Growing up, I always thought it was strange that my friends' families never sat at the table together for dinner. I naturally concluded that this was because it was easier for me and my friends to just eat on our own time, but I still assumed every other family ate together just like my family did. When I got older, I realized that my family was actually the aberration.
Every night of the week my parents would make a home-cooked meal and we would sit down together to eat as a family. It didn’t matter if my brother and I had sports practice, or if one of my parents had to work late; we made sure to find a time that worked for everyone.
If we were going to be busy one night, we would order takeout to save some time, but we would still sit down and eat it at the table. Taking plates to our rooms or to the living room was never an option, and the dinner table was a strict no phone zone.
It also didn’t matter if we had company; they had to sit down at the table as well. (I’d like to take this time to apologize to any of my friends who may have felt uncomfortable being forced to sit at the dinner table with my family and me. I really didn’t know that this wasn’t a normal occurrence for you).
Especially now, when technology is making face-to-face communication all but obsolete, this kind of social interaction is vital, especially for a family. When a family has a meal together, it ensures that everyone will have time with one another to catch up and share what’s going on in their lives. The world is so fast-paced and everyone is always on the go, it’s far too easy to get caught up in the rush of things and miss out on connecting with your family.
It is especially important for young children to know that they will have their parents’ undivided attention at a certain time each day. Family dinners are arguably the most important thing you can do for your child.
The routine of dinner together each night and the sharing and conversation that occur show a stability that is hard to rival. So put away the distractions and talk to your kids. Connect with them.
I think family dinners are what nurtured the great relationship that I have with my parents to this day. I’m pretty much the only twenty-something I know who loves to spend time with their parents in their free time. I feel like I’m always asking my parents, “So, what’re we up to this weekend?”
I don’t think this connection and friendship I have with my parents came naturally. It is definitely something that was fostered by each meal we shared at the dinner table.
Of course there were nights where I got lectured at the table and I wasn’t in the mood to socialize, but family is there for each other through thick and thin, no matter what; and this was only reiterated through our daily meals together.
I can’t imagine what my relationship with my parents would be like if I grew up without eating dinner together. I see my friends' estranged relationships with their parents and I can’t help but think that family dinners actually had a big impact on the dynamic. So make sure you take the time each day to share a meal with your family. What do you have to lose?
