Latest news with #familydinner
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Sitting down for dinner? Make room for three screens! Brit families are relying on iPads and phones to get through meal times, study reveals
The modern family dinner is, it seems, a hive of communication – just not with each other. There are now an average of three devices being used at mealtimes, according to a study. Nearly two thirds of children are watching TV at the dinner table, while 42 per cent are scrolling on TikTok and 27 per cent are using Snapchat. Some 83 per cent of the 2,000 parents surveyed by Bupa said they'd like to ban screens at mealtimes but just 13 per cent have done so. However, 64 per cent of mums and dads admitted to using WhatsApp or texting at the dinner table while 30 per cent were looking at online shopping. Seventy per cent admit to using screens as a crutch to get them through mealtimes, with 63 percent of kids watching children's TV, 39 percent regularly looking at YouTube or cartoons - and 16 percent playing games or looking at TikTok on a phone or tablet. But 52 per cent of parents feel more conversations over dinner would be good for everyone's mental health - and 21 percent wish their children would talk to them about their feelings over mealtimes. And the report shows as many as one in ten (12 percent) parents feel the summer holidays make it even harder to have real conversations, especially at the dinner table, while 80 percent would love to talk more with their family about everyone's days. Bupa has launched new colouring-in tablemats designed to encourage mindfulness and spark conversations around mental health. Dr Elizabeth Rogers, associate clinical director at BupaHealth Clinics, said, 'It's clear from the research that parents really want to help their children open up and chat to them about their mental health and wellbeing, and sometimes it's hard to get away from screens to have those conversations. 'Whether you're eating at the dinner table or on laps in the living room, being together at mealtimes is a great opportunity to make space for conversations about your family's mental health.' Over a third (36 percent) wish they could sit down to eat together with the family more often, as they believe that nothing beats a family dinner (29 percent) and eating together is a good time to talk (28 percent). Harry Judd is an ambassador for Bupa's family mental health campaign, The Bupa Table, which encourages real families to put it all on the table and have a chance to open up and support each other through honest conversations. Harry said, 'As a parent I know the challenges of initiating those conversations about mental health and recognise that there isn't a one size fits all solution to getting someone talk about their struggles. 'No one should ever feel like they have to suffer in silence, which is why it's vital for me and my family to create that supportive space, helping my kids to understand that there is always time for us to talk, listen and check in with how everyone is feeling. It's about being present and making sure they know they can come to me whenever they're ready. 'Mindfulness is something my family practice regularly, it's important to remember that it's just as essential for children as for adults. 'Bupa's new tablemats are a great way to weave mindfulness and open conversations into our day-to-day, like at mealtimes, showing kids that their thoughts and feelings matter and that speaking about our emotional well-being is a natural part of everyday life.' The tablemats and accompanying conversation prompts can be printed at home at
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Fox News
Family vacation drama erupts over grandmother's request for dinner with her grown kids only
A mother's request to exclude her grandchildren and her children's spouses from a family dinner on an upcoming vacation — which she said she's planning and paying for — has sparked a heated debate. Her daughter, 40, took to Reddit for advice about the dilemma, saying she feels bad about potentially leaving her husband, their two kids and the rest of the family behind for dinner at a restaurant where she, her mom and her siblings went to on vacations when they were young. "Never thought I'd find myself here, but honestly feeling like the a--hole either way I play this and could use a hand," the woman wrote on Reddit recently. "It's not a fancy restaurant, but she isn't confident the kids can behave up to her standards … I am not either," the woman continued. She said her husband of 20 years was "noticeably let down" by the idea and that there's a "whole history" of her mom not accepting her and her siblings' spouses. The situation is especially painful for her husband, who lost both his parents as a teenager, according to the post. "I feel like I should just go and enjoy it, but now I'm thinking of 20 years of him being excluded and feeling sad and disloyal," the woman wrote. Reddit users flooded the comments section with thoughts on the writer's predicament. "YTA for allowing your mom to treat your husband as [an] other for decades, especially when he has lost both of his parents," one Reddit user said — using the acronym for "you're the a--hole." "If it was a one-time thing, I'd say it's fine," another person said. "But since you say your mother excluded him (and your siblings' partners) repeatedly, I think YTA … You should be on his team." Randi Crawford, a life coach from San Diego, agreed with the team mentality. "You do have to respect it." "Excluding spouses on a group trip is tone-deaf, and it puts everyone in an awkward position," Crawford told Fox News Digital. "This isn't about one dinner. It's about recognizing that your children are no