Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 11:03     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.


Somehow I don’t think it’s the kids quietly reading while eating dinner who are the brats.

reading =/= brat

People who read at the table ignoring everyone most definitely are.


You must be really dumb to not understand this basic concept.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 11:00     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.


Somehow I don’t think it’s the kids quietly reading while eating dinner who are the brats.

reading =/= brat

People who read at the table ignoring everyone most definitely are.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 11:00     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Manners and rudeness aren't written in stone; if your family decides that, at family meals, reading at the table isn't a rule, it ceases to be rude.

Your kid should probably know that many people don't operate that way, and be able to get through a meal making conversation, but you don't need to practice that every night. My own kid reads during dinner pretty often, but she's also able to sit still during Christmas dinner with her grandparents without one.

Unless it's a problem to get a kid to stop reading when they're told not to, I don't see it as an issue at all.


It amazes me what DCUM deems low class but then THIS is ok.

This to me is the lowest of low class.

...reading? Really? That's your bar of low class? Yikes.


No, dear. Not teaching your children basic manners.


It's genuinely a little fascinating to me that people are so lacking in imagination on this. I'm the PP who began this chain and I made it clear that my kid does know the "rule." She knows that out of our house, that's a rule, and she also knows that at home, that rule is only sometimes a rule. She's been taught, but you're still mad that the rules in our house are different than the rules at your house?
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:59     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.


While you are right there is no point fighting this battle. People don't care about manners anymore and love repeating "you do you" as if it's an original sentiment. Kids who are well mannered will stand out more though and will have advantages as a result..

Discouraging reading just to prove to randoms that your kids have "manners" (which apply to far more than just reading) is incredibly short sighted. Kids who are avid readers are more likely to be successful in life and have fewer mental health issues. Your version of manners is probably not going to do that. But at least your dumb kids will get praised by other boomers for sitting at the table looking bored AF!
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:56     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.


Somehow I don’t think it’s the kids quietly reading while eating dinner who are the brats.


People who read at the table ignoring everyone most definitely are.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:55     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Manners and rudeness aren't written in stone; if your family decides that, at family meals, reading at the table isn't a rule, it ceases to be rude.

Your kid should probably know that many people don't operate that way, and be able to get through a meal making conversation, but you don't need to practice that every night. My own kid reads during dinner pretty often, but she's also able to sit still during Christmas dinner with her grandparents without one.

Unless it's a problem to get a kid to stop reading when they're told not to, I don't see it as an issue at all.


It amazes me what DCUM deems low class but then THIS is ok.

This to me is the lowest of low class.

...reading? Really? That's your bar of low class? Yikes.


No, dear. Not teaching your children basic manners.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:55     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.


Somehow I don’t think it’s the kids quietly reading while eating dinner who are the brats.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:54     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Manners and rudeness aren't written in stone; if your family decides that, at family meals, reading at the table isn't a rule, it ceases to be rude.

Your kid should probably know that many people don't operate that way, and be able to get through a meal making conversation, but you don't need to practice that every night. My own kid reads during dinner pretty often, but she's also able to sit still during Christmas dinner with her grandparents without one.

Unless it's a problem to get a kid to stop reading when they're told not to, I don't see it as an issue at all.


It amazes me what DCUM deems low class but then THIS is ok.

This to me is the lowest of low class.

...reading? Really? That's your bar of low class? Yikes.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:54     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.

OK b00mer.


Nope, a millennial who was raised in an academic household where we read ferociously and knew not to read at the table.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:53     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.


While you are right there is no point fighting this battle. People don't care about manners anymore and love repeating "you do you" as if it's an original sentiment. Kids who are well mannered will stand out more though and will have advantages as a result..


Completely agree with this.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:53     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Manners and rudeness aren't written in stone; if your family decides that, at family meals, reading at the table isn't a rule, it ceases to be rude.

Your kid should probably know that many people don't operate that way, and be able to get through a meal making conversation, but you don't need to practice that every night. My own kid reads during dinner pretty often, but she's also able to sit still during Christmas dinner with her grandparents without one.

Unless it's a problem to get a kid to stop reading when they're told not to, I don't see it as an issue at all.


It amazes me what DCUM deems low class but then THIS is ok.

This to me is the lowest of low class.


A kid reading is the lowest of low class? Um, ok.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:52     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.


While you are right there is no point fighting this battle. People don't care about manners anymore and love repeating "you do you" as if it's an original sentiment. Kids who are well mannered will stand out more though and will have advantages as a result..
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:52     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:My kids can read whenever they want. But, they know how to engage when appropriate, so we don’t need rules about this.

But, really, reading? The real issue is kids glued to phones while eating.


I don't think many people on this site would allow phones at the table. Right? I hope not.

We allow reading at breakfast since that's sort if staggered. And the weekend breakfast. But they can only read the newspaper or a magazine since I don't want to get library books dirty.

At a normal dinner, no. If the kids say it's boring I challenge them to come up with ways to make it interesting.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:51     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:Manners and rudeness aren't written in stone; if your family decides that, at family meals, reading at the table isn't a rule, it ceases to be rude.

Your kid should probably know that many people don't operate that way, and be able to get through a meal making conversation, but you don't need to practice that every night. My own kid reads during dinner pretty often, but she's also able to sit still during Christmas dinner with her grandparents without one.

Unless it's a problem to get a kid to stop reading when they're told not to, I don't see it as an issue at all.


It amazes me what DCUM deems low class but then THIS is ok.

This to me is the lowest of low class.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2025 10:49     Subject: So you let your kids read at the dining table

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We allow it. No devices, but books are fine. It's not every meal, but I'll never say no to a kid's nose in a book.


While it may be better for the brain, it is every bit just as rude to be engaged in a book as a device. And every bit as distracting with the potential to cause delays even if you are alone. There are indeed many times when it would be better parenting to say "no to a kids nose in a book".

Maybe better parenting to YOU. Not better parenting to every kid or every situation. MYOB.


This is why kids are mostly brats and uncivilized these days. Manners used to be pretty universally understood and it mattered that we brought up kids with good manners. Now everyone is so unique they can't possibly learn manners.

Fine, but when they are expected to know these things don't be surprised if they lose opportunities.