When I went to college, I was shocked by the number of people I met who didn’t sit down to family dinners every night. Growing up, we always had dinner together when Dad got home from work. I didn’t think there was anything unusual about that. In fact, I thought everyone ate meals together.
Family-style dining is a valuable habit to get into, because it offers everyone a chance to discuss what’s happening in their lives. There’s always something to share, even a 7-year-old has a life of her own. Taking the time to sit at the table and enjoy each others’ company pulls each family member into one solid unit, even if it’s just for half an hour between soccer practice and building a vinegar- and baking soda-spewing volcano.
So, why don’t families eat together at the table anymore? The number one answer is time. Between working, running to practices, battling loads of homework and trying to breathe, putting together a meal and sitting together to chat and munch together can be really hard to do. And that’s not even factoring in that most jobs don’t run on a standard 9-to-5 schedule anymore.
While there are admittedly a truckload of obstacles to family-style dining nowadays, it’s still worth the effort to make it happen whenever possible. As kids get older, their schedules start to get even more wonky and unforgiving, so the younger you set the trend, the better.
What’s a mom to do? Only the best that you can… as a family.
Talk about why you feel it’s important to eat together and talk about what’s been going on with each other. You may feel the harsh stares of resistance coming at you, but with time, your kids will love and value it as much as you do. Once the framework is set, go for it.
Dinner… Unplugged — Make it a firm rule that nobody will talk on the phone, text, read, play video games or do anything else during your meal. This can be just as, if not more, difficult for the adults at the table as it is for the kids. And that is precisely why it’s so important. Every member of the family should be totally unplugged from electronics and into each other at least once a day. Nobody is more important to communicate with than your family is.
Make Adjustments — There will be times when not everyone will be available for family-style dining. That doesn’t mean that whoever is home has to go without the quality time. If you can make an adjustment here or there to accommodate everyone’s schedule, then that’s super awesome, but the rest of the family shouldn’t have to sit hungry for a long time to wait for one person.
Ready, Set, Table — While it’s mega-tempting to munch on the couch in front of the TV, it’s important to sit at the table. With a distraction like television, there’s no chance for you to let your hair down and just enjoy each others’ company.
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