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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

BattleaxeGalactica · 14/07/2017 19:02

The only time we sit at table to eat is if we're out or it's Christmas.

Embrace your inner peasant, OP. It's very freeing

tigercub50 · 14/07/2017 19:03

We don't eat together very much as a family. DD8 tends to get hungry a lot earlier than we do, especially if she's had packed lunch at school, and some days she'll have tea at around 4.30. DH can often get home after 8 so I will eat with him & it's always on our laps. He was brought up to eat rather than talk but we have a bit of a chat. Sundays we eat round the table & on special occasions or if my folks come for a meal etc.

Coffeetasteslikeshit · 14/07/2017 19:12

You should have rolled your eyes, given a wry smile and said, ok Hyacinth, any other top tips from the Daily Mail for me?

Seriously though. Ignore her, people who feel the need to put down your choices like that tend to be insecure in their own choices. Plus she's just plain mean.

Caprianna · 14/07/2017 19:18

I love eating my dinner in the sofa. I do have a table. I am not chavvy and I am not overweight. I will eat my dinner hanging from the chandelier if I like. I own a dining table and a dining room but we only use it when we have our candlelight suppers

HerBluebiro · 14/07/2017 19:22

I still remember the joy of moving from eating at the table to eating in front of the TV in my teens. It was brilliant!

Now, of course I make my dc easy around the table. We have family breakfast time (only 1 person has a deadline to leave home in the morning atm). And lunch whoever is available. And whoever eats dinner with the dc eats at the table.

But tonight we will have burger and salad on the sofa. Watching telly. At least we will if dc ever go to bloody sleep.

HerBluebiro · 14/07/2017 19:23

Ps 15 years so far. Who knows. We might get bored of each other soon.

IWantACheeseburger · 14/07/2017 19:25

The DC eat dinner at 5, we eat once they've gone to bed about 8 and we always eat on the sofa on our knees.
We plan to eat together once the kids are older and have a later dinner time but I will miss eating on the sofa!

bambi2908 · 14/07/2017 19:29

We don't even have a dining room so I guess DH and I are screwed

Ragwort · 14/07/2017 19:34

DH and I sit at the table to eat all our meals - but we don't have much conversation so I don't think it necessarily means you talk me if you are at the table .

I find it hard to concentrate on eating and watching tv at the same time for some reason, although if I am on my own I might eat a sandwich or something simple in front of the tv.

SingaSong12 · 14/07/2017 19:35

I hate the word chavvy. I'd like to see OPs colleagues decide what category I fit into. I live alone and always watch TV or listen to the radio while eating dinner. Sometimes I'm on the sofa, but also have a dining table, where I eat mainly depends on whether the food is messy.

ittakes2 · 14/07/2017 20:17

My hubby and I love sitting next to each other on the sofa eating dinner off a smallish table. Although we watch Tv, we spend the whole time chatting and it's one of my favourite parts of my day.

Ragwort · 14/07/2017 20:20

It must be nice if you like watching same tv as your DH/DP - my DH and I have polar opposite tastes in tv viewing - I think there is one programme a week that we both watch together .

MommaGee · 14/07/2017 20:23

Teddy7878 not only do we do this but we record specific shows for the purpose. Escape To The Country, Pointless and Come Dine. We talk through them and about them.

minionsrule · 14/07/2017 20:29

Another one who has ds who eats early and me and dh eat late so yes on our knees in front of the telly. We also like the same programmes, usually watch a good BBC or ITV drama series whilst eating.
13 years and still going strong. We have our chats with a glass of wine in the kitchen before tea (yes I call it tea as well).
Its our routine and we both like it so stuff anyone who says its chavvy

MysweetAudrina · 14/07/2017 20:30

Always eat dinner at the kitchen table. Would hate having a tv or radio on while eating. Would find it annoying to eat from the couch would probably need to hop up a few times to get a drink or mayo or salt or butter or a knife or something i forgot. Don't like the idea of eating off my lap or having to get up to clean the dishes. I like to eat and talk at the table, clear up, have a cup of tea and then perhaps go sit on the couch.

minionsrule · 14/07/2017 20:35

Oh and your work colleagues would really hate me even more on Saturday nights as ds goes to bed late so we all have a takeaway treat in front of the telly, ds has his on a table in front of him whilst we watch trashy telly like X Factor or BGT - please tell them this and see if they faint

Dancinginthemidnight · 14/07/2017 20:35

I love eating on the sofa. I do 4/5 nights a week after the toddler is in bed. I get home from work just in time to do bedtime then have my dinner that Dp has cooked. Its great eating in peace. Tonight we all sat at the table because I was off work.

RhubardGin · 14/07/2017 20:47

BattleaxeGalactica

High five!

We are exactly the same 😂

agentdaisy · 14/07/2017 21:12

Your colleague would hate me too op. We always eat in front of the TV as we don't have anywhere other than the sofa to eat dinner and the TV is always on to drown out the sound of eating as I have misophonia.

There isn't space for even a folding dining table either in the living room or kitchen so we have no choice. We only ever eat together as a family at the weekend as the dcs eat at 5pm and dh and I eat at 8pm when he's home from work. We only eat at a table if we go to the in laws or out to eat.

Despite this we have plenty to talk about and the dcs have brilliant table manners and are perfectly capable of sitting nicely at a table to eat.

Ignore your ridiculous colleague op. She's clearly pulled her judgy pants up too far.

MeltorPeltor · 14/07/2017 21:15

Sadly being a naturally clumsy person I hate eating sat on the sofa, either myself or the sofa get covered. Plus sitting at the table is better for my digestion and it's wipe clean and I can't make eye contact with the dog (apart from when we had a glass table which confused the fuck out if him when he was tiny).

I don't really mind where other people eat but I'd feel terribly uncomfortable if I was expected to eat off my lap at someone else's house!

MeltorPeltor · 14/07/2017 21:16

(When we moved into our first flat we didn't have a table for a few weeks so we used to eat supper off the top of a blanket covered dog cage whilst sat on the sofa. Classy :D)

Gotanewusernamenow · 14/07/2017 21:32

It's nobody's business!

Why are they even having a debate on it!?
Is it against the law to have your meal on your lap!?

Is there a book with rules on how you should live in your own house!?

Pathetic.

Frillyhorseyknickers · 14/07/2017 21:41

It's a bit grotty for me, but it's not an indicator of your relationship!

Turisas · 15/07/2017 00:09

My table is in my living room, so I sit at a table and watch TV. What does that make me?

Original poster

Teddy7878 · 15/07/2017 07:07

Thanks for all the replies, glad to see that I'm not some obscure weirdo for enjoying eating off my lap in front of the TV.
Told my DP last night about what she said and how we are apparently going to eventually split up because of it. He thought it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard!

OP posts:

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