lasted a day.

[BadgersArse]

Yes my Mum does it

Also does that thing where she is on the phone then breaks off to say

"no NO don't do it like that; you'll haev water all over the FLOOR!

to my dad

grr

[whomovedmychocolate]

Oh yes, cross conversing on the phone - they all do that don't they. Mind you I probably do the same because there is always an urchin ready to fall into mortal danger every time I'm not looking

[BadgersArse]

And the giving of too much detail
" well i got the 9 20 bus into town( i had meant to get the earlier one bur someone didnt wake me up with a cup of tea)"
etc
JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU BOUGHT

then you remember htey arent 55 any more they are 75 and only 50 years ago someone that age would be dead.

[KingRolo]

They haven't forgotten, they do it on purpose to annoy us. Gits.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Ha Badgers - that's not too bad I got a running commentary while they were providing their stool smears for bowel cancer screening

[BadgersArse]

lol

[BadgersArse]

BUt really vital things like " oh i had a cancerous mole removed" goes in the " oh didnt I tell you? I cant think why not" category

AAAAAH!

[whomovedmychocolate]

No-one should have to be called at 8am and be asked 'you are good at cooking, how much is a smear, it says on this bit of paper we have to put a smear on a slide, but how much is that. Is it as much as you'd put on toast if you were putting marmite on'?

[BadgersArse]

and ( sorry on a roll here) the giving of OTHER PEOPLES NEWS

" ah well your sister is geting a dog"
let HER tell me other wise our phone conversations would be " have you spoken to mum?
"

Yes"

"nuff said"

[thatsnotmymonster]

My mum does this too and it is truly VILE. I am actually really relieved that other people's parents do this too.

Getthekettleon- she sounds just like yours and she talks constantly and usually it is either pointless, unfunny-makes you cringe, tactless etc.

We have all mentioned it to her but it doesn't make any difference. Sometimes ds (4) say something too and she just says, 'Oh was I, naughty grandma' and carries on.

She also eats her food in about 10 seconds flat.

AHHHHH I hate it. glad to have got that off my chest

[KingRolo]

Death is never far from their thoughts.

I always get the "I'll tell you who's died" chat from my dad. It's always someone I've never heard of too.

[BadgersArse]

My mum did another cold sausge thing
Ok her mate Laura over the road. Laura has a DIL who lives towards us lets call her Mary.

mary and her family went on holiday and said to Larua" hey haevsome milk and stuff from the fridge we wont finish"

Laura didnt want the milk and spuds so gave them to Mum.

mum didnt want semi skimmed so BROUGHT another womans DILS milk to our house.

A three mile round trip!! it makes the marscarpone to Sussex look passe

[whomovedmychocolate]

Oh and let's not mention the 'I saw this in a charity shop and bought it for you. I have one and it's so useful I thought you'd like one'.

Yikes!

[BadgersArse]

He he mine is strangely generous when things are from Tesco

[KingRolo]

I overheard two women in a charity shop the other day debating a pair of manky looking baby shorts saying "Ooh, our Julie would love them for Jamie".

I could bet any money our Julie would not.

[Hassled]

And why can't they just throw the free CDs that came in the Mail/Express/Old Gimmers Magazine AWAY? Why do they have to bestow them on the grandchildren in a "here is a precious gift, my boy" sort of way?

[MagNacarta]

Well it's a huge relief that I'm not the only one, but no solution?

I'll have to just stay plastered during the whole visit.

PIL's spend most of the visit telling me what Edna and Phil's daughter is doing or whatever and not only do I not know who they are nor does DH. When they say 'oh, you know Gladis and George?' dh now says 'no', but still the continue with the tale of no interest.

Oh God.

[motherbeyond]

PMSL hassled!!i thought i was the only one who got the free dvd's out the sunday express!
my gran stores them up and gives them to all us grandkids..she also keeps the sport section for my brother..and you know those little clothing booklets with old ladies clothes in them?they're for me,mmmm thanks gran,i'm in dire need of a tan,calf length a line skirt
I also get 'good house keeping' when mary next door's finished with it...it always smells of dog and gets swiftly lobbed into the recycle bin!

gran also eats with her mouth open.
she once sneezed while eating mushy peas.it was the grimmest thing i have ever witnessed.
but it was hilarious,cos everyone kindly pretenede they didnt notice,and had to aoid looking at the green splattered kitchen tiles for the remainder of the meal!!!
i had to excuse myself to participate in some dry wretching in the hall!!

[KingRolo]

rofl at your gran motherbeyond

Great name btw!

[motherbeyond]

thanks rolo,when i first joind MN i noticed everyone had witty names..didn't actually like brother beyond but thought apt!

your name always brings childhood t.v memories like bagpuss etc flooding back!

[ButterbeerAndLemon]

You could come up with some transparent excuse very good reason for videoing the meal ("just trying to record a slice of everyday family life for the DCs to look back on in twenty years") and then watch it back later? Then they may notice...