Have you ever noticed that the dining room table has become more of a decoration than a tool to bring your family together?
Is everyone in your household so busy that they simply do not have time to sit down together?
As a busy family we do not often notice this until it is too late. Plans are made and lives move in different directions. So what can we do to ensure that this time honored tradition and family right remains a part of our lives?
One night is all it takes. Let your family know that one night per week you will be sitting down to dinner as a family. Look at each schedule and determine which night will work best for everyone. By including each family member in this decision no one should feel left out or forced into something they don't want to do. Even if there is resistance at first, don't back down. According to a study at Harvard University, "The Family Dinner Project" it has been shown that family meals are linked to an increase in both self esteem and ethical thinking. It is also relates to a reduction in depression, substance abuse, and various harmful disorders. How is this so?
When we take the time to sit around the table together something amazing happens. We speak with each other, listen to what is going on, and most important we learn about the people we love. People change with every experience. The child you knew yesterday will not necessarily be the child you see tomorrow.
Plan your day each week, take a vote on what everyone wants to eat that night, and make it a group decision. If they want to help prepare the dinner, even better. Give it some time to become a tradition. Your children will thank you someday when they have their own family.
Please feel free to comment below. This is your blog too, and I will be more than happy to post your own results, dinner ideas, or helpful recipes.