... to wonder where in the hell the napkins are?

[Snuffalo]

Had dinner at a friend's house last night, food was great, but not a napkin in site. Not even a scrap of kitchen roll. Every meal at my MILs is the same.
We use cloth napkins at our house - we all leave them at our place at the table and use them for a couple of days, and just chuck them in with the tea towels to wash and grab a fresh one when we need to. Obviously freshly washed ones for everyone when we have guests.
I feel really awkward eating without a napkin in my lap. I rarely actually use it but when I need it, it's there. Am I the weird one or are the napkin-free people the weird ones?

I very rarely use napkins but I do have paper ones on the table in case they are required.

We only put napkins/serviettes out if it's a special meal, otherwise we grab a bit of kitchen roll if needed. Sometimes we even use cutlery.

"Use them for a couple of days" before you wash them?!

YANBU at all. I would like to come to dinner at your house!

I would love to insist on cloth napkins. I may or may not have a personal napkin ring from my childhood I would love to use without my DH and DC taking the piss mercilessly (My DH and DC would eat with their hands in front of the TV, a tablecloth on the table seems a happy compromise between our two positions )

Having said that I am actually eating cake in bed wearing my nightie

not my DH or DC, are you?

Bit minging to re-use them. I never use a napkin at home really.

I used to give out (very nicely folded mind) kitchen role. However, since meeting my dh who doesn't seem to know what to do with a serviette (in restaurants he just shoves it the side) I've given up. I put them out at Christmas but I'm the only person that uses the damned things.

Roll* ruddy autocorrect.

I enjoy and need them in indian restaurants, but just use kitchen roll at home.

I use napkins but I don't think I'd care to wipe my mouth with a dirty one from the previous day.

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles Don't think I'm your DH or DC, but hey, I'm still hungover from last night so who knows?

I don't use them at home, sometimes paper ones but very rarely or festive ones at Christmas.

No napkins in my house, I don't remember the last time I dropped my dinner down myself or didn't use cutlery for food which would make a mess without.

I don't understand this. How is it 'minging' to reuse an essentially clean napkin, and yet perfectly acceptable to not use one at all?

We do the same as you, OP...

I've got some nice large linen ones.
I've cut them in half corner to corner and backed them with some old flannelette sheeting and keep them in a pile near wear I sit.
I live alone and never sit at the table to eat when alone. The flannelette is much nicer to wipe my mouth on and they go in the wash daily or every other day depending how they have been used. Occasionally I'll use 2 in a day. I've got 12 so never run out and if anyone is coming to dinner I make sure I have enough clean ones

I use a napkin when I go to a coffee shop and have a muffin with my coffee because my hands get dirty. At home I use cutlery so have no reason for napkins.

If we actually get food on the cloth napkins, they go in the wash. If, as happens most meals, they are just there for insurance in our laps (kids are older teenagers now so not flinging food around and rubbing it in their hair) why waste water and electricity to wash them?

Anyway, kitchen roll would suit me fine if that's what I was offered. It's just the concept of having NOTHING at the table to wipe your face or hands if needed that stresses me out. To me, having a napkin of some description is just part of the table setting, along with the cutlery and I wouldn't serve food without putting them on the table. Takes all sorts I guess.

I honestly can't remember the last time I spilled food on myself

I don't need to wipe my hands or mouth when I eat usually.

So you sat feeling awkward, eating a meal rather than ask for a piece of kitchen roll?

The concept of napkins really gives me the heebie jeebies for some reason. It reminds me of primary school where we had to have napkins and they weren't washed all week...

With you on this OP.

Cloth comes out for Christmas. Otherwise I have paper napkins near the table when it is just DH, DD and me, so if one is required we can grap it.

When we have guests I put paper napkins on the table.

I love AIBU.

Don't people sometimes want to wipe their mouth or their fingers after eating, say, garlic bread? It's not just about the hand-mouth coordination (although mine is sadly lacking, to be fair)

Mwah hahahahaha I literally just typed that and then dropped my phone on my face

they are in the back of THAT cupboard. behind the 3 bottles of shoe impregnation spray and 5 bottles of oven cleaner