If you've called dinner... How long will you wait for people before starting to eat?

[tnorfotkcab]

So... DH was moaning that we hadn't waited for him at dinner.
He was working in his car, gave him a 10 minute warning, he said "ok" and was doing something like changing a sensor - not dirty, could be left half way through etc... DD called to him again once DS was putting dishes on table. He shouted "yeah, ok".
We then had a minute or two and put all dishes out, DD had set table, I got drinks, salt and pepper etc.

We all sat down and waited a few minutes... DH nowhere to be seen so we started helping ourselves.

DH turns up maybe 10 minutes after we sat down and moaned we hadn't waited for him...! Cheeky fucker.

So anyway, how long do you usually wait for everyone to get to the table?

I don't really, DH has a habit of walking off upstairs or outside after I've said dinners nearly ready. He WFH and works in the evening too so sometimes he disappears off for a meeting without telling me, so I cook to my time and eat when it's ready and he can sort himself out when he's ready. He's never complained about it

@mumda you’ve made me laugh out loud. Thanks 🤩

I wouldn’t wait - I’d dish up and let it get cold.
Dh is usually very prompt, but yesterday he asked whether he had 5 mins to go and speak to a neighbour.
Dinner was still at least 15 mins off so I said yes OK.
But still had to go and call ‘You said five minutes! Dinner is ready!’

House gets a rough idea of diner time, then 10-15mn warning, then called when I bring the dishes to the table. We don't wait.

I don’t wait at all.
If I’m going to the effort of planning, shopping and preparing a meal, I expect everyone to show enough respect to be there when the food is being served up. Getting all the food ready so that all the separate components are ready and hot at the same time doesn’t happen by accident, and a luke warm, slightly congealed plate of food is a waste of my time.
I discuss with the family what time works for everyone in terms of finishing work/ planned activities , they know when I start cooking, they have another warning about 5 mins before it’s ready, and I expect them to be there when it’s being served. I actually think it’s on them to make themselves available at the right the right time, and I don’t like having to repeatedly call them to the table.

Generally call dinner in 5 or 10, but when teenagers were peak selective deafness also rang a bunch of cowbells.

Argh mine does this and it pisses me right off but I basically decided I can't say anything because he does 100% of the housework. I try to clean up a bit as I go now so the only thing he washes up is the last thing I used before plating up. Tbf maybe that's why he did it, do get me trained! 😂

Whoever is cooking lets people know dinner is done a couple of minutes before it’s on the table. If anyone isn’t there when it’s put on the table, others carry on and eat. I wouldn’t be annoyed by someone coming later, but they don’t get to delay everyone else.

Two mins max. But people usually have an idea in advance of when it will be ready.

I’d find someone going to wash up when dinner’s on the table incredibly rude and strange. Eating together is a social activity. That person thinking their personal cleaning hang-ups are more important than spending time with their family is behaving horribly.

It takes me about 2 minutes to wash up a couple of pots and utensils, or at least get them in to soak then I can join the table missing only a fraction of the time it takes to eat dinner.

Our table is in the kitchen so it's far nicer eating with cooking stuff already washed up or at least in fresh soapy water than piled up dirty.

Why would you not just call dinner after the washing up?

I'm not the cook.

I don’t wait. I think family meals are over rated unless it’s a special occasion and if I can eat in peace for a few minutes, great! Caveat: older teens/ young adults with busy schedules who can fend for themselves

Why was he even bothered, presumably there was still food left. He made the choice to keep working on the car, he can't expect everyone to wait for him and their food to go cold.

I wouldn't have waited as long as you.

My family know it takes about 10 mins from me calling them for everything to be ready. When my DH makes dinner he calls much earlier, but then they know he's giving too much warning and still end up just in time.

We don't really do formal sit down meals. Everyone is at such different life stages and we have a range of dietary needs in the family too. It's pretty much a constant round of someone wanting/making food. But we're all fed.

I wouldn't wait. 10 minute warning if anyone is busy, followed by last-call when dishing up then I'm eating straight away.

I only waited 2 minutes really.

We don't wait you get called once why dishing up and again when it's actually ready after that it's on them. I'm not letting my food go cold because of someone else's actions. I just couldn't imagine sitting in my own home with food infront of me and staring at it.

So strange

He got a warning, 2 mins wait sounds fine but it’s not Christmas dinner, just food.. no need to wait

I call once and then put a message on the family group chat.

I then sit down and eat with whoever turns up.

If they can't be bothered to get off their computer/stop what they're doing then they can eat cold food.

Your DH is basically saying he is so important that you must all eat cold food whilst he takes his own sweet time turning up - not in my house!!!

DH cooks I don’t expect him to wait at all.

Seems impolite to start eating whilst others are just coming over etc.

Eh, I’m agreeing with you 🤣 you waited long enough

It seems more impoilte to make everyone else wait for no good reason! Why is he more important than you?