Another thing I've just learned on Mumsnet....

[CurlewKate]

Families don't all have their own places at the dinner table-some people just sit anywhere. I am dumbstruck!

But OP is talking about people who do ...

We have places too but they did change once! Our table is wedged into our tiny dining room and the table is against the wall so just enough space for the 4 of us.

I used to sit under the window, DH by the kitchen and DD in the middle in her high chair, then she moved to a booster in a proper chair but stayed in the middle. Then we had DS and his high chair had to go next to the kitchen or there was no space, so I started sitting in DH's chair at lunch so I could feed him, and it became my chair. Sometimes we'd swap if DH was feeding him at dinner but it was usually me, with DH helping DD if she needed.

Nobody's sat in a high chair for a good 3 years now, and we all had to squeeze up to get another proper chair in for DS, but we all have our place!

I still remember the day I lost "my seat" in the car (behind the passenger), my Dbro had grown taller than me so I ended up behind my Dad so my Dbro could have the extra leg room.

Sad sad day @Singleandproud 😞

We have our own spaces at the dinging table. I have 5 kids, so it was to stop arguments when they were younger. They had their allocated space and that was it. They are older now and a couple are at uni, so the remaining ones sit where they want.

I don't care what side I'd the bed I sleep on, although I sleep on my own at home so it doesn't matter. When I go to my bf's he has to always sleep on the same side. Even when we go to hotels etc he has to have the same side. Just as well I don't also want to sleep on the same side!

I realise now that we all have our own places at the kitchen table (we each of us picked a colour to paint 'our' chair) but that we don't if we ever eat in the dining room. Very odd.

I remember visiting my Dad at the family home, and having dinner there only to discover that my brother, who lived with him had taken over my place at the table!!

Mum and Dad also had "their" seats in the living room too, Dad was more relaxed about his but anyone skiing in Mums space when she wanted it, had to move. I remember thinking that when I had my pwn home, I wouldn't do that...but do!!

👏👏👏👏👏

@Mrsjayy well I sort of won in the end!

I'm the only one from my childhood family that can drive now so autistic DD always sits next to me in her seat. My Dmum is banned from sitting anywhere but behind me as she's a terrible passenger gasping and squealing when we pass anything and my 6 ft+ Ddad and Dbro have to fight it out for the middle / other back seats.

Doesn’t matter, they can’t even afford food!

This is v cute.

Did you have photos of him in the same position as he grew up?! That would make an excellent birthday card.

Bejesus

The OP knows not everyone has a table, it’s a lighthearted thread about those that do.

Lighten up people.

We all have our own places on the sofa and at the dining table (although tbh it's easier when one's not here so we can be a family of 4 and have more room!!).

I've just realised the anarchy we live in.
We have no spots on the sofa, no assigned seats at the table or in the car now children are out of boosters, I sleep across the whole bed when DH isn't around and use his charger cable, ill drink out of the mug with his initial on....

Oh my god, you're right.

My siblings and I haven't lived at parents home for over 24 years, but we all go to our usual seat, dining room, sofa, car whatever.

You've kinda blown my mind because it's not something we consciously do, it's automatic. We just fall in to where we sat as kids.

I might sit in a different seat the next time I go, and see what happens...........😁

Oh god the bed ones are stressing me out. Nobody uses my pillows!
We do generally sit in the same places at the table but it’s not set in stone. It’s more to keep all the dc separated so they don’t complain that another has breathed on their food etc

Where I sit is determined by who I'm eating with - if it's a meal with DH and both kids then it's one seat, if it's just me and he then it's a different one.

We don't have fixed seats in the living room either.

I have one place for breakfast and then a place for lunch and dinner - not even sure why 😂😂

Is that you, Margot Leadbetter? 😆

Yep same here x

Bejesus

The OP knows not everyone has a table, it’s a lighthearted thread about those that do.

Lighten up people.

The OP was lighthearted, the comment about not having a table wasn't directed at her though, it was to the poster who wrote this.

The sofa thing confused me too! Surely the sofa isn't in the dining room and even if you don't have a separate dining room you'll have a kitchen so you'd sit at the kitchen table to eat, surely???

It's the assumption that everyone lives in a home with a kitchen big enough to fit a table in. Mine is so small if dh was washing up, and I was prepping food on the counter behind him, we'd be arse cheek to arse cheek. I know lots of people who don't have the space for a dining table, or enough counter space in the kitchen for the whole family to eat from.

OP my siblings and I still all have our own place at Mam's table and over time our spouses have their own seats too. It's one of the few things we didn't fight over as a child, where we sat.

Changing the seating at the dinner table completely changes family dynamics and conversation.

We always rotate

OP, growing up my family and I all had our spaces at the dinner table, which was in the kitchen (we also had a dining room, but never used that except when we had extended family over for birthdays/New Year etc.
I've moved back in with my mum with my DD. It's just the 3 of us (sometimes just 2 when DD is with her dad) as my dad passed away a few years ago and my brother has moved out. I now sit where my brother used to sit, my mum sits where my dad used to sit and DD sits between me and my mum in her high chair (it's a round table). My old seat is now used as a dumping ground and mum's old seat is a spare for when my brother comes to visit and he wants his old space back!

Obviously not in a high chair....
😂😂👏

I moved out of my parents house 30 years ago and still have "my" place at the table. My DD moved out 5 years ago and I'll send her a pic if DH eats his meal at "her" seat - she freaks out! (DH's family didn't have their own seats at the table).

I never realised we had set places until one day I sat down at the table and there was uproar!! Apparently I'd sat in DD's seat. I didn't know we all had our own seats.