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In the 50’s and 60’s, you didn’t even talk about “family dinner” as a Thing because it was just a given in your house and every other friend’s house. Restaurants were for very special occasions like weddings and fast food didn’t yet have a grip on us. Our mothers cooked – some better than others – and we all sat down at table together to eat. On the rare occasion one member of the family was out late, dinner was pushed back so we all ate together.
This simple, daily routine made a big difference I think, in the raising of kids. It was the time when the stories about the day came out. We actually talked to one another without other distractions. Studies have linked regular family meals with the kinds of behaviors that parents want for their children: higher grade-point averages, resilience and self-esteem. Additionally, family meals are linked to lower rates of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, eating disorders and depression.
In my house, family dinner is where we tasted alcohol, spoke some German and learned manners and the questionable practice of eating everything on our plate. The latter led to brussel sprouts out the nose of one brother, my own gagging over turnips and the youngest brother hiding food he didn’t like on a rail beneath the table. This was pretty disgusting when discovered.
I eat alone most every night now, usually in front of the TV. It’s a more comfortable seat. But when I was married, I always set the island counter for dinner. Even if we ate rapidly to accommodate a planned activity, I wanted the just-us time. When ex began finding lots of reasons to not do that it was one of the more subtle signs of his retreat that I picked up on. He didn’t want to talk anymore. So I started suggesting more dinners out. First, it gave me a break because my days were long too, but inwardly I knew it was time alone with his undivided attention. Until he became married to his cell phone and his new “friends”.
OK, so eating together doesn’t necessarily keep the family together. But I think it helps and when I’m coupled again I’ll happily leave the TV room to eat.
This simple, daily routine made a big difference I think, in the raising of kids. It was the time when the stories about the day came out. We actually talked to one another without other distractions. Studies have linked regular family meals with the kinds of behaviors that parents want for their children: higher grade-point averages, resilience and self-esteem. Additionally, family meals are linked to lower rates of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, eating disorders and depression.
In my house, family dinner is where we tasted alcohol, spoke some German and learned manners and the questionable practice of eating everything on our plate. The latter led to brussel sprouts out the nose of one brother, my own gagging over turnips and the youngest brother hiding food he didn’t like on a rail beneath the table. This was pretty disgusting when discovered.
I eat alone most every night now, usually in front of the TV. It’s a more comfortable seat. But when I was married, I always set the island counter for dinner. Even if we ate rapidly to accommodate a planned activity, I wanted the just-us time. When ex began finding lots of reasons to not do that it was one of the more subtle signs of his retreat that I picked up on. He didn’t want to talk anymore. So I started suggesting more dinners out. First, it gave me a break because my days were long too, but inwardly I knew it was time alone with his undivided attention. Until he became married to his cell phone and his new “friends”.
OK, so eating together doesn’t necessarily keep the family together. But I think it helps and when I’m coupled again I’ll happily leave the TV room to eat.