longer solo acts. They come as a team." "You don't have to love it, but you do have to respect it," she added. Many people urged the woman to stand up to her mom. "First off, apologize to your husband for allowing this [BS] to go on for over two decades," one social media user wrote. "After that, put your foot down and tell your mother that things are going to change." Others, however, didn't think the request was such a big deal. Even the original poster said in the comments section that she wished there could be an "uncomplicated 'sibs only' dinner." "[Not the a--hole] if you go without him and enjoy one child-free meal with your sibs and mom," one person agreed. "Give her this one evening," another Redditor suggested. The person suggested the couples visit the same restaurant another night and leave the kids with their grandma. Others said she owed her mom for footing the bill for the trip. "You're taking this woman's [money] in the form of a vacation, so if she wants one dinner with her kids, then why not?" another person said. Melanie Williams, a psychotherapist in Baltimore, said financial control is an "unfortunate dynamic" that can occur in families. "If finances are a factor, I hope the writer and her siblings work with their spouses to find a plan that lessens their financial support on their mother," Williams told Fox News Digital. "I can only imagine the number of other issues that exist because of this dynamic." She added that the mother is trying to "relive a fantasy" of her kids still being young. "The writer and her siblings would do well to speak up, set better boundaries and apologize to their spouses," Williams said. Fox News Digital reached out to the original poster for comment.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Non-Religious Man Refuses to Lead a Prayer at His Girlfriend's Parents' House. Now, Things Are Strained
'Disrespect was definitely taken by both her parents, and the night basically derailed spectacularly from that point on,' the man recalledNEED TO KNOW A Reddit user described a tense situation at his 29-year-old girlfriend's family dinner involving a pre-meal prayer The 30-year-old man recalled his reaction after being asked by his girlfriend's dad to lead the prayer at their house He replied to the dad, ' 'I appreciate the sentiment and I thank you for it, but I believe it is disingenuous of me to lead a prayer in a faith I don't genuinely hold. And I'd hate to disrespect your beliefs 'All hell has seemingly broken loose after a man declined his girlfriend's dad's request to lead a pre-dinner prayer at their house. The 30-year-old boyfriend detailed the moment — and his reasoning for refusing to lead the prayer — on Reddit's 'Am I the A------' forum. '[My 29-year-old girlfriend and I] went to our first out of state visit to her parents' house,' the man recalled. 'This is America, we live in Chicago, and they live in a smaller town in the Midwest.' 'We both definitely came from different backgrounds. My parents were academics and religion was just never a thing we participated in,' he continued. 'We discussed it obviously, but we were all some form of atheist or agnostic, but I was raised to be very respectful of others' beliefs.' The man said that his girlfriend's parents are Christians. 'Everything was going great honestly. I had a great rapport with both of her parents, lots of laughs and good storytelling,' he recalled. 'But her dad (and I completely understand that he was trying to be nice and offer me what he understood to be a show of respect) asked me to lead prayer before dinner,' he continued. 'I kind of just stuttered in place.' After regaining his composure, the man replied to the father, ' 'I appreciate the sentiment and I thank you for it, but I believe it is disingenuous of me to lead a prayer in a faith I don't genuinely hold. And I'd hate to disrespect your beliefs. Again, thank you and I mean no disrespect.' ' The reaction from his girlfriend's parents surprised him. 'Disrespect was definitely taken by both her parents, and the night basically derailed spectacularly from that point on,' the boyfriend said. 'They were polite, but totally shut down and the mood shift was palpable.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The man said his girlfriend's siblings have made comments about the moment on social media saying he should have just 'faked it and done it.' Wondering if he made the wrong decision, he asked, 'Am I the a------ for politely declining to lead a prayer at the request of my new GF's father?' 'Not the a------,' many people replied, with many Reddit users reassuring him that he handled the situation well, all things considered. However, others said he needs to confront his girlfriend about the way her siblings are publicly shaming him on social media. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman Blindsided When Her Mom Invites Her Ex-Fiancé to Dinner, Pretended They Never Broke Up
