Eating takeaway pizza at the table

[Dogonthephone]

Dd, 7 and her friend have had a brilliant afternoon-swimming in the pool, playing with toys, painting and so on. Dd asked if we could have takeaway pizza for dinner. Dh went to pick it up, the kids got dry and put a film on, comfy on the sofa. They were laughing having lots of fun and excited when the pizza arrived.
Dh then said to come and sit at the dining table to eat it, instead of sat on the sofa continuing their film. He then proceeded to tell Dd to eat properly and not rush, talk with her mouth full
and on and on. Brought the whole fun mood down.

Aibu to think the whole point of getting takeaway pizza is to eat it on your lap watching something and to relax?

I was in the loo, came back and he’d set it up on the table and was saying for them to sit down

Okay… but how much “setting up” was involved? Just tell him they won’t be sitting down, they’re staying where they are 🤷‍♀️

In this situation I would have given them a pizza picnic on the floor in front of the tv, with a rug or similar down to protect the carpet, which is still fun but protects my sofa!

I’m all for sitting around the table and learning table manners but occasionally you need to just chill out and when it’s a special treat and not the norm kids love it.

My two are in their mid twenties now with lovely manners so the odd picnic tea never hurt them.

Well the OP had expected the kids to eat pizza on the sofa so it obvs wasn't a rule she was aware of/agreed to. Don't you think it would be a better way to parent to discuss and agree on house rules privately rather than disagree in front to the kids?

this "Oh you needn't have done that, its pizza picnic night"

You can still share a meal together if you’re not eating at a table.

Please don’t say he took plates and cutlery out too?

Why did having kids stop you eating on the sofa?

I'm surprised at all those who eat takeaway pizza at table! Definitely sit and eat in Lounge whilst watching a movie here!!

We always eat at the table, no exceptions, breakfast, dinner and tea. Kids would have food everywhere otherwise.
We do have snacks in front of a film though.

I also think teaching kids table manners and how to eat nicely is really important regardless of what you're eating.

We eat some other meals at the table and eat out regularly. Eating pizza or dinner etc on the sofa doesn’t mean they don’t have manners once at the table

We eat the table, although in that circumstance, I would have allowed it.

Started having some family meals at the table - still do some on the sofa just not all

Usually have the kids and friends eating at table but if they're settled and happy on sofa it's fine now and then.

They have blankets over them which usually need to washed anyway by that point.

Basically you’re objecting to your partner teaching your child manners. What a terrible parent you are.

They should be eating at the table.

It's better for your digestion to sit up properly.

It helps prevent over eating to concentrate on your food, if you are distracted by a film you eat more.

Importantly it also encourages social interaction and develops conversational skills. Kids are on electronics of one sort or another these days far too much.

This totally agree, you eat at a table not on your lap on the sofa.

I'm with you on this op, when my granddaughter stays we have movie nights pizza popcorn we dont sit at the table we get cosy and relax.
Life is a mix of a time for eating at the table and then relaxed nights when you don't.
Being so rigid or strict isnt good parenting in my eyes ... he needs to loosen up a bit.

Utter buzz kill, it is the holidays

You can eat from your sofa but it's hardly a good example to your DC, table manners matter, l don't want my DC to behave like animals.

You do realise it’s not an either /or situation and that there’s a time and place for most things , right?

😂😂😂

I missed the bit whete OP said she just checked food in a trough in the middle of the room and had them fight over it.

Understanding the difference between a treat and normal behaviour is an important lesson. As is knowing how to behave in public.

Very occasionally allowing a sofa meal will not effect their education or health or manners.

Surprised no-one has said this, but to me it's not really about where the meal was eaten it's about how he went about it.
You can pause the movie and get kids to the table in an enthusiastic (fun) way, and mildly correct poor eating habits without sucking all the joy out of the situation

We eat at the table. There's no food allowed on the sofa except maybe popcorn