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Original poster

Eating takeaway pizza at the table

171 replies

Dogonthephone · 09/08/2025 19:59

Dd, 7 and her friend have had a brilliant afternoon-swimming in the pool, playing with toys, painting and so on. Dd asked if we could have takeaway pizza for dinner. Dh went to pick it up, the kids got dry and put a film on, comfy on the sofa. They were laughing having lots of fun and excited when the pizza arrived.
Dh then said to come and sit at the dining table to eat it, instead of sat on the sofa continuing their film. He then proceeded to tell Dd to eat properly and not rush, talk with her mouth full
and on and on. Brought the whole fun mood down.

Aibu to think the whole point of getting takeaway pizza is to eat it on your lap watching something and to relax?

OP posts:
DysmalRadius · 10/08/2025 14:15

PollyBell · 10/08/2025 09:09

To me popcorn, crisps, and chocolate are snacks pizza is easier at the table

Don't see who on earth this is being rigid but why do both parents have to be the same on everything?

Show quote history

I grew up in that kind of rigid household and now let my kids eat wherever is most practical! I try and keep the mealtime rules to a minimum of not grossing out anyone else. They asked my mum recently why I wasn't allowed to put my elbows on the table as a child and she had no answer! I let them eat their food from separate bowls because they don't like it to touch and I'm sure she thinks that's mad too so the pendulum has swung a long way in one generarion! 😂

Original poster
Dogonthephone · 10/08/2025 14:04

notthatoldchestnut · 10/08/2025 11:43

99.9% of the time our food is eaten at the table. It doesn’t “ruin” the mood - everyone gets what they want and then can go and carry on once they’ve finished.

if kids are throwing food then they haven’t been bought up properly. Mine have never done this

Mine either and can eat pizza without causing a mess..and we have a creamish sofa…but I do put throws over

OP posts:
tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 14:02

MidoriNoRingo · 10/08/2025 13:50

I’m a bit shocked that so many people’s 7 year olds can’t eat properly either. My 3 year old can sit on the sofa and eat and not make any mess, that’s using chopsticks too.

Exactly - PP even said it was normal for 7yo's to throw food?! In what universe is that normal? lol.

Original poster
Dogonthephone · 10/08/2025 14:01

Doingmybest12 · 10/08/2025 08:08

There is a half way house between letting younger children hang out like teens with take outs and bringing the mood down at the table with constant nagging while friends are there. I don't think I'd of left 7 year olds to it on the sofa with pizza.

Didn’t leave them to it, we were all sat watching it together and eating

OP posts:
Original poster
Dogonthephone · 10/08/2025 14:00

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 07:08

These threads are a massive eye opener to me - are there really people who never curl up on the sofa with a film and some snacks because “all food has to be eaten at a table”? 🫣

I’m really glad I never grew up in such a rigid household.

Same! Find it really odd

OP posts:
MidoriNoRingo · 10/08/2025 13:50

I’m a bit shocked that so many people’s 7 year olds can’t eat properly either. My 3 year old can sit on the sofa and eat and not make any mess, that’s using chopsticks too.

notthatoldchestnut · 10/08/2025 11:43

99.9% of the time our food is eaten at the table. It doesn’t “ruin” the mood - everyone gets what they want and then can go and carry on once they’ve finished.

if kids are throwing food then they haven’t been bought up properly. Mine have never done this

notthatoldchestnut · 10/08/2025 11:41

EllyRoff · 09/08/2025 20:47

It’s what kids do 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

Um no, they don’t!

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 11:41

PollyBell · 10/08/2025 11:39

We just find it is physically easier to eat off a garden surface, the food is central and we dont have to wrestle plates on pur laps, and especially for food wherever need a knife and fork

Don't see how it is inflexible or not ot is just practical none of us thinks about ot is just natural to do for all of us

Didn't think the idea was so complicated we just do it like having a shower and brushing our teeth

Show quote history

I never said it was complicated, just that the idea of never eating anywhere except a table seems ridiculously rigid to me.

