Greetings, Miss Manners One child’s parents let her use her iPad with the volume set to loud during our huge family dinners, which can have anywhere from 10 to 21 people. As soon as she enters the house, she quickly passes everyone and heads straight to the table to set up her tablet.
This bothers me, and I think the host or hostess should let the parents know that electronics are not permitted at the dinner table. Although there are other kids her age there, their parents forbid them from using their iPads.
Some people think you can’t advise another parent how to raise their child, but I think the hostess can make such guidelines. It seems like my home and my rules.
So, Miss Manners, is it okay if we let the other guests eat in peace and let the parents know what the rules are at our house?
Why go through the parents, kind reader? Miss Manners advises you to get right to the point and politely explain that you are sorry, but electronics are not permitted at the dinner table. The youngster will then turn to face her parents, and you will need to find something important to do in the kitchen to keep your eyes off them.
You can always quietly drop a pair of headphones at her place setting if the idea doesn’t work out. so that the others can at least be quiet.
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(Questions can be sent to Miss Manners via email at [email protected], her website at www.missmanners.com, or by mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
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