Sorsha
<font color=royalblue>People, don't be like the ch
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2007
- Messages
- 3,716
Good heavens.
Remind me to never accept dinner invitations to most of your houses. You would be horrified by my family and our simple "country" (and apparently infantile) ways.
Please understand, first of all, that my house is small. We don't have a formal dining room, and our "dining area" is open-plan with our kitchen. Hence, meals are served family-style. When the food is ready, grab a plate, and dish up. When you get to the table, start eating; otherwise by the time we all get there the first person's food is cold.
The great all emcompassing bread debate. Ok, most of the time, bread is served one of two ways in my house. First would be sliced, usually buttered and toasted on a sheet pan in the oven, maybe with a little garlic on it. If there is a loaf of bread that we don't want to toast that night (french bread, etc) I pre-slice it ahead of time. Second would be rolls. Either way, they are over on the counter/stovetop with all the rest of the food and that includes the butterdish. When you serve yourself, grab a roll or a piece of bread. If it needs butter, slap some on... the whole thing!!! Finally, know what that piece of bread is really there for?? Sopping up all the gravy/spaghetti sauce, soup broth etc so it doesn't go to waste!
Napkins. Please use them. This is not debatable. But paper is just fine, and please don't put it in your lap. In fact, if you do, the puppy will probably run off with it. Setting it down beside your plate is just fine, in my book.
Burping at the table annoys me too, but if you can figure out a way to make my DH stop doing it, I will personally reward you.
Some foods are meant to be finger foods, and until someone proves otherwise, I will keep eating them with my hands. Whenever I see someone daintily cutting up a piece of fried chicken with a knife and fork I want to bop them over the head with a nice crispy drumstick.
What it comes down to is this. Dinner at my house is family time. Time when we all sit down together with no TV, no phones, no texting, etc. We have conversation, talk about eachother's days, and generally reconnect. I try to gently remind my children about table manners basics (don't talk with your mouth full, swallow one bite before shovelling in another, don't wipe your hands on your shirt, etc) but if we spend the entire meal obsessing about how we butter our bread or some of the other silly things I have read on here, we would totally lose the benefit of that family time.
Emily Post and I have never been really that close anyhow. She got all bent out of shape a few years ago when I decided that thanking people by email was OK in my book, and hasn't spoken to me since. I don't miss her at all.
Remind me to never accept dinner invitations to most of your houses. You would be horrified by my family and our simple "country" (and apparently infantile) ways.
Please understand, first of all, that my house is small. We don't have a formal dining room, and our "dining area" is open-plan with our kitchen. Hence, meals are served family-style. When the food is ready, grab a plate, and dish up. When you get to the table, start eating; otherwise by the time we all get there the first person's food is cold.
The great all emcompassing bread debate. Ok, most of the time, bread is served one of two ways in my house. First would be sliced, usually buttered and toasted on a sheet pan in the oven, maybe with a little garlic on it. If there is a loaf of bread that we don't want to toast that night (french bread, etc) I pre-slice it ahead of time. Second would be rolls. Either way, they are over on the counter/stovetop with all the rest of the food and that includes the butterdish. When you serve yourself, grab a roll or a piece of bread. If it needs butter, slap some on... the whole thing!!! Finally, know what that piece of bread is really there for?? Sopping up all the gravy/spaghetti sauce, soup broth etc so it doesn't go to waste!
Napkins. Please use them. This is not debatable. But paper is just fine, and please don't put it in your lap. In fact, if you do, the puppy will probably run off with it. Setting it down beside your plate is just fine, in my book.
Burping at the table annoys me too, but if you can figure out a way to make my DH stop doing it, I will personally reward you.
Some foods are meant to be finger foods, and until someone proves otherwise, I will keep eating them with my hands. Whenever I see someone daintily cutting up a piece of fried chicken with a knife and fork I want to bop them over the head with a nice crispy drumstick.
What it comes down to is this. Dinner at my house is family time. Time when we all sit down together with no TV, no phones, no texting, etc. We have conversation, talk about eachother's days, and generally reconnect. I try to gently remind my children about table manners basics (don't talk with your mouth full, swallow one bite before shovelling in another, don't wipe your hands on your shirt, etc) but if we spend the entire meal obsessing about how we butter our bread or some of the other silly things I have read on here, we would totally lose the benefit of that family time.
Emily Post and I have never been really that close anyhow. She got all bent out of shape a few years ago when I decided that thanking people by email was OK in my book, and hasn't spoken to me since. I don't miss her at all.
when speaking about others who were not taught the same way. It just seemed there was a good deal of nastiness to the ones who were being helpful in sharing what they were taught in a respectful tone. 
and keeling over 
is not a solution either
