to think the novelty has worn off after 3 hours

[pinkginandtonic]

Went to brother and sister in laws today for an early Christmas get together. We have just got home.

Had a lovely lunch, a few glasses of wine etc. All good fun and a bit of a laugh.

Then they get out the giant party poppers and before long the meal has descended into a riot with food, napkins etc being thrown across the table.

Now, I find this all quite fun and amusing but this literally goes on for 3 hours. No real conversation just constant throwing of food at one another. I know they all think I am really boring but I just find it very dull and childish for so long.

The brother and sister in law are in their 50's.

Every "do" that involves them always ends up the same way - in the summer the water pistol super soakers come out and that also goes on for 3 hours too.

It's not just at their house but at mine or at parents-in-law.

I have come home feeling like I must be a right old misery, but am I?

That sounds tedious, to be honest, and I would be irritated at food being thrown about.

What?! That sounds crazy.

Yeah they sound like they're just 'not my type of people'. I'd limit contact for my sanity.

No, IMO YANBU, that would do my head in!

They were throwing food at each other? Sounds awful. I wouldn't enjoy the water pistols, either.

I'm a bit of bore, but I wouldn't call that normal 'fun' behaviour.

I'd only ever see them without food being present. Sounds grim.

They sound like real bores.

Why would they throw food?

They sound very tedious.

Good grief.

I remember a thread on here some time time ago about someone's family members who always threw SURPRISE! parties and events, complete with jazz hands as they made the (unwanted) announcement.

They sound like them.

They're idiots who need to grow up. Nobody over the age of 2 should find it acceptable or funny to throw food around.

That's disgusting. What a waste of food.

Who’s cleaning up? I wouldn’t.

Where did throwing food come from, as a thing? Never seen adults do it, never...

Fuck that

Do they have any SNs? Did they attend public school and do nothing of any substance since? It is weird behavour to throw food around somebody's house as an adult (even if that house is theirs).

What?? I'm a bit confused. So, the whole meal takes 3 hours? or you eat your food and then they sit around not really talking and chucking food at each other FOR THREE HOURS??

Thank you so much for the replies, I feel so much better.

Every time this happens my other half talks to me like I'm such a bore. My own family are very steady and I'm sure my other half thinks they are all very dull for actually having conversations and not constantly abusing each other and throwing stuff.

The in laws are quite happy to clear up their own mess and don't seem the slightest bit bothered about the food being thrown across their walls and carpet.

They are the family that "has a laugh" but nobody really "talks" to one another, so big issues get swept under the carpet.

They'd throw food in my house - once

IF you invite them to yours, clearly state beforehand that you want to have a different tradition to family meals and as soon as food's finished, clear all edible and throwable items off the table/out of the room lock them in and play board games.

Never known adults to throw food around - so odd.

mmm, this would definitely prompt me to make remarks about starving children
they need to grow up
Nor would I be exposing children to this behaviour

"sit around not really talking and chucking food at each other FOR THREE HOURS??"

Yep, exactly that.

To be fair, it wasn't just food, it was empty party poppers and the contents of, napkins, christmas crackers, party hats....

A little boy got hit in the face by a party popper at close range, my step daughter got whacked round the face by accident. Nobody seems to mind.

They sound disgusting and common as fuck.

What LEM said - fuck that!

It sounds like an unfunny sitcom.

No special needs and they are ordinary working class, hard working people.