Just about every night.
Unless I have a political meeting to attend, or my husband has work responsibilities, we rarely skip having dinner together as a family. We try not to make plans with friends that separate us at dinner time (it happens once in a while), or run errands that keep us out too late.
We started family dinners when we got married. We have worked to maintain a regular dinnertime together since having our son. Which, is definitely more challenging, but as he has gotten older, it’s getting better.
There are a couple of non-negotiables for our family meals.
We say grace. Praying to thank God for our meals is a simple, but profound, way to keep God at the center of our lives. When the day has gotten out of control, and perhaps we have not focused spiritually as we should, at least we have three meals to help us refocus our attentions on Him. Prayer is a calming and unifying act of family worship (which could be another post entirely).
We start eating together. It’s not a catch-as-catch-can situation, with people helping themselves before everyone is seated. Or piling up a plate and heading for their room, the computer, or television. It’s not formal either. Just organized.
We try a little from every dish. We adopted my brother-in-law’s “no-thank-you portion” idea. Otherwise known as your bite is your vote. You have to try a dish before you can say “No, thank you” to it! (To be fair, at this point, since I am the one making dinner, it’s easy to follow this rule – I tend to make dishes I know we like!).
We talk. To each other. (Gasp!). We don’t watch TV, listen to the radio, or talk on the phone. Family dinner is for family (and guests).
We use real dishes and silverware whenever possible. It lends a solid-ness to the meal. Allows us to linger. Makes dinner special, thought-out. (Saves money too