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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's not a big deal to sit in front of the TV with my tea most nights?!

125 replies

Teddy7878 · 14/07/2017 16:52

Got into a debate with some colleagues at work today who ALL said it was all really 'chavvy' to eat your tea on your knee in front of the TV.
First of all - I hate the word 'chavvy'!
And second of all - I do this most nights and really don't see what the big deal is. My partner and I still find plenty of time to catch up with each other during the evenings such as when we're cooking or when we're in bed.
One of my particularly bitchy colleagues had the front to also say that couples who don't sit at the table together to eat are most likely the ones who are bored of each other and will eventually end up splitting up.
AIBU to think she's being ridiculous?

OP posts:
Bigbiscuits · 14/07/2017 16:54

It's not for me.

But each to his own

metalmum15 · 14/07/2017 16:58

What a load of shit. Dh & I ate our dinner on our knees every night for the first 4 years of our relationship until we finally got a dining table to eat at. That was 15 years ago and we're still together and happily married. (Although meals are now eaten at the table with dc 😉 )

LaurieFairyCake · 14/07/2017 16:59

I also do it every night and it's my favourite thing after 19 years of sitting at a table supervising, cajoling, teaching children how to make conversation.

When you've got rid of your rugrats you will discover the utter bliss of sitting in your pants eating whatever you fucking fancy that night, even if it's a plate of cheese and tomatoes.

19 years of sitting at a table, I'm done Grin
Added to which my kitchen is 27 degrees all the time, too warm to eat in right now.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 14/07/2017 16:59

I wouldn't approve of it with dc.

No dc, your choice

And yes, 'chavvy' is a horrible, snobby and unnecessary word.

Tilapia · 14/07/2017 16:59

I do sort of agree with your colleagues. But I'd never be so rude as to tell someone that!

Dumbledoresgirl · 14/07/2017 17:02

Yep, I'm with Laurie, except I'm not as all my rugrats are still at home, or are currently as they are back from uni. But when they have left home, I will definitely go back to eating dinner on a tray in front of the tv if I am home alone or with dh. I have sat with my kids at a table, all eating together, for the last 21 years. I am due a break.

RatherBeRiding · 14/07/2017 17:04

Of course it's not a big deal! And it's not "chavvy" either.

I can't wait to leap on the sofa in my dressing gown after a long day, put my feet up, eat my tea off my lap and blob out for an hour or so.

Each to their own.

WorraLiberty · 14/07/2017 17:04

She sounds like an idiot to be honest.

I hate eating dinner/tea on my lap, because for some reason I find it difficult to digest.

But then again, we're lucky enough to have space for a dining table. Many homes around here just couldn't fit one, even if it did fold up and some of the kitchens are tiny.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 14/07/2017 17:04

I don't like it on a tray in my lap, but DH and I do like it on a little table so we can sit on the sofa and watch tv while we eat Grin

MrsHouseBrownie · 14/07/2017 17:05

17 years of dinner on our laps, we aren't bored, talk about everything and have a really happy relationship!. We have a dining table, but it only gets used at weekends. I think people who comment on others relationships are generally the ones who are unhappy in theirs. Eat up OP, what's for dinner tonight? I'll be having pasta with a side helping of The Loch on catch up Smile

Notknownatthisaddress · 14/07/2017 17:06

What a ludicrous snobby cow your work colleague is.

It's a wonder she hadn't chastised you for saying 'tea' too! Some people call people common for doing that! It's regional though.

We tend to sometimes eat at the table (if it's a big-ish meal like a roast with bowls of potatoes and sprouts and peas and so on, or a takeaway,) but if it's just something small, like pizza, or pasta, or a bowl of chicken salad, we eat in our armchairs in front of 'The Chase.'

And to say couples will split if they don't eat together at the table is the biggest load of wanky bollocks I have ever heard.

Shame you didn't have the courage to say 'fuck off, you're talking shit you silly cunt.'

I wouldn't have had the courage either and would just have seethed and stewed and moaned on mumsnet!

LaurieFairyCake · 14/07/2017 17:07

What's The Loch like? I haven't seen it yet? Is it crime?

Leonardo44 · 14/07/2017 17:07

We must be really chavvy then as we didn't even own a dining table until just over a year ago - we did draw the line at a TV dinner with a 2 and 6 month old Grin

Original poster
Teddy7878 · 14/07/2017 17:07

@ratherberiding this is exactly my plan for this evening!
We don't have any children yet, and maybe when we do I'd be more inclined to sit at the table to eat. But to say that my partner and I must be bored of each other and will eventually split up because we enjoy zoning out after stressful days for an hour or two with our dinner on our laps really riled me up

OP posts:
Elmo230885 · 14/07/2017 17:08

We currently don't have a dining table and TBH I doubt we would use one if we did. We have a 3 month old DD and are moving soon to a bigger home, we will get a dining table and when she is eating/weaning we will all sit together.

Winterc00kie · 14/07/2017 17:09

I like to sit and eat my food in front of a tv with family as after years of eating disorders I find i can take my time and it takes pressure off eating in front of people.

MumsOnCrack · 14/07/2017 17:09

I have one DD but our house could fit either a dining table or a freezer and a tumble dryer...I've chosen the latter

Leonardo44 · 14/07/2017 17:09

I don't get it when people comment on speaking about your day etc. as if that can't be done in front of the TV. Obviously others just aren't as efficient as is Wink

Original poster
Teddy7878 · 14/07/2017 17:10

Sod her! I'm going to cook up some yummy sausages from the butchers with some mash, green beans and onion gravy for us to sit on our laps in front of Piers Morgan's Killer Women.
I definitely stood my corner when the silly cow was preaching at me and looking down her nose at me. But what annoyed me was that everyone else who was there at the time all backed her and said they'd NEVER eat in front of the telly 😑😑😑

OP posts:
ItsNachoCheese · 14/07/2017 17:10

I eat my dinner in front of the telly but i dont have anywhere to put a dining table as no dining room or big enough living room. My ds has a wee table and chairs he sits at though

MumsOnCrack · 14/07/2017 17:10

DD has a high chair with a tray. We don't always have the TV on though.

Original poster
Teddy7878 · 14/07/2017 17:11

I like to save using the dining table for special occasions like Christmas, birthdays or Sunday roasts. Makes it feel more special for me that way

OP posts:
gluteustothemaximus · 14/07/2017 17:11

No room for a dinner table here.

We manage, and still have conversations as a family Grin

It's not all or nothing Confused

They sound very judgey pants. As if not sitting at the dinner table is a prerequisite to divorce Hmm

ItsNachoCheese · 14/07/2017 17:12

I eat my dinner from a table on xmas day and new years day at my mum and dads 😂

WritingHome · 14/07/2017 17:15

We have a kitchen table in the middle of our kitchen with lots of room all round for us all to sit but 4 nights out of 5 we like to eat our dinner on trays watching tv and dd and I love following master chef and say yes to the dress.

It is lovely relaxing down time for us all.

Equally we also set the table nicely and sit around with wine for the grown up and chat over a meal.

It's all good imo and dd is fine and sociable and has nice table manners at nearly 12...

Dh and I are together 17 years and have no plans to split up!!!

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