to think it is just not necessary to have a dining table anymore?

[LDNmummy]

Traditionally it has always been the look of a good home to have a dining table, preferably with its own area/ room in a house for family gatherings.

But, with modern life as it is, I just don't think it is necessary to have one anymore, unless of course you genuinely use it at least once a week. But do most families anymore?

I don't know many families who still go through the process of sitting around the dining table every weekend let alone every day, possibly for the fact that it is a little extra effort people are not as formal about anymore and sitting together doesn't have to be around a table but even just in the living room watching the telly together IYSWIM.

Plus, houses are not always big enough to accomodate a large family sized table and some may just feel it isnt worth the hassle to cram one in.

I also think this about the large cabinets that traditionally housed all a households fine dining wear that would come out on special occasions.

Aren't these bulky pieces of furniture that take up lots of space and are rarely used outdated now except with older people?

My MIL has a six seater table in the living room that could easily fit eight diners but is used properly about once a year. Half the reason for that is that it is too big and has to be crammed against a wall so isnt convenient to sit around daily or even weekly anyway. She also has a very large display cabinet full of her best dining wear wich is only used when special guests such as family travelling from abroad are visiting, which is rarely.

She is about 60 and in her eyes these two items of furniture are essential to beautify a home as well as for practical reasons, which IMO is questionable. My DM and all the older women in my family feel the same way.

But isnt this just all outdated and unecessary faff a house can do without in a time when people are no longer as formal when it comes to situations such as dining?

I am now invested in knowing if op and her now 5 year old are planning lung round a table or using trays.

I need to know

We sit at our dining table for every meal! We do occasionally sit in front of the TV but that's the exception in our house. We are getting a breakfast bar in out new kitchen and will probably use that for meals too.

So YABU! Life may be rushed but there is still time to sit for 20 minutes to eat your meals.

I love the idea of family eating every meal at the table together. Ideally that would happen in our house. However, we all tend to eat a different times during the week as we are coming/going from different activities, work, school at different times. There is no time we are all here together.

Breakfast tends to be with our kids at stools on the kitchen island. They eat dinner there too. I tend to sit at the table after they've eaten. Dh comes in later, 9pm, and likes his on a tray on the sofa because he is tired.

We eat dinner together on Sunday's at the dining table or when we have people here.

Saturday's we usually have a takeaway on the sofa.

Nice to have the choice.

We have 3 dining tables in our house and none of them are regularly used for eating. Both of us come from quite controlling families and the whole area of table manners and stuff is anxiety inducing for both of us, so quite happy for the kids and us to eat, in shifts, in front of the telly, to wander about holding pieces of dinner etc. They do know how to sit down for a proper meal though.

Has anyone noticed on the TV programme Eat Well For Less, every time they show the family having a meal it's always at a dining table, and at least 50% of the time it looks like they have never actually eaten dinner at that table? There was a man in the last one I think, eating a chilli baked potato, who looked totally uncomfortable eating his dinner at the dining table. I suppose it's a bit weird with a guy with a big camera on his shoulder standing next to you too though...

Yabu, eating together at the table is very important for children.

Growing up we had a kitchen table and a dining table. Would eat Sunday lunch at the dining table and then at Christmas and when we had guests. Everything else at kitchen table. Also a huge cabinet full of "best" crockery which I can't remember us ever using in case it got broken.

Have to say no-one wanted the dining table or sideboard when it came to clearing her flat. (Table sat 10 going up to 14 at a push.) She would have been really sad about that. Just far too big. Not sure what happened to all her crockery.

Now we have a kitchen table only and only one set of crockery and cutlery. But we can bring in the table from outside and disguise it under a padded cover and tablecloth when we have lots of people (will seat 10 at a push). That's once in a blue moon though so not worth losing the indoor space for.

Aargh a zombie. The zombie alert goes away if you're not the first poster to resurrect it, doesn't it? I find that annoying.

Oh no zombie thread! That took me ages to type 🙁

We eat at our kitchen table every day and Sunday's, when we have guests and special occasions at our dining room table. The only time we would eat in front of the tv is if we're getting a takeaway and fancy watching a film
with it.

YABVU we have a tiny kitchen table, where everything happens, and a bigger dining table in the living room for roasts, visitors etc. We don't have a formal dining room, but if we had the space, all the more lovely. I think it's actually you that's being unreasonable, having your children eat their dinner on the sofa! How bloody uncivilised!

I ve very rarely sat at a dining table to eat a meal.

We had one as a child but we never sat at it as it was full of junk.

I dont have one in my home now as its a new build and far too small for a table.

Im 29 and have eaten my food on my lap in front of the tv all my life.

We have a very small ikea childrens table in the kitchen were dd who is 3 eats her food but its not suitable for an adult to eat at.

I do know alot of people with a dining table but they are only used occasionally and most just eat their tea in the lounge

I exoect that after 5 yrs OP is not expecting a reply!

This is a zombie thread.

We all eat dinner together around the table every day. I think it's important as it means we talk together as a family whereas if we just sat in the front room with the telly on we wouldn't talk to each other.
When we have family or friends around it's great as I just lay out the food on the table and we all just help ourselves and it makes it really sociable.
Nothing formal about it!
It also teaches children table manners.
Sure, having a table is not absolutely essential but I guess for us it is quite important!

Oh shit only saw first page didn't realise it was old.

at people talking to the OP and telling her she is being unreasonable.

We use our table every day. We have a kitchen diner so it has its own area. It is important to use that ds learns table manners and to sit at a table when eating. We also use this time as a family catch up talking about our days etc. I do believe this has helped develop ds' language and listening skills. For me personally I would hate to be sitting on the sofa eating my meals. I find it far more comfortable at a table. We also use the table for arts and crafts.

It all goes to prove that people are so keen to chip in that they don't read anything- it has been said over and over again this morning

IT IS A ZOMBIE THREAD and the question was asked in 2011

Everyone I know either has a dining table or wishes they did.

We've just got one after 18 months without. We could survive without it, obviously, but mealtimes are much more pleasant with it. I can serve different food now there is space for serving dishes, plus people don't have to keep jumping up for second helpings. My youngest doesn't spill her dinner so much (and it would be easier to clear up if she did), and we sit longer chatting afterward.

It is also useful at other times for Lego, drawing, spreading out paperwork, board games, fixing small engines... we are far happier now.

They could at least look at the last few posts!

OP doesn't care what you think about dining tables- she asked us 5 yrs ago

Since it seems a burning question why not start a new one?

We eat around the table unless on rare occasion we get a takeaway then it's on a tray on the sofa. Personally for me if ive spent time cooking dinner I prefer the little effort of eating at a table but if doing different sits better with you then do whatever u feel happy with its your home after all and what suits your family

I started reading at the beginning not the end, zombie thread it is then

We have a smaller round kitchen table that we use for breakfast and most dinnertimes - if we're all home and boyfriends are over etc, we sit in the dining room.
Dinnertimes are when we can all come together as a family and share stories of the day.
Also, we don't have tv's in the rooms where we eat to make sure the kids (and adult kids!) join in the conversation, which in this day and age, I think is important as yes, we are all busy and rushing about!

We have a dining table, we use it almost everyday. Although less often in the holidays and we always have a Sunday dinner. I love sitting around a table with everyone. It don't seem to be as important to my friends though