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?

We eat all our meals at the table. I don't see how eating pizza on the sofa is "fun".

@Dogonthephone takeaway doesn’t mean eat on the sofa it means a treat and/or not cooking.

Id have sat the girls on the floor with a towel and napkins . I’d also have gave her a night of from the manners lecture or maybe just said it once.

I don't understand how, if eating at the table is designed to teach them how to eat nicely, they still can't be trusted not to get a slice of pizza 'everywhere' if they ate it on the sofa?

Absolutely! Sure eat at the table on a normal night if that’s what you do, but having a friend and watching a movie and you relax a bit! I remember taking DD and three of her friends out trick o treating and it was Bake-off final the same night. They came back all lit up and excited about their sweets but also about the final (they were 8/9). Pizza ordered they settled fíen and had a fun rest of the evening. Can you imagine if I’d stop the show and I insisted they all sit at the table? Loosen up, pops.

We’ve always eaten all meals at the table, but we’ve got a tv in the dining room so it wouldn’t be a problem if we wanted to watch a film whilst eating.

We never eat at the table. I have a leather sofa and trays that we use.

Floor picnic with a tablecloth or blanket is the right answer. And definitely not worth mentioning manners. Nothing wrong with going to the table as long as it stays casual too.

I wouldn’t want people eating pizza while sitting on my leather sofa. Maybe I would have allowed kneeing on the floor and using the coffee table.
Don’t worry they have probably forgotten it by now, just remind your DD about the good points and never talk about what you think was the worst moment in front of her,

Wow, I hadn't realised how relaxed I am about sofa eating. I hadn't actually realised there are people who only eat at the dining table 'no exceptions" 😑

100% team sofa, or even better, floor picnic. Those are the special things that make it unique and memorable (in a good way) and of course it is fun for 7 year olds to do that. Sometimes I think there are parents out there who've never met a kid.

From a lot of these comments you'd think eating a pizza on the sofa was a gateway to crack cocaine. And I expect the ones clutching their pearls about mess have still got the plastic covers on the sofa anyway. We allow food in the lounge in this sort of situation no problem; my sofa is not a biohazard and my kids are not moral degenerates - it really is OK.

We are very much an "eat at the table" family.
That is all meals. We chat and catch up and all enjoy it-nice family time.

Except takeaway pizza at a sleep over. I think I would have put down a picnic blanket or something similar and let them eat it on the floor.

We have a long life of being a grown up and those happy summer treats stick out in a childs mind.

And OP wasn’t there when he asked them to go to the table so is entirely inventing that he did it in a bad way to sway votes

I always eat at the table even if the rest of the family is out and I'm on my own. I get it's a personal thing but I think family mealtimes are important. However, the constant nagging and correction of your child in front of guests is poor form. I'd tell him not to do it again as it's quite as rude as (checks notes) just being a child. If he wants to eat formally he should also learn to value hospitality and decorum.

With hindsight, should have set out parameters ahead of pizza arriving (in a cheery, light way). Maybe, arrange for DH to be out next time if he cant be trusted not to spoil the mood!

Takeaway pizza is sofa food

I always eat at the table even if the rest of the family is out and I'm on my own. I get it's a personal thing but I think family mealtimes are important.

Why do you have to eat at a table for it be a family mealtime?

One of your posts implies that you and the DC often eat on the sofa. You also say that your DC isn’t a messy eater.

For those reasons, DH was U to have DC and her guest eat at the table.

He was U to ‘tell Dd to eat properly and not rush, talk with her mouth full
and on and on’. As you say that would have spoiled the mood and embarrassed DD.

What do you imagine is going to happen to the leather sofa? They’re literally wipe clean

Real leather will stain if it gets oily marks on it.

depends on how it is finished.

Depends on the age of DC. When under 8 or so, eat at the table. Any older, please yourselves. In our adult family we love a Pizza takeout on the sofa watching tv.
Nothing to get steamed up about! No cooking, hardly any clearing up, just chill!