My second goal for the new school year is to eat dinner as a family! I have made this goal several times, but I always revert to bad habits of serving up the kids at the counter, and then eating on my own later. I am going to try harder this school year. There are so many reasons to eat dinner together. Here are a few:
- Families who eat together develop strong parent child bonds
- Teens who regularly have meals together are less likely to get into fights, take drugs, be promiscuous, and drink.
- Children with families that eat together do better academically.
- Families that eat together generally eat more nutritiously.
- Children that are involved by setting the table, and clearing the dishes learn important skills.
- They grow up so fast, it’s time to make memories!
So, my goal this school year is 4 times per week we will have a family dinner! I know we can do it. Its going to be easier now than when they are teenagers and are gone in the evenings.
Here is what holds us back, and what I’ll do to change:
- Problem: Not having dinner prepared! Solution: Menu plan better and prep meals earlier.
- Problem: Husband not home till 6:30 and I hate eating that late: Solution: suck it up! 6:30 isn’t that late!
- Problem: Kids mess around at dinner and take forever to eat! Solution: Enjoy them! I will only have them for a short time.
- Problem: Meetings and evening activities get in the way. Solution: Have breakfast together instead!
Are you good with family dinners? If not, what is holding you back?
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Yep, we’re great at it. But before you think I’m too good…I have a five-year-old and a two-year-old. Not too hard to make that happen, huh? We usually don’t eat until 6 or 6:30 because of hubby’s schedule, but we love eating all together.
We eat dinner together whenver possible, which usually ends up being 7 nights a week. My husband’s schedule is really the only one we have to work around, so that makes it easy.
I’m a fan of eating late; my kids are pretty much starving and they’ll eat EVERYTHING I give them. Last night, we even used your cute plates and Megan was wondering if the Strawberry Guy has a name; I told her I’d ask you.
I eat with my children most of the time but my husband NEVER does. He comes home at 6:30 and goes running so he doesn’t eat until they are in bed. That is not something that is going to change so I do my best to make sure I always eat with them. Hubby eats alone.
We eat together most nights a week. If not all 3 of us then me and my son for sure. It is my favorite time a day, but things are busy so if it doesn’t happen I just try for the next day.
It is a rule in my house to eat together and wait for everyone to be sitting at the table. I love having everyone around the table eating together. All the stories of everyone’s day is great and who cares if it takes hours to eat, it’s your family!
Great post :)
we are really good with family dinners. It has been a priority since we married. I grew up in a highly dysfunctional family and we managed to eat together, so I figure our fully functional family can do the same:) Some days we eat early, and some days late, and some days someone is missing, but dinner is a constant in our home…a great touchpoint for everyone!
We eat together almost every night. It’s something I feel very strongly about. Honestly, (and this is sappy), but it’s one of my favorite memories from my childhood, and so it’s something I always wanted to implement. I actually wrote a paper on it in college. It was on a family tradition; this was mine! Cheesy, huh?! But the paper did win an award so I can’t complain!
Anyway. Love your post–with the problems vs. solutions. One of our problems is that my hubby gets home around 4:30, and he is STARVING! But, if he eats a snack, then he doesn’t want dinner. So, our solution is eating dinner at 4:30, which is SO EARLY! But, we sacrifice ’cause I feel so strongly about eating dinner together! I guess we’ll see what adventures arise when they become teenagers!
Thanx for this post!
You guys are amazing! I’m so impressed with the effort everyone puts forth into creating fabulous families! Thanks for inspiring everyone.
Emily, thanks for the plate shout out!! My sister and I call him Strawberry Guy.. but a business class at UVU gave him the name Carey the Berry. I thought that was pretty cute.
I hate to admit, we’re terrible about eating together. I agree that it’s really important, so I feel really guilty. We do all eat the same thing, but by dinnertime I’m exhausted & don’t want to sit at the dining table–I want to put my feet up and eat on the couch (& away from the kids). I just feel like I never get away from them, and dinnertime is one of the few times when they’re occupied & I can get away and enjoy a few minutes to relax. Or, if I do sit at the table, my husband doesn’t–he’s usually taking advantage of occupied kids & a few minutes on the computer.
Any better solutions for me?
My kids are older now, 3 have moved away and only 1 is still home, but we had dinner together every time we could. When they were small it was every night. Obviously as they grew and were into sports, jobs and clubs, this became less and less often, but we still managed to do it about twice a week. Sometimes I would even light candles and put on background music, other times it was a loud, loving mess. It was, as others have said, some of our favorite times.
Paige, I know how you feel! Maybe other readers will have better ideas, but here is mine. Instead of using your couch/ alone time to eat your dinner, use it veg with a bowl of popcorn or sip some warm cider. Other options: Have breakfast altogether. I think the idea is to sit down once a day and connect as a family. If your husband isn’t on board with breakfast or dinner, plan a game night / dessert hour, or other “connecting” activities.