Manners are Served! Table Time Quarrels

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It’s that FRUSTRATING time for every parent…dinner time! I don’t know about you, but I have a difficult time stopping to just BREATHE at the dinner table. Annora sings at the top of her lungs with all of her heart, Delise throws food on the floor if she doesn’t like what’s being served and Mommy and Daddy just want peace and quiet after a long day! The only “easy” part (and I say that loosely) to mealtime is our prayer. It seems to be the one time where everyone can STOP and just sit for the 1-2 minutes we take to thank God for all He has provided for us.

Can anyone else relate? I am guessing we are not the only family with table time quarrels.

Delise is in a new stage where she wants to do everything herself. From getting into her booster seat on her own to feeding herself the softest of foods (pudding, applesauce, mashed potatoes, etc.-YAY us!). She has decided that feet belong on the table (and no matter how many times we express to her our desires for her behavior, she has her own idea of what mealtime should look like).

Annora loves to perform at any given time of day. She is BIG into musicals and finds that the dinner table is the best time to captivate her audience and serenade us with tunes from Annie, Les Miserables, Frozen, Little Mermaid, the list goes on! There have been times when Ben and I are screaming at each other over the loudness of the dinner table so we can “chat.”

We aren’t perfect, we aren’t trying to be perfect but having toddlers at the dinner table can be tricky! We did some research and found several lists of proper toddler table manners. We took those several lists and made one list of things we would like to work on with our family for the time being. We have decided to crack down on our manners and really get it in check. Here are the 13 “Rules” we have decided to incorporate into our dinner time routine:

1. Come to the table with clean hands and face.
2. Start eating when everyone else does-or when given the okay to start.
3. Keep elbows (and other body parts) off of the table while eating.
4. Don’t make bad comments about the food.
5. Chat with everyone at the table in a calm speaking voice.
6. Ask to be excused when finished.
7. Offer to help clear the table.
8. Put your napkin on your lap
9. Stay seated and sit up straight.
10. Chew with your mouth closed and don’t speak until you have swallowed.
11. Say “Please pass the…” instead of reaching.
12. Don’t make rude noises like burping, tooting or slurping.
13. Thank your host or whoever prepared the meal.

Obviously we won’t start with all 13 “rules” but rather incorporate a few each week until the list is tackled. I know that with consistent guidance and determination along with high expectations, we can one day (soon) have a peaceful mealtime…I hope!

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