PollyBell · 10/08/2025 11:39

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 11:28

It feels rigid to me because it's very formal and doesn't show any flexibility for eg. being tired, or unwell, or whatever.

Show quote history

We just find it is physically easier to eat off a garden surface, the food is central and we dont have to wrestle plates on pur laps, and especially for food wherever need a knife and fork

Don't see how it is inflexible or not ot is just practical none of us thinks about ot is just natural to do for all of us

Didn't think the idea was so complicated we just do it like having a shower and brushing our teeth

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 11:28

PollyBell · 10/08/2025 09:09

To me popcorn, crisps, and chocolate are snacks pizza is easier at the table

Don't see who on earth this is being rigid but why do both parents have to be the same on everything?

Show quote history

It feels rigid to me because it's very formal and doesn't show any flexibility for eg. being tired, or unwell, or whatever.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 11:26

Blondebrownorred · 10/08/2025 09:38

We dont watch films in this house and very rarely snack so no that doesn't happen here.

Show quote history

You never sit and watch a film? Not even at Christmas?

Tink3rbell30 · 10/08/2025 11:11

No takeaways on the sofa here either.

Nicefreshbedding · 10/08/2025 10:42

All food is eaten at the table here but we eat takeaway pizza out of the box - it doesn't taste the same off a plate! 🍕

Blondebrownorred · 10/08/2025 09:38

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 07:08

These threads are a massive eye opener to me - are there really people who never curl up on the sofa with a film and some snacks because “all food has to be eaten at a table”? 🫣

I’m really glad I never grew up in such a rigid household.

We dont watch films in this house and very rarely snack so no that doesn't happen here.

PollyBell · 10/08/2025 09:09

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 07:08

These threads are a massive eye opener to me - are there really people who never curl up on the sofa with a film and some snacks because “all food has to be eaten at a table”? 🫣

I’m really glad I never grew up in such a rigid household.

To me popcorn, crisps, and chocolate are snacks pizza is easier at the table

Don't see who on earth this is being rigid but why do both parents have to be the same on everything?

Bikergran · 10/08/2025 08:25

I wouldn't let 7 year olds eat pizza on the sofa, but no reason to go on at her. On the bright side, imagine how much more unbearable he'd have been if they'd got pizza sauce on the sofa/carpet.

Willoo · 10/08/2025 08:21

No way am I eating pizza at the table. It’s wrong

Doingmybest12 · 10/08/2025 08:08

There is a half way house between letting younger children hang out like teens with take outs and bringing the mood down at the table with constant nagging while friends are there. I don't think I'd of left 7 year olds to it on the sofa with pizza.

DiscoBeat · 10/08/2025 07:53

We eat together at the table most of the time (including lunch now it's the school holidays) so don't mind letting the teenagers eat pizza occasionally in the living room but the sofas are leather and they put the pizza on the coffee tables so less messy/cleanable. 7 years olds and fabric sofas - definitely no!

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 10/08/2025 07:08

These threads are a massive eye opener to me - are there really people who never curl up on the sofa with a film and some snacks because “all food has to be eaten at a table”? 🫣

I’m really glad I never grew up in such a rigid household.

Fountofwisdom · 10/08/2025 07:08

Takeaway pizza is definitely one of the few meals that is a treat to be enjoyed whilst watching a movie, but I wouldn’t want children to eat it on the sofa as it can be very messy. I put a washable blanket or big beach towels on the floor for them to sit on whilst eating it.

Your husband sounds like he was a misery about the whole thing though, which is a shame after they had been having a lovely time.

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 10/08/2025 07:00

We have a picnic rug for this purpose, the dc eat on that on the floor on a movie night.

PollyBell · 10/08/2025 06:58

Dogonthephone · 09/08/2025 23:34

Guessing you’re a man?

Show quote history

Why? I would have children sat a table to eat and show manners and last time I checked i was female i somt see why that poster would be a man?

Sirzy · 10/08/2025 05:58

Irrespective of where the food was being eaten he was absolutely correct to pull her up on poor table (or sofa!) manners! They shouldn’t be optional