to think that it's OK for DS (age12) to drink the remainder of his milk from his cereal bowl at breakfast?

[missismac]

Dh thinks it disgusting, but I just can't back him up as it doesn't bother me a jot. However DD13 has also objected, and DH said to her "I know, I agree, but I can't do anything because Mum won't back me up". I'm questioning whether they're right and I'm wrong, as well as being annoyed that Dh phrased his reply like that.

I seem to recall that the French commonly had a bowl of hot choc for breakfast, I don't see this is any different?

YANBU at all. I can't see how it will ever embarass him in a restaurant, unless he's going to be in a habit of regularly going out and ordering cereal. In which case I think drinking the milk from the bowl would probably be the least of his etiquette problems.

Let him slurp it. Serve him cereal in a mug if it's that much of a problem... I assume this is more 'polite' in DHs eyes than drinking from a bowl?

Yanbu - my DH actually taught our DC's how to do this.

YANBU. We do this in our house. You don't get any more milk unless you finish the milk in your cereal bowl first.

DH taught my DD's to do this too, it drives me batty, but DH also taught them to have a ridiculous amouont of milk in their bowls, so they like loads, so it rises above the cereal and goes all soggy, bleurgh.

They are allowed to do it if it is just DH or I but anywhere else and even DD1 (who is 3) knows to ask first, and pour it into a cup if I say no.

I have asked ds if he would do it in a restaurant...he would and if challenged will pretend to be from a country where it is sophisticated!

DH does it and I can't stand it.

He has now taught DS1 (3.5) to do it and they do it together on a Sunday morning, giggling, as they know how much it upsets me

I do this at home. I wouldn't do it in a hotel. I probably wouldn't do it in my parents' home any more now that I don't live there. I don't think there is a problem with it as long as you know when it is and isn't appropriate.

I think, though, that if your DH really has a problem with it then you might BU in not backing him up - from a manners point of view. It isn't good manners for DS to do it if it makes his Dad uncomfortable. So, fine for him to do it when DH/DD aren't there, but if they are then he needs to be considerate.

It doesn't bother me in the least at home, and seems a dreadful waste of milk if you don't. But it seems rather unpleasant to do it in public.

The cat drinks my left over milk.

lol Idris...my cat does the same...and the dog gets the leftover toast.

Mind you I very rarely have milk on my cornflakes...prefer them dry. DS leaves his cereal in the bowl so long that the milk has all been absorbed.

I agree with the OP's DH - it's disgusting. Would you tolerate an adult slurping soup, etc. in this way? No.

What's the spoon for?

As for this crap argument about not getting enough calcium, humans don't need milk after they are weaned. The dairy industry LOVE having us think we need to get calcium in this way. It's simply not true.

2 out of 4 of you don't like it-that should be enough. I don't see why strangers get good manners, but those nearest and dearest get bad manners.He is 12 yrs old-old enough to know better.

We all do this in our house. And we lick plates too. Mealtimes are meant to be fun and enjoyable and all this strictness with manners etc... is in fact plain boring.

Though I do feel like shooting people who lick yoghurt pot lids. That is just totally unacceptable.

Whittards do those ridiculously oversized cups and saucers which are bowl sized - hopefully that would be a good compromise without increasing the washing up?

It isn't fun and enjoyable if 2 of the family find it disgusting!

My 2 yo does this, but always asks can she do it before she does - hopefully this way it will be an at home thing only! I dont mind but DP does. If she is still doing it at 13 then perhaps I would object!

What I find more objectionable is the way the OP's husband spoke to their DD about her, like getting their dd to take sides - and that the OP wants to know are THEY as in DH and DD right. Wondering if there are lots of other little issues like this that crop up?

I slurp my milk up and I'm nearly 36! My 4 year old son is just learning the Art of Slurpage. My husband hates it so it's a good windup. Plus I hate wasting milk, especially having been a milk producer myself once!!

I don't mind it at home.

I'd rather the milk was drunk and doing some good than being wasted. So ok with milk. I'm pretty fussy about table manners though and don't let them lick plates and bowls at the table for any other reasons.

I wouldn't say ok either if we were out in cafe or a hotel; but I turn a blind eye at home.

Yes, it's fine, bad manners in public but in the privacy of your own home its not a big deal at all.

TBH I'm somewhat disconcerted to find that people have such strong opinions about it!

It is a big deal when 2 members of the family find it disgusting! You shouldn't totally ignore your own family-they have asked him not to do it, and that should be enough.

I agree with pisces

Also for those saying don´t waste the milk-no one´s suggesting that the milk should be wasted-just not slurped out of the bowl.

My DB always used to take his plate into another room to lick it if we had guests, maybe your DS could take his bowl into another room to finish his milk.

We're all slurpers and plate-lickers in this house

How would he finish soup from a dish ? Surely not by drinking it from the dish, but using his spoon. Seems a sensible option for milk following cereal too.

Or is that too "old fashioned" ? If so, guilty as charged.

"it makes a far more irritating noise"

In that case, SpringySponge, more practice is needed, as it can be done silently, whether with the milk at the end of cereal, or with soup, and as notmummy says, one gently tips the bowl towards the centre of the table, and uses the spoon in the extra depth so created...

Oh for goodness sake YANBU at all, your DH is. Your DS wouldn't be eating cereal in a restaurant anyway, except for breakfast in a hotel and everyone's half asleep & not caring then anyway. Give him a straw and let him slurp the leftover milk through that. It's very bad to cause anxiety around eating - food should be fun!