Family Meals

[Michael]

It's well documented that having meals together can be beneficial for families.

Unfortunately, it's also something that has been lacking in my home since the beginning. Generally speaking, most traditional "sit down" family meals were reserved for holidays, birthdays, and vacations. Sure, we had them at other times as well, but not nearly on a regular basis.

Oh, to have those years back...

However, I think there's something to be said for "better late than never." Over the last couple months, I've made a concerted effort to prepare dinner for my family - almost every night - to be enjoyed together at our dining room table. The boys have absolutely loved this. I love this. My mother (who usually joins us) loves this. We actually sit together and talk, joke around, and NOT watch TV or play on tablets. I never want this relatively new habit of ours to end.

How are meals done in your home? Are you satisfied? Is there something you would change if you could?

[Chris]

Breakfast around here through the week is like a Zoo. We do sit down to meals at night at least 4 to 5 nights a week usually weekends are the nights we don't. Even if we do there is usually one or two of us not here. Sitting down to meals is something that mom has done since I've moved in. Not having that it was something that I really liked and it was a bonding time for me and them.

[King Arceus]

My dad and I work completely opposite shifts. He is usually gone by the time I get home. The only meal that we sometimes have together when it isn't my days off is dinner. Even then it's only 2-3 times a week.

[Rebecca]

Family dinner is something we try our best to maintain. It's not always a gourmet meal with everyone there every night of course, and sometimes school events, extracurricular events, etc.. get in the way, but it's something we do as much as possible. If someone needs to be somewhere else or even just wants to have dinner at a friend's house, that's generally fine, but if you're home, dinner isn't optional. Like you, we're pretty firm on no TV, no electronics at the table, so everyone can talk and pay attention to each other. The kids help set the table and do dishes (my husband is in charge of dishes, and gets more hands-on with that part when there's a lot to be cleaned), and sometimes I'll get them to help cook, which is something we usually enjoy doing together.

Dinner can be anything from something special I've spent entirely too much time making to takeout to pizza delivery. The kids sometimes joke that my best skill is ordering dinner. The important part for us is being together, which is something I'm thankful for.

Breakfast is pretty much a free-for-all every day, though we will sometimes make french toast or something special on the weekends.

[King Arceus]

Do you lick off the mixer things also? I used to when I was younger.

[Frankie]

In my young days, we almost always sat down together as a family to eat.

Unfortunately, it also seemed quite often to be an opportunity for my brother and me to bicker, or worse. I remember quite a few meals which ended, for us boys at least, with being sent upstairs to await the consequences of failing to behave ourselves nicely, despite repeated warnings. Ouch!

[Jack Rabbit]

We have always eaten meals together at the table. After we eat one of us kids clears the table and one washes the dishes. Since there's 4 of us we have every other day off. If one of us cooks then we don't have to clear or wash dishes. I like it because it's easier to eat off a table than with a plate in our lap.

[BrianW]

We always eat supper together and on the weekends usually lunch together too. But not at the table. My mom's more comfortable in her chair in the family room so we usually eat there. And at my uncle's we never eat at the table just always in the front room on the sofa. It is not at a table but we still get to talk to each other.
Mom cooks and Robbie and I do the dishes. Then we take turns, 1 takes out the trash and the other mops the kitchen floor.

[JohnB]

(10-01-2016 06:45 AM)Frankie Wrote:  In my young days, we almost always sat down together as a family to eat.

Unfortunately, it also seemed quite often to be an opportunity for my brother and me to bicker, or worse. I remember quite a few meals which ended, for us boys at least, with being sent upstairs to await the consequences of failing to behave ourselves nicely, despite repeated warnings. Ouch!

What's to add boys will be boys and their bottoms pay the consequences