NEED TO KNOW She showed up to what was supposed to be a quiet dinner with family, only to find someone from her past waiting at the table Her mom's explanation for the surprise left her stunned and questioning whether it was thoughtless or something much worse Now she's being called dramatic for how she reacted, and she's turning to the internet to ask who crossed the line in this situationA woman seeks advice from the Reddit community after an emotional ambush at her mother's house left her stunned, hurt, and questioning everything. What she thought would be a quiet family dinner turned into a reunion she never asked for with her ex-fiancé. 'So this happened last night and I'm still not even sure how to process it,' she begins in her post, explaining how her mom invited her over for what she believed was a simple get-together. Instead, she walked in to find the man she broke off an engagement with sitting comfortably at the table. The poster, a 29-year-old woman, says she was with 'Eric' for four years and engaged to him for one before the relationship ended five months ago. She discovered inappropriate messages he had been sending to a coworker, nothing physical, she says, but certainly a breach of trust. 'I ended things, returned the ring, blocked him on everything,' she writes. 'And honestly? I've been doing a lot better since.' While she has moved on from the relationship, it appears her mother hasn't. The woman explains that her 60-year-old mom always liked Eric, 'Like, too much,' and struggled to accept the breakup, even after she was told why it happened. 'I tried to be gentle when I told her why we broke up,' she writes. 'But she kept making excuses for him, 'men are visual creatures,' 'he didn't do anything physical,' etc.' The poster says she made it clear she didn't want to talk about Eric anymore, and for a while, it seemed her mom understood. But all that changed when she arrived at her mom's house for what was supposed to be a low-key evening. 'She invited me to a 'casual dinner' at her house,' the post continues. 'Said it would be just me, her, and my younger brother.' But when she got there, the woman says she froze in the doorway. 'Guess who's already there, sitting at the table like we're on an episode of This Is Your Life? Yep. Eric.' Her mom brushed it off like it was nothing, greeting her daughter with a chipper, 'Oh, look who stopped by! Isn't this nice?' And if that wasn't enough, Eric himself smiled and added, 'Hey stranger.' The woman says she didn't even take off her shoes. She turned around and left. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Later, she texted her mother to explain how betrayed she felt, only to be told she was being dramatic. 'She said I was being dramatic and that 'she just wanted to help us find closure,'' the poster writes. But from her perspective, closure had already been found. 'I already had closure. I left him. I'm healing.' To make matters worse, her mom seemed more concerned with how things looked than with how her daughter felt. 'She told me I embarrassed her in front of a guest,' the woman adds. Now, the situation has grown even more complicated. Her younger brother is pressuring her to smooth things over and is suggesting she should've just 'stuck it out' for the duration of the meal. But from the woman's point of view, her mom's actions crossed a line. 'Honestly felt manipulative,' she writes of the surprise dinner setup. In her final plea to Reddit, she's not asking for judgment, just clarity. 'So Reddit, am I overreacting? Or is this just totally nuts?' Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Teen Is in Trouble for Wearing Noise-Canceling AirPods at Dinner — but She Thinks She Had a Valid Reason
A Reddit user vented about her family's loud chewing at the dinner table — and revealed her 'sneaky' solution 'I sneakily put my AirPods into my ears (no music playing of course) and I covered them with my hair. I set them on noise canceling,' the 14-year-old Redditor wrote Her mom caught her, got mad and told her it was 'immature' and 'disrespectful' to wear AirPods to the dining tableA 14-year-old girl discreetly tuned out her family until she got caught. The teen explained on Reddit's 'Am I the A------' forum that her mom is 'mad' at her for wearing AirPods to the dinner table at a relative's house to cancel out the noise of her family's loud chewing and talking. 'I have very good hearing. I would say it's better than average,' she wrote. 'Of course, better-than-average hearing can be great sometimes, but it can also be a pain — especially considering the fact that I am very VERY sensitive to chewing noises. They truly disgust me.' 'This problem has been a real touchy subject in my family,' she continued. 'I've told my parents about it before, but they write it off as me being extra sensitive because I haven't eaten enough that day or something.' The girl then described her summer visit to the relative's house. 'He, as well as most of my family, is a very loud talker and an especially loud chewer,' she said. 'The noises have been overwhelming and I am sitting with people on either side of me and across from me.' 'Sometimes it gets so irritating I feel I must excuse myself to the kitchen,' she wrote, before detailing her 'polite and sneaky solution' to the noises around her. 'I sneakily put my AirPods into my ears (no music playing of course) and I covered them with my hair. I set them on noise canceling.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Her solution worked 'pretty well' with the chewing and the talking still audible but not as unbearable to her. However, her mom got mad and told her it was 'immature' and 'disrespectful' to wear the AirPods to dinner. Wondering if her mom is right, the teen asked Redditors, 'Am I the a------ for wearing noise-canceling headphones at the dinner table?' One reader reassured her that she's 'not the a------' and encouraged the teen to 'get tested for things like misophonia [severe sensitivity to sounds] because what you're describing is not just sensitive hearing.' is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! As other people chimed in about misophonia — which the Cleveland Clinic describes as 'a disorder where you have a decreased tolerance to specific sounds' — the teen responded to their comments. 'Thank you! I told my mom about it and she looked into it,' the teen replied in an update in her Reddit thread. 'She is allowing me to wear headphones now and we will talk to my therapist about it too!' Read the original article on People
