Parenting poll: Do you let your kids text message at the dinner table?

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  Posted by Sheelah N Tue May 19, 2009 12:12pm PDT

  No. Absolutely not. Not even when were are out to dinner. I have to be the bad guy and make the hubby and kid shut off or put their phones on vibrate at dinner. I find it rude to be out and have to hear someone else's loud ridiculous ringtone and their equally ridiculous conversation.

  When we are home, I dont answer the phone during dinner and I wouldnt want anyone else to texting at the table.

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  Posted by Alexis Tue May 19, 2009 12:29pm PDT

  No no and again NO. Not when we are home at dinner or out to dinner - absolutely not. They have PLENTY of time for that, it does not need to be done while we are having dinner! During our busy weeks, sometimes dinner is really the ONLY time we have to sit as a family and it needs to be our FAMILY time.

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  Posted by smccarth30 Tue May 19, 2009 12:35pm PDT

  Absolutely not! Not only do I not let kids text, but my husband has to turn off the phone as well (and I let other dinner guests know - nicely - that it would be great if they didn't use their phone). Most comply - and those that don't, well, I don't eat with them anymore. The only reasonable reason to answer the phone is if it's the babysitter. Everyone else can leave a message and wait an hour...

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  Posted by M H Tue May 19, 2009 1:14pm PDT

  Absolutely not! Dinner is when all phones and gadgets are silenced. It's sometimes the only chance during the day for all of us to be together. The only exception is if it's a TRUE emergency.

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  Posted by icenine Tue May 19, 2009 1:35pm PDT

  This shouldn't even be a question. I ask YOU, WHY do you provide your offspring with these items? The kids do not buy them, the sad sack PARENTS do. Too bad - growing up in the 50/60's meant being obedient to parents. Now you ask your kids what THEY want in the grocery store and MOLLY CODDLE your cherubs. I can only DREAM of modern day parents with backbone...

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  Posted by Poppy Tue May 19, 2009 1:43pm PDT

  Sadly, the parents are the example. I went out to eat and saw a table of five adults and two teens. They were *ALL* on cell phones. It was horrible...and this was at a nice restaurant!

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  Posted by Tue May 19, 2009 2:30pm PDT

  Absolutely not! All phones are banned from the dinner table, regardless of the situation. We also turn off the tv and the ringer on the house phone. There is nothing that can't wait for the 30-45 minutes we spend at the table together. That time is so valuable to our family. I no longer have to ask the kids to forego their gadgets - they just do it - which gives me hope that this is a habit that will continue. I resisted getting phones at all until the kids were old enough to be involved in extra curriculars that take them all over the county/state at odd hours. Both kids however, are on notice that 1) the phones do NOT belong to them, 2) are NOT private, 3) are not an "entitlement", and 4) are not for entertainment. It's 100% all about parental control.

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  Posted by Peter Tue May 19, 2009 2:34pm PDT

  So there texting big deal! I dont answer the phone anymore when iam eating but thats my choice...i remember when i was a teenager and the phone rang i would always answer it... Father eats an eye off his kid' and your worried about texting?

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  Posted by Lila Tue May 19, 2009 2:34pm PDT

  Nope. I have control of the phones, I pay for them so the way I see it, those are my phones that they can use,

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  Posted by Andy Tue May 19, 2009 3:53pm PDT

  I'm not going to lie. My tween text(s) at the table. NOT when we are home eating dinner but if she's out for dinner with us I catch her with the phone under the table or she takes trips to the bathroom. Shes a great kid, who makes good grades and is polite. if the worst thing she does is sneak a few texts them I'm luck. Shes just at that age where friends are important. I think its interesting that people are ranting about it. In reality it happens all the time and I notice more ADULTS checking blackberry's than tweens/teens texting.

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