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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Dh may have finally lost the plot?

79 replies

LumpyMcBentface · 24/09/2016 19:26

He has instigated 'news of the day' time at dinner. So when we've all eaten we have to sit there while he imparts the facts he has learned during the day. So today was the news that Corbyn won, and the fact that turmeric has healing properties. And then we are supposed to have a conversation about it.

Then we all have to say one good thing that has happened today.

Urgh. I just want to get back to MNing and ignoring the children. This is torture.

AIBU?

I might just start needing the loo urgently after dinner or something.

OP posts:
NothingIsOK · 25/09/2016 10:52

We do good thing, bad thing, funny thing. It's lovely and we all enjoy it. So there.

Maireadplastic · 25/09/2016 18:06

Do you like your husband?

Original poster
LumpyMcBentface · 25/09/2016 18:11

I adore him.

In case it wasn't entirely obvious, I was being lightfuckinghearted.

Grin
OP posts:
SooBee61 · 25/09/2016 18:16

I can send you reams of info about knitting if you'd like to inform DH and the kids about.

NeverEverAnythingEver · 25/09/2016 18:20

"I was being lightfuckinghearted."

Grin

We have random conversations. DC are very good at that.

threelittlerapscallions · 25/09/2016 18:24

I love your DHs idea but maybe not news and turmeric but stuff about best part of the day - I would';t mind chatting about turmeric though I am a very chatty type. Others do tell me to shut up though so your DH should realise not everyone wants to talk!!

80schild · 25/09/2016 18:26

I think it's quite sweet. Personally, I find it really hard with my kids to get much sense out of them so I end up asking them about the same stuff all the time. He has given me inspiration.

carabos · 25/09/2016 18:36

My DH is a bit like this, but unwittingly. He'll pick up on a news story, say Oscar Pistorius, and worry at it like a dog with a bone for days. He'll regale me with the latest update on whatever it is until the news cycle moves on. It's become known as "story of the week" in our house. What's bizarre about it is that it might be Pistorius one week, then the price of fish the next.

Maireadplastic · 25/09/2016 18:44

'I adore him....'etc

Sorry, I read it as contemptuous not light-hearted. My mistake.

Huppopapa · 25/09/2016 19:25

The idea is a good one, but the execution sucks.
The best conversations involve people with opposing points of view trying to understand the other's. Either one discovers one was wrong - which is joyful - or one gets a better understanding of why one failed to communicate the strengths of ones opinion - which is useful.
It follows that rather than choosing the subject of conversation and expecting everyone else to adopt it, he should use his greater knowledge and (one hopes) social aptitude to ask questions of the others at the table to tease out the thinking behind their views or opinions. The children should gain in confidence in being able to think about thinking and to express themselves. And he will learn a lot more about them.
I fully expect to be flamed for this, so carry on. Grin

JeSuisUnChocoholic · 25/09/2016 19:25

Read him ALL of www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2730334-why-isn-t-infant-circumcision-called-mgm. Almost 1000 posts.

Phalenopsisgirl · 25/09/2016 19:29

Hehe, this is crazy, at this rate they'll grow into interesting knowledgable adults who want to do stuff like continue into further education which will end up costing you a bloody fortune supporting them. Money that could and should be spent on Jaffa cakes and maltesers!

Phalenopsisgirl · 25/09/2016 19:30

And handbags!

LadyMoth · 25/09/2016 19:34

OK it's lighthearted, but why does he get to decide you all do this? Just say no! Or tell him you've decided you all have to do a silly dance and make brontosaurus noises instead. If he objects point out you have as much right as he does to instigate a random family event with no consultation.

CauliflowerBalti · 25/09/2016 19:59

Ha! I am your DH.

I make everyone eat at the table and put down their devices, the TV goes off and we all have to say the best and worst thing about our days.

It's literally the only time we talk to each other.

jayne1976 · 25/09/2016 20:05

Think he might be trying to show an interest in his family / find out what's going on with them. If he wasn't intestested he would have been better staying single and shovelling food into his face whilst watching Simpsons on his own.

LucyFuckingPevensie · 25/09/2016 20:06

I quite like the idea of news of the day too Grin
We always do "favourite part of the day" which is a family tradition now. It only takes a few minuets and then we can carry on talking bollox.

Leanin15yearsmaybe · 25/09/2016 20:10

Not quite in your dh's league but I ban electricals at the table and try to promote face to face conversation. However, with ds2 having asked me 87,162 questions about tsunamis and tornados tonight (most of which I managed to blag answer) I am considering allowing their iPads over dinner tomorrow Hmm

jayne1976 · 25/09/2016 20:17

My mind boggles how people think it normal, table manners (and I'm no gestapo when it comes to kids spilling and making a mess)!to tap at devices whilst at the same time trying to eat, and not communicate with the people you're sat at the table with. I hope you wouldn't do it with your friends, but would prefer to ignore your kids, who will think this is normal and eventually behave like this with their friends because this is the behaviour they know. They will go out for a meal with friends and spend their evening texting someone else! Assuming for most of the night you wouldn't do it to your friends why would you do it to your family? Teenagers are increasingly unable to communicate verbally -there's a reason! Perhaps not enforced news of the day, but actually try enjoy a bit of time together or why did you bother!

robinia · 25/09/2016 21:00

Yeah - in a not so regimented way, we do have conversations like this. Not every day, but I'll often mention something I've read in a newspaper. Yesterday it was a report that was headlined - being very irritated by the sound of noisy eaters could be a sign of genius(!) - chosen because ds2 keeps on complaining about ds4!
We also talk about our day, or about other people etc.
Don't often allow phones etc. at the table but do occasionally have newspapers (or books for youngest ds.) And again, will often mention things from it.
The thing is, if you're not used to conversing at the table, being a bit more formal about it is a way of getting conversations going. On the other hand , if you are already quite conversationable I can see it might feel like a bit more of an imposition. Maybe suggest dh is not quite so 'headmasterish' about it.

seriouslynoidea · 03/10/2016 19:28

Saw the other post, assuming I have it right and it is u, news of the day for discussion can be the poo in the bushes by yr 5yo dc!

Mittensonastring · 03/10/2016 19:38

Talk about something that makes him squirm.

Weird diseases, pus, spiders that kind of thing, unless he likes that kind of stuff.

HereIAm20 · 03/10/2016 19:52

Buy him this for Christmas Grin

www.amazon.co.uk/TableTopics-TT-0114-A-Dinner-Party/dp/B002FYGNF0

MaQueen · 03/10/2016 19:55

We don't have gadgets at the dinner table, but neither do we have a laminated conversation agenda either.

We just exchange any news or gossip we have for that day, for about 20 minutes. We usually get to hear a bit too much about 'Why Mrs X is soooooo unfair to me in Physics' ....and we all dread when DH gets a new gadget and excitedly regales us about its myriad wonders.

user1471524661 · 03/10/2016 20:05

Aw, bless him. A pain when you are tired, maybe, but I think he has a good idea there. I would love if my DP came up with those sorts of things to talk about. He sounds like a keeper.