In this series, I share my [correct] opinions and you get to decide if I deserve your validation or not.

Whether you realize it or not, everybody has at least one pet peeve. Maybe getting caught behind a slow walker/driver heightens your blood pressure just a tad. Or maybe someone interrupting you every time you speak causes your eye to twitch a little. Some want to scream when they hear someone sniffle or tap their pencil repeatedly. Well for me, any violent and unacceptable reaction you can think of is exactly how I want to react every time I see or hear other people eating in a disagreeable way. 

My mother has always taught me table manners. At a very young age, she began correcting me every time I placed an elbow on the table or talked while chewing at dinner or got food on my face. And as annoyed as my younger self would be, I have to thank my mom for it now. Because you know what? It’s become quite clear to me that other parents do not teach their children these manners. You may think that this topic seems unimportant (and trust me, I once felt the same way) but I have come to realize these manners are actually incredibly crucial for others’ sanity.

Maybe others don’t care. Maybe I’m the only one who cannot stand seeing food flying from people’s mouths or hearing the sound of food connecting with teeth and tongue. I hate it. Or maybe others do notice, and we are all just too afraid to correct one another. You tell me. Tell me that it doesn’t make you want to claw at your own face when someone starts speaking to you while also trying to chew up their fruit snacks (I want to barf just thinking about it). I really don’t need to see or hear that, thanks. 

I don’t care if you haven’t eaten in days and are starving half to death. I don’t care if you need to tell me that I’m about to die or that I just won the lottery. I don’t care if it’s my friend or my sister or my dad whom I love with all my heart. Chew and swallow your food. Quietly. With your mouth closed. Before you say or do anything. Please and thank you.

So here’s a quick list of the worst things you can possibly do while eating:

• Uttering even a single word while you have any food in your mouth– something about hearing someone talk and knowing that they have food in their mouth is sickening to me.
• Chewing with your mouth open (audible aspect)– even if you’re not speaking, I can still hear it.
• Chewing with your mouth open (visual aspect)– if I see food in your mouth, I will pepper spray myself.
• Making any type of noise while you eat (slurping, crunching, chewing, etc.)– stop it. You’re disgusting.
• Getting food around your mouth and not wiping it off– use a napkin??
• Breathing too loud while eating– yes, it’s a thing, and yes, it makes me ill.
• Basically anything that makes it obvious that you’re eating.

I’m not saying that I’ve never been guilty of these horrific crimes or any other impolite manners. But what makes me feel better is knowing that my mom hasn’t completely failed me [in this subject, anyway]. She has raised me to use manners, and for this, I am proud. So let me ask you this:

Am I valid🔥💯 for having this opinion?