Great article, Lucia, thank you! They say we teach people how to treat us and somewhere along the way, your family has learned - possibly by the anger in call number 3 - that it takes three calls for them to move!

I wonder what would happen if you told them, "From now on, I give you five minutes' notice that lunch will be on the table and I expect you to move toward the kitchen then. By the time you are seated, I will be serving hot food. If you don't turn up, I am not calling a second or third time. I will eat without you and you can have it cold when your stomach says it is time to eat."

:)

That's the sort of approach I took with my family if things like this were an issue. They learned quickly that I meant business!

I guess the up side for you is that they do the clearing up etc while you sit and read! But it is not nice to eat alone, especially if you have family in the same house!!!! Thank you for sharing this story.