Wrong table or wrong attitude?

I've been pining for a dining room table that doesn't need a table cloth. You know, a cruddy, old, scratched up, solid wood table that can be played on, coloured at, and used any day of the week - not just when family comes over! A table that can take some abuse!!

We treat our table as if it were 'precious'.  Yes, it came from Ethan Allen (on sale - floor model), and it's veneer, and it shows scratches in the glossy finish... 

but, there is something I tend to forget...

...it's our table!!

Let's use it for homework and craft projects...let's race toy trucks on it...and let's, maybe, have dinner sometime - without the table cloth!!!


Who actually uses their dining room? Show of hands please!!!



ps. It's a two person job to remove the center leaf...total hassle  UPDATE: Or a one person job -if I smoosh the table against the rad to close it!!!