To think you should eat outside in summer

[Sneezeseverytimeheeatsabounty]

We live abroad and are on holidays this month.
Dh tends to do a bbq most days for lunch.
Each time he wants to eat inside as thinks there’s too many flies outside (there aren’t) or some other excuse. Dd follows him and they end up sat indoors eating lunch watching tv on a lovely summers day.
I end up sat outside eating lunch on my own
We have a nice seating area by the garden and pool with large parasol for shade
We have all autumn/winter where we’ll have to be sat inside eating

Aibu to want to sit and eat lunch outside as a family on our summer holidays?

People should do what they want to do.

Sit outside, if you want to do that.

Sit inside, if you want to do that.

There is no “unreasonable”.

We must be married to the same man 😆

My OH is also a nightmare in the house with flies, he wants all the windows and doors shut even in beautiful weather. Really annoys me!

But in relation to your OP, there's no point in him sitting out if he isnt going to enjoy his food.

No. It would be awful because the only way you'd achieve it is under duress. And your H would be fussing and moaning, swatting at imaginary flies and generally making a big negative passive aggressive kerfuffle out if it. I'd rather read my book in all honesty.
What would be nice is if you all WANTED to eat outside.

I don't think he's unreasonable to not want to eat outside. I do think it's weird to barbeque food and then take it inside to eat though.

I detest eating outside. I don't want bugs buzzing around me food.

I hate eating outside. I wouldn't be pleased if my partner tried telling me where I should or shouldn't eat.

Dinner for me, a blood buffet for the midgies.

The image you have in your head of all eating outside together and having a lovely time will never happen because he doesn’t like eating outside, so you need to let it go. It’s not a hill to die on.
No excuse for them having the TV on though

YANBU.
Where is the middle ground? Will he never join you outside? So you are forced to have to eat inside if you want company or sit outside alone? And not surprising that a child gravitates towards a TV screen, so she is following him inside.

Exactly.

Well obviously it's a personal choice/preference, but as a family we almost always eat outside on a summer holiday, and in fact we've had most of our meals outside at home this year since Spring! I love eating outside and so does my DH. The kids are ambivalent and will often take their lunch/breakfast inside instead. For dinner they don't get a choice!

It's obviously nicer to eat together as a family though, so I think it would be nice if your DH would compromise a bit and have at least some meals outside. Is there a better time of day for eating outside? Could you get a wasp catcher? And no tv!!

I hate eating outside. I get eaten alive by insects!

I'm like you op...I'd rather eat outside...yes wasps a flies are a bit of a pain, but it feels a bit miserable to be sat indoors when you're on holiday

YABU. His preference to not eat outside is not less valid than your preference to eat outside.
I hate eating outside. I don't find it enjoyable or relaxing. Insects (even one or two), too warm/too cool/too bright/too breezy etc is all just uncomfortable and I'd rather eat inside. I don't want to spend the whole time on edge about whether a wasp has crawled into my drink whatever.

That sounds lovely but your family don't seem to agree. When you eat together inside do you chat, laugh and enjoy each others company? Or is this more about wishing you had that vibe the other families are experiencing? Could you not eat together inside and then head out for a walk?

We always eat outside in the summer,love it.

The idea of eating outside is better than the reality. Mainly because of wasps.

Seems like the majority of your family prefer to eat inside, free of flies and wasps, so if you want to eat together - sit inside with them!

It is a total faff though

Cleaning off the table
Traipsing everything out, traipsing everything back in
Swatting away bugs
Trips back inside because you forgot something
Refrigerated food (like mayo or cheese) getting a bit gross in the sun
Gusts of wind or the sun is too hot

I'm team eat inside, then go out and enjoy the sun

I spend a lot of time outside. I garden, walk, etc If abroad, I am at the beach in the morning and the afternoon, often after dinner for a potter.

However, I detest eating outside. I want to be inside, in the cool, away from weather and insects. I want to sit at a proper table to eat. I also hate BBQ's. You do you, allow others their preferences.

You're both unreasonable. Eating outside can be unfun for multiple reasons. Wasps and flies. Changes in temperature meaning having to continually dress and undress. Wind blowing away things on the table.

Watching TV whilst eating is unsociable.

I'd compromise on indoors with the TV off.

I think this thread just shows it’s all about personal preference.

I think I’d mostly be with you, but I can see that I might get tired of doing that every day, and some days it might be nice to relax in front of the tv as they are.

Sunset at the beach also sounds lovely!

But then again, if someone said “oh well we should be at the beach at sunrise, it’s the best part of the day, it’s a shame to stay in bed” etc, I’d swat them with my fly swatter, acquired for all those BBQs!

I'm in the UK and we've had a fabulous summer where I am ... we've spent most of our evenings eating in the garden. I love it, and so does DH thankfully. Not sure what I'd do in your situation tbh. Eat on my own I suppose with a book. I really haven't seen many wasps or flies.

Summer is short here and we'll soon be back to dark evenings and rain so I'm making the most of it.

Nope. Hate bugs

It is often too bright to sit eating outside, so I generally prefer inside.

But it would be better if you said you prefer to eat outside. Trying to make out like they’re wrong and should basically do as you say is never going to go well.

You have your preferences and they have theirs. Why do they have to do their least preferred option just to please you? Why is their preference less important? Why are they and their comfort less important than you and your comfort? It’s their holiday too.