9 Stories From the Thanksgiving Kids’ Table, Like the 37-Year-Old Who Still Sits There on Purpose

Family & kids
10/31/2026
9 Stories From the Thanksgiving Kids’ Table, Like the 37-Year-Old Who Still Sits There on Purpose

The only real kids’ table I ever sat at was across the street, the year my mom’s shift landed on Thursday and the neighbors set up a card table in their hallway. I was eleven and brought the one dish I knew, pie in a coffee mug. These 9 stories come from kids’ tables all over the country, where the rules were strict and the rolls ran out first.

A 23-Year-Old Who Still Has to Sit at the Kids’ Table at Thanksgiving, Photographed by a Roommate

“My roommate is 23 years old and still has to sit at the kids’ table for Thanksgiving.”

Three Younger Siblings Moved Up With Their Spouses, and at 37 This Reader Is Still at the Kids’ Table

I’m 37 and still at the kids’ table. I have 3 younger siblings that sit at the adults’ table with their spouses but since I am single I still get put at the kids’ table. The next oldest at the kids’ table is 17. It’s getting ridiculous. Almost 40 and I still don’t get to sit with grownups.

A Couple Hosting in Their First House Put the Parents at the Small Table

When we had just moved into our first house in 1994, my wife and I assigned seats to everyone.

We put our parents at the small breakfast room table and all the people from our generation (siblings and some friends) at the big dining room table.

Everyone thought it was funny except my mom and her dad.

From the author:

The neighbors’ card table had one short leg. The kids across the street had a system: whoever got that corner kept an elbow on the table for the whole dinner. That year it was me, because I was the guest and nobody warned me. Kids learn a table’s weak spots in one meal. Grown-ups can sit at the same table for twenty years and never notice.

37 Years Old and Still at the Kids’ Table, and the Real Reason Is Sitting Right Next to Him

“37 years old and still at the kid’s table”

In reality, my two sons are there (5 and 9), and they’re a handful to deal with during any meal. I’m managing their meals, then I can relax with the rest of my family afterwards.

He’s my son, Ben.

The Kids’ Table at One Family Get-Together: Ages 27 to 11

“The ‘kids’ table at our family get-together. Age 27-11”

These are all the cousins on my dad’s side. None of us have had kids yet so this truly is the kids table for our family.

And we are missing at least 6 other people...

At 27, Thanksgiving at Mom’s Cousin’s Is Never Boring for One Reason

I’m 27, and my parents always complain about having Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s cousin’s, because of how boring it is. I’ll point out that I always have a good time.

“That’s because you always hang out with the kids.”

From the author:
I carried my pie across the street in four coffee mugs on a baking sheet, the way Mom set them up before her shift. The neighbor put the mugs on the kids’ table and told me they were mine to hand out. I gave the first mug to the youngest kid, because that’s what Mom always did with me. Kids copy what parents do at the table long before they copy anything they say.

The Oldest Cousin Was Finally Invited to the Grown-Ups’ Table, and Said No

I’m the oldest in our family. I refused my promotion the year I was invited up to the grown-ups’ table. We were all mid to late 20s by that point so I was happy to stay at the kids table with my sister, cousins and brother-in-law. We let the second oldest move up instead.

I’m now in my 40s and remain at the kids’ table so I can spend time with my nephews and niece whom I see once or twice a year since we live at opposite ends of the continent.

Cool Aunts Who Came to the Kids’ Table for Dessert, and a Clubhouse Under the Grown-Ups’ One

The kids table was loud, messy and fun. Once in a while, one of my cool aunts or uncles would join the ruckus too, maybe just for dessert, but we always loved special guests.

Not the same but another thing I used to love doing when I was young (like kindergarten-ish) is that I’d go under the grownups table when everyone was eating and just hang out there. Sometimes my little brother would join me.

This was also a good time to “mess” with one my cool aunts or uncles, like untie their shoe laces. It was kind of like a clubhouse under the dining room table. I loved it when any of the adults would notice and fake yell “hey what’s that under the table!”.

From the author:
The next day, Mom and I had our own Thanksgiving in pajamas, with mug pie for breakfast. I told her everything: the short leg, the mugs, the boy who ate three rolls before the turkey came out. Then she asked if I wanted to go back next year. I did. She never asked if I’d missed her. Parents ask about the food. What they want to know is whether you were okay.

A Grandpa Who Never Set Up a Kids’ Table, He Just Kept Building Bigger Ones

We never had a kids’ table, my grandpa just kept building bigger tables, adding leafs.... Setting up that massive stretched out table was always a good memory.

The grandpa in the last story never set up a kids’ table at all. He just kept adding leaves until everyone fit. The kids’ table is the first place a child learns that a family has rules, and it’s the first place grown-ups want to go back to.

Did you sit at the kids’ table, and when did you finally get promoted? Tell us in the comments.

Preview photo credit Stephilmike / Reddit

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