AITA for leaving meal times with family early because I can’t stand them chewing food with their mouths open?
A Reddit user shares their struggle with mealtime etiquette at home, where their parents’ habit of chewing with their mouths open has become unbearable. To avoid confrontation, they’ve been leaving the table early, but their family is starting to notice. Read the full story below to see how they navigate this tricky situation.
‘ AITA for leaving meal times with family early because I can’t stand them chewing food with their mouths open?’
I genuinely don’t know if this is me being easily irritated or being afraid of pissing off my parents if I ask them to chew with their mouths closed. I used to be able to tune it out during meal times but it’s getting really noticeable as of late.
Like to the point I would finish my meal super-fast, wash my dishes, kiss them goodnight and get on with the rest of my evening. They’re starting to notice it right now and have been asking why I eat so fast. I’ve been managing to stall the inevitable by giving half-baked replies (e.g. I have some extra readings to do before tomorrow).
My parents are generally chill but are quite traditional on many things. I am not sure if asking them to chew with their mouths closed is considered rude but I am very much worried it would p**s them off.
I definitely will be an a%# if I keep lying to them on why I eat so fast but I am also worried of ruining my relationship with them due to my own personal irritations that doesn’t seem to bother them. AITA here? Or should I just build up the courage to remedy this 😭
Here’s what Redditors had to say:
holeeroller − You may have misophonia. My wife of 35 years does and she’s learned to live with it but sometimes she just has to leave the room.. NTA
RunWombat − Peoples, we’re not goats.. Close your mouth when eating.
IndependentAd2419 − Start off, “I hate to hurt your feelings, I know it is my problem, you have asked me why i eat so fast, perhaps it even seems silly to ask, but how about some consideration of not open mouth chewing….cannot help it…makes me feel ill.”
OliveMammoth6696 − NTA. We’re taught manners at a very young age. Eating with your mouth closed is one of them.
InValuAbled − There are headphones and Loop or Aura ear plugs that tune out specifically the sounds irritating to the more sensitive individuals. Maybe they can work for you.. NTA. You can’t help it.
Moto_Hiker − NTA. Cultural issue? I’d straight up tell them why I’m opting out.
Life-is-Foo − Nta. I think of you approach it as respectful with the goal of wanting to spend more time with them at dinner, they may be initially defensive, but if they’re reasonable they will understand.
I actually normally like the sound of people eating, like on food shows and travel shows, the sound of crunching and people enjoying food is nice to my ears. But when my husband’s friend moved in with us, we discovered that he eats so damn loud and wet! I could ignore it for a while,
but the past year it has reached its peak where I need to sit away from him or play music/TV loud enough because the sound of him eating makes me want to scream. Luckily I only have to deal with it a few more months
FairyFartDaydreams − NTA sounds like you have Misophonia and certain noises drive you to distraction
azewonder − NTA. For one, it’s rude and sounds disgusting. Two, I know firsthand how that misophonia can hit and make you feel like duct-taping someone’s mouth shut. I’d say something like “I know that this is a me issue and not a you issue, but could you please close your mouth when chewing?
This is the reason I’ve been leaving the dinner table early. I should have brought it up and been straightforward before now but I wasn’t sure how to approach it.” I completely get it though; my kid chews with his mouth open. I’ve tried to talk to him a few times, he’s oblivious to it and swears he’s not chewing openly. Unless we’re sitting in a loud restaurant, I have to go to another room when he’s eating.
hereforthedrama57 − NTA. That is both gross and poor table manners. My mom would have kicked us out of the dinner table.
Do you think the Redditor should confront their parents about their mealtime habits, or is it better to let it go to preserve harmony? How would you handle being bothered by something small but persistent in a family setting? Share your thoughts and advice in the comments below!