I ordered these placemats the other day. I've had my eye on them for some time.
They come in a set of six and each placemat shows where One should place One's cutlery etc. And each placemat has four 'tips' for lovely manners. That's 24 Golden Rules for not Behaving Like a Pig!
Such as:
- NEVER INTERUPT table conversation. Wait for your turn or say "Excuse me for interupting".
- Say "EXCUSE ME" or "MAY I BE EXCUSED?" if you want to leave the table. Push your chair back under the table.
- Please do not use your fingers to push your food onto the fork. Please use your knife as a helper!
- Make pleasant conversation at the table and include everyone. If you BURP OR SLURP, say "excuse me" quietly. Try not to giggle.
You may think that all sounds draconian and dictatorial, but I suggest you've never had the pleasure of sitting at the table with the Solid Gold Dancers!
I just love it.
ReplyDeleteIt seems I've spent the last ten years of dining saying things like:
Say excuse-me;
Did you say please?
Have you excused yourself?
Shoosh, wait your turn;
Listen to Sarah;
Use your fork properly;
Don't lick your knife;
That isn't funny;
No you can't have more meat till your veges are gone...
It's exhausting really.
It is exhausting. These placemats seem to be working. They read the tips while they eat. SGD#3 shocked me last night by asking to 'be excused'! That is, after he'd licked his knife and dragged his pyjama sleeves through his meal.
DeleteCheers to you for sitting down at the table together. That was my one rule...we eat together every night, like it or night...I'm your mom, I make the rules. My sons tell me now they loved it...not so much at the time. Love those lovely place mats.
ReplyDeleteYes, we sit down together. Generally the husband doesn't because he's started washing up and we only have six chairs (one's taken up by Korean S). Though sometimes meal times can be so unbearable that I leave the table and sit in the kitchen.
DeleteFunny what kids think back on once they've grown up.
I still get A asking me "which side does the knife go?" on the rare occasion she sets the table. I've failed as a mother. Obviously.
ReplyDeleteA with her lucious red tresses is too gorgeous to need to worry about cutlery placement.
DeleteGreat placements. I need one that says "sit down properly in that chair and eat!!!" (cue shrill fish wife voice...)
ReplyDeleteOne of them does say that and it ends with the words, "Damn it!".
DeleteHilarious!!!
DeleteBrilliant! I def need to invest in these placements. : )
DeleteHow are they working for you? Maybe I need to get some for this household.
ReplyDeleteThose are priceless!!! Grandsons #1 and #2 (ages 2 and 3) are still horribly sloppy at the table. Now I just need to break their mother of making them a plate and letting them bring the food to my little apartment to eat. She thinks I'm not on to her, but I am! :)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine the Solid Golds behaving badly at mealtime.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I'm sold. I thought it was only me with little pigs. We eat at the table every night and those boys drive Jason and I up the wall, despite all our good advice!! xx
ReplyDelete