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Parenting

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Original poster

Is it anal not to allow your children to eat anything at all in the living room?

86 replies

emkana · 21/12/2007 21:47

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

roisin · 21/12/2007 22:03

My children are 8 and 10 and are only allowed to eat or drink in the dining room (and goodness knows they make enough mess in there!) Even on Fridays when they bring sweets home from youth club they still eat them in the dining room. I've never questioned it really.

We don't have a particularly smart, clean, or tidy house. But it's just a rule we've always had. (Dh and I often eat dinner in front of the telly in the evenings though!)

The boys are not allowed to eat or drink in the lounge and certainly not upstairs.

As a family though we're not big on snacks at all. For instance we never have biscuits in the house.

DogMa · 21/12/2007 22:05

Nope.

Your house, your rules and one bloody room in the house can stay sticky/mess free - is it too much to ask? - NO!

VictorianSqualor · 21/12/2007 22:06

We only eat at mealtimes really so it's not expected to be in the living room, if the kids want a snack they normally eat it in the kitchen if I'm in there or just go and sit down at the table in the dining room, suppose it's habit.
I wouldn't allow them to eat in the living room, it doesnt have a table for starters, nor would they be sat properly whilst eating, but they don't ask.
Actually after writing all that I just realised I let them eat popcorn in there the otehr day watching a film and they ate sweets in there earlier.
We have a beigey coloured carpet and suedette sofa btw, so spillages would not be good.

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pinetreedog · 21/12/2007 22:17

I think it's abit anal. But then some people have a room that's to be kept 'good' at all costs

Original poster

emkana · 21/12/2007 22:21

On the other hand the living room is absolutely filled with toys, it's more of a playroom really, so I'm not one to keep it absolutely ~"perfect"

OP posts:

wrappingpaperBOwZZAndribbons · 21/12/2007 22:24

We don't really have this rule but in practice we are not that far off it. Advent calendar chocs are allowed in there though. And occasionally we set up the little table and chairs in there and the DC eat while watching Strictly. Today in total both DC have eaten their advent chocs in the living room and DD has had two chocolates from DH's work hamper in there also. But she has eaten 3 meals plus snacks in the kitchen (apart from the choc elf and raisins she had in Church while attending DS's christingle).

5goldrings4MONKEYBIRDs · 21/12/2007 22:27

Up to you mate. I'm obv last bastion of inconsistent parenting round here and one week it's a rule and one week it's not but then I also give my kids Cocopops for dinner sometimes (which I've said so much I'm beginning to sound proud of it )

Minum · 21/12/2007 22:30

Anyone can eat anything, anywhere here - its a home ! We eat at least one meal a day together in the kitchen, which I think is really important. I dont like the fact the sofa gets grubby, and I have to sweep more often, but I think its really important to have a home you can chill in, not yet more rules.

Original poster

emkana · 21/12/2007 22:55

not sure I follow there, surely a house needs rules to run smoothly? Don't think that stops it from being a home.

OP posts:

soapbox · 21/12/2007 23:13

Your children are still very little Emkana - when they are older perhaps the rules just bend a little

Original poster

emkana · 21/12/2007 23:15

Quite possibly

OP posts:

pukkapatch · 21/12/2007 23:17

living room i dont mind.
its bedroom that gets me annoyed

soapbox · 21/12/2007 23:17

What was it that Darwin said? Something like 'it is not the most intelligent or the strongest that survive, but those that are most adaptable to change'!

I certainly find that true of surviving parenthood

ADDICTEDtosayingHAAAAAAAPYxmas · 22/12/2007 01:01

we weren't ever allowed to eat anywhere but the kitchen or dining room. mum said it was to stop us eating crap just cos we were bored or cos we were watching tv etc. i do remember being allowed to eat carrot sticks in the living room sometimes

sparklygothkat · 22/12/2007 01:13

kids not allowed to eat in the living room, have leather sofas and wooden floor, but its the crumbs that get to me. They eat in the kitchen or at the dining table.

amytheearwaxbanisher · 22/12/2007 01:24

yes it is

dingdongdooneygirlonhigh · 22/12/2007 01:35

Wow, can't believe how many yes answers there are.

We do have a rule about NOBODY eating in the living room, for 2 reasons. DS and DD are 4 and 2 and I enforce it for the sake of the furniture and carpets. DH enforces it because he hates the thought of eating in front of the TV. That being said, DH breaks the rule about every other night because he insists on drinking his tea or cocoa out there.

KITTYmaspudding · 22/12/2007 07:03

Yes it is.
Dp won't let the dc do it , I have gone along with it in a grudging manner. But he is one of the most anal people I have ever come across in my life

foofi · 22/12/2007 07:19

I am deeply ashamed that my children eat in front of the television.

susiecutiemincepies · 22/12/2007 07:20

well, we only have one room really, so have no choice! In this new place though, we actually have a table and chairs, thank god!

so make a point of eating at the table. DD also sits in her high chair at the table with us. She loves eating with us at the same height as her

have leather sofa and wooden floors too. the sofa gets the worst of greasy fingers, cant seem to get it off.. its not shiney leather ( any ideas?? )

flors get smeared reguarly, but wipes up so easily... leather and wood deffo the way forward!

every new parent should be given a discount voucher on booking in with the midwife

seeker · 22/12/2007 07:30

Yes. It's their house too!

Mind you, we tend to do our main eating at the table apart from when Strictly or Robin Hood or Top Gear or Dr Who's on.

And definitley allowed to eat in their bedrooms. What's nicer than a book with a drink and a biscuit in your room with the door shut! Doesn't anyone else remember doing this as a child?

wheelybahhumbug · 22/12/2007 08:56

I try not to don't allow meals in the sitting room, only snacks - fruit and the odd biscuit.

Mind you, dd is currently scoffing a crumpet in front of the tweenies for breakfast.... well it is the weekend.

roisin · 22/12/2007 09:13

I think my 'food only in the dining room' rule means I have to spend less time cleaning

yuckihatecheesestrings · 22/12/2007 09:32

Depends on if you have carpet or not. We do, so no. If you have wood/laminate and leather sofas then maybe ok. But still makes more work for you. I allow biscuits, fruit etc but def NOT meals. No not for a baby and 3yrold. For older kids, I suppose every now and then as a treat is ok.

Anna8888 · 22/12/2007 09:34

It wouldn't cross anyone's mind to eat in our sitting room, unless it's a glass of champagne and an olive

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