Kid table vs. grown-up table: a historic rivalry between young and old. But what defines young and old?
The kids’ table generally consists of a scantily clad fold-out, situated somewhere within ear-shot distance of the grown-ups. Six equally messy patrons (aged 17 years-old and below) surround the table, bubbling with energy and tomfoolery. The pros? An atmosphere that is high in energy and excitement. The cons? Kids have a strong aversion to tableside manners, and to all manners for that matter.
Meanwhile, the lofty Thanksgiving vets feast in the formal dining room. Sophisticated wit and two-too-many eggnog cocktails drive the dinner conversation. One or two recently inducted adults glance periodically at the kids’ table, homesick and nostalgic. The pros? You can relax and enjoy your meal in a low-stress environment. The cons? Adults are boring.
And then there’s this limbo area, where the kids at the kids’ table are really 21+ year-old adults of the legal drinking age—in which case, I give the nod to the youngsters.
But we’ll let the panel decide.