Conversation or silence at meals?

[Beezer]

It's a little different at Breakfast though.

Nobody talks till they have their tea or coffee. Silence is golden in the morning hours until we finally wake up.

 

[Lewkat]

As long as we didn't argue or raise our voices, talking was permitted.

 

[Murrmurr]

Silence. It is impolite to talk with your mouthful

Yeah, honestly, at the dinner table, I'd rather eat than talk. But I'm married, so....

 

[gruntlabor]

Polite, pleasant conversation --always. It helps one to slow down and enjoy the food.
And, if children are present, polite conversation teaches them manners.

 

[LoveTulips]

Eating and talking for sure.

 

[DebraMae]

Meals as a child were pretty much silent. With my own family we talked. In the days when we were all together it would get pretty loud.

 

[Aunt Bea]

When I was a kid, silence at mealtime meant some sort of trouble was brewing or that mom served up an amazing meal!

“Don’t get your father started!” - Mom

 

[Remy]

What is it with all these parents that had to control everything. It's beyond my comprehension to want to do that to someone. Perhaps because, for those that experienced it, we don't want to do that to another person.

 

[Jules]

Nobody talks till they have their tea or coffee. Silence is golden in the morning hours until we finally wake up.

I didn’t realize I‘m like that until my husband mentioned it … that was after a few years of marriage. He’s not exactly a chatterbox himself. Good thing. Don’t talk to me in the morning while I’m drinking my coffee.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Growing up, father wanted silence at meal-time.
Sharing dinners with family and friends, we have stimulating conversations.

Ditto. As kids we were supposed to be seen but not be heard therefore quiet.
As an adult I enjoy some pleasant conversations

 

[Rose65]

I adore James Herriot's books.

Growing up, we generally talked at the table. The TV was never on, and the phone was not answered, two rules I also enforced with my own children.

On weekend nights we had to eat in the more formal dining room (as opposed to the breakfast nook) with the good china, and I hated it. My parents were usually drunk and arguing, so I have really bad memories of formal meals.

With my own kids, we always talked. No screens were permitted at the table. Sometimes we would use conversation cards to prompt interesting exchanges.

Nothing is worse than eating with people who are drunk and arguing. I must have peace and be relaxed or I cannot eat and my digestion rebels. To me eating is about communicating, talkin.

 

[Mobilman44]

A favorite TV series of mine has been "Blue Bloods". They make it a point on every episode to show the family at Sunday dinner. Of course its TV, and I doubt any family would consistently have dinners like this, but dang it, it sure makes me feel good just watching it.

 

[George1959]

Yeah, honestly, at the dinner table, I'd rather eat than talk. But I'm married, so....

In my marriage it's the other way round. My wife would prefer that I don't talk .

Two decades ago we were at a Buddhistic retreat for some days. At the dinner table was an obligation of absolute silence. If someone only said a single word he (or she) got an angry glance of the leader. The second time this person got reprimanded. Believe me, I'll never participate in such retreats again .