Reply to Interrupting VERY long stories

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DH loves to tell long stories at dinner. During this time, a kid might want seconds, want someone to pass him salt, salsa, another napkin, whatever - assume something “necessary” to enjoying the meal. DH gets super upset if anyone interrupts. For any reason.

[b]So what is the solution?[/b] Is it the case at some point that the person telling the really long story is actually being rude or at least a bit thoughtless by not recognizing that people will in fact need more salt etc and that quietly asking for that does not mean everyone isn’t also listening. [/quote]

Two things: 1) you have to pull him aside after dinner and tell him that he can't hold you all hostage to his stories. Be nicer than that, but you get the idea; 2) if he won't listen to the above, just let him be mad.

I mean, think about this. This man is literally sitting at the head of the table insisting that everyone pay attention to him instead of allowing you to do normal things during a meal while he holds court. That is messed up. I hate to be all "fight the patriarchy!" but he needs to get a grip. He's using your natural inclination as a woman to smooth over the situation and make it pleasant for everyone to continue doing this. If he won't stop then let him be mad.

[/quote]

Yes, sometime away from the dinner table, OP needs to have a heart-to-heart with her DH.  She needs to explain to him that the primary function of dinner, is to have the family meal.  If he wants to go into story mode and does not want to be interrupted, then he needs to wait until everyone, even the slow person has finished eating.  If he wants to start a story before the last person is done eating, then he needs to be more tolerant of the normal dinner functions and that includes passing salt and pepper, those getting seconds, people needing to refresh drinks or whatever else needs to be done to finish the primary purpose for which they are gathered...to eat the evening meal.

He cannot have it both ways.  He cannot interrupt the meal and then get upset when people need to actually do things to enjoy that meal.  His choice, allow the meal to continue and put up with interruptions or wait until everyone is finished with their meal.[/quote]

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