Talk

I just loved wee George! What a cutie

oh god peopel do talk bollocks about food and meals

what channel was it on?

Channel 4 last night 8pm

I never sat round the table growing up

we do sometimes now but not always

I have IMPECCABLE manners whilst eating

God. I hate this obsession with 'eating as a family'!! Why are you 'appalled' that kids eat in front of the tv. Mine do most weekdays and aren't running feral last time I looked. The jails would be empty if only they'd all eaten round a table with their families

The Waltons didn't watch telly when they ate did they and look how they turned out..

I love us all sitting to eat together (maybe 5 nights a week). DH works long hours so we do eat late (between 6.30 &7), but it is the only time in the day we can actually all sit in the same place and chat. DDs are 5 1/2 & 10, so although it is late for them they get to talk to Daddy about their day. Also they both tend to eat the yucky things (veg) more happily than when they have their own tea earlier.

I am a Mum of 3 grown up children and have childminded for 20 years I think SuperNanny is really good andd would help anyone would love to offer my help and assistance to young, isolated Mums out there I have a world of knowledge with babies an would pass on my wealth of knowledge and information . Does anyone know of any Volunteer projects for this? Or Volunteering helping midwifes I love babies and am really good with them
Ruth

Maybe try HomeStart?

I don't think it's so much about your children 'running feral' or ending up in prison if you don't eat together as a family, so much as the fact that you're all missing out on something - especially them. Family mealtimes are a chance to catch up, find out what all the others have been doing, discuss things. Humans are social animals and eating together is an important way of strengthening bonds (who doesn't enjoy going out for a meal with friends?) - if you never eat with your children everyone's losing out.

If 75% eat in front of the tv and 25% eat in their rooms is there not something wrong with that figure because that makes 100% so where is there room for the percentage of children that you are talking about that eat at the table.

We eat at the table incidentally but not always together every night it's not possible. We eat at the table to contain mess in one area more than anything else.
Growing up we never had room for a table when we moved into a flat and I am the (ok i'll admit it) snobbiest person I know about manners at a table.

75% eat in front of the TV, of those 25% are eating in front of a TV in their room I think.

I know octavia, I just got the hump at some of the wording in the op. 'vital part of family life' or whatever it was and all the faces. Mine eat at a TABLE in front of the tv if that is any better . And obv we do make an effort at the weekend to eat together. (my dc have v early tea during the week).

Erm not everyone has room for a dining table or even a kitchen table.

I talk to my family ALL THE TIME

we don't use mealtimes to 'catch up'

I make no apologies for saying vital part of family life - that's what I consider it to be - eating is a social activity, as well as a necessary one. And I at no point said that children are running feral or whatever; simply that in my house (where both parents work full time) mealtime is an important family time - and we use it as such.

Just because there is no room for a dining table it does not follow that you need to be staring at the screen while you're eating.

Round OrangeHead - I would say you are the exception, not the rule, imho. And you are very lucky if you get to talk to your family 100% of the time - which I do very much doubt......

do you? maybe you should pop round some time

Should I say - your family have no other interests? No sleep time? No hobbies? No time with relatives / friends / nursery / school? No work? To me that sounds unlikely

no we are attached to each other 24 hours a day

Oh fgs.