DH is so picky at mealtimes with the kids.

[Fedupbeyondbelief]

Am getting very fed up. DH is very picky with the kids at mealtimes. They are 9 and 7 and he is always going on at them to sit up, hold their cutlery properly, elbows off the table, cut their food, eat up etc etc. I find mealtimes very stressy now and try and get them to eat at different times to him. Weekends are worst. Sometimes I feel like getting up from the table and eating in the kitchen. They are not bad but this is getting me down.

father was like this at mealtimes and it stressed my mother so much that she resorted to me having my meal in the kitchen on my own. (only child).

That is very tyzer2001

Ahh sorry i tried to copy & paste that line - not sure why it turned into a link

Well said, Inertia. Why can't I write sensibly like you? You've summed it up brilliantly.

I have a real phobia about other peoples eating noises. I cannot stand to hear them crunching food, slurping, or clacking away on sweets... it actually makes me feel physically sick.

Even when it is on the tv it makes me shudder.

I am fine so long as there is a bit of background noise while we are eating to drown it out, but no way could we sit and eat a meal in silence apart from the sound of eating noises.

I accept that I am a bit odd though..

Thanks all for your views and comments. I will have a chat with DH this evening and agree on a consistent, united approach to table manners that will make mealtimes and enjoyable family experience.

So, then sqeakytoy, you won't like me slurping up my spaghetti with a trumpet? Stops getting sauce on your shirt.......god, i'm behaving like an idiot again.................must be more like Inertia....must be more like Inertia............must be more like Inertia (no, i'm not being sarcastic. Fedup, I hope you read Inertia's post, that's sound advice. (slopes off to do some sensible tidying up in the house....muttering to herself.......)

Does anyone know why it's rude to have your elbows on the table?

Fedup - you seem to have a much more rational approach to resolving the issue than your DH does . Would you consider including your children in the discussion ? A mutually agreed table manifesto might stand a better chance of success.

Oprahfan - now I'm getting paranoid that I'm coming across as preachy! And also feeling guilty that I should be doing some cleaning too.

my dsd aged 9 and 7 eat like animals at the table, mouths open, stuffing food in so they can hardly chew, eat with thier fingers yes even things like beans, spagetti bolognaise is picked up and eaten with thier hands, its nauseating and dp and I have to remind them at every meal not to eat like it, yes we nag but they need to learn

Inertia, not at all, please believe me(it's very hard to come across sincere and genuine over a message board)

I think you are spot on, Fedup isn't alone, it's going on in this household too. Put simply, I admire your writing and approach. I suspect there will be 2 happier households at dinner-time in this country over the next few nights!!!!!!!!!! What you said was very helpful, and i mean that form the bottom of my heart!!!!!!!!!!!xxxxxxxxxx