Do you recall family dinners in your childhood? Even if there was just meatloaf, they were formal affairs. To have things moved, we had to ask. We had to ask for an excuse. To get people to sit down at the table, we need to shout and coax. We’ve made dinner more casual as a culture.
Family dinners were used to be shared. Not once or twice per week, but every day. If we’re lucky, we can eat McDonald’s on the way to work. A recent University of Minnesota study found that families now eat together less than three times per week and that meals take much less time than 20 years ago. We sit down, we inhale, we get up.
It’s good for everyone to eat dinner together as a family
It’s too bad because studies show that dining together can have amazing benefits. Teens who have dinner at least five nights a week with their families are less likely than others to use drugs or become depressed. They also tend to be more successful in school. Children who do not eat with their parents 60% more likely to smoke and drink. It makes perfect sense, dinner is one of the few occasions when we can all get together and talk. We run in different directions at other times. Dinner is a chance to get together, to share our worries and joys, and to just connect. The more we get to know each other, the easier it is for us to build good relationships with our children. We are more likely to have time after dinner together if we have dinner together. You might play Monopoly, solve a puzzle or read a book together.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to make time for dinner together, especially with shift work becoming more common. It is difficult for me to enjoy cooking on nights my husband is at work. I know my children won’t enjoy it, so why make it just for me? Instead of dinner becoming a family tradition, where everyone gathers at the table to eat together, it becomes chaotic depending on who is there on any given night.
Turn Dinner into a Special Occasion
Although traditions may seem outdated, this is one tradition we must preserve. This is a time we need. Even if your spouse isn’t available, you can still make an effort to get together with your children, even if it’s just for a few Corn Flakes and scrambled eggs. My New Year’s Resolution is to make family dinners more important. Even for the regular meals, we have started to make good food. My children love to drink orange juice from wine glasses. It seems to encourage them to be more polite. Even lighting candles has been a part of our daily routine. This not only delights my children but also makes the “yucky green stuff Mommy puts on food”-in other words, the parsley – a little less visible.
Prioritize dinner time and the family will follow
Although we always state that family is our priority, if we don’t make an effort to eat together, we will not be able to realize our dreams. We won’t be able to connect with our children if they spend all their time playing video games or with friends. This is the best time to do it. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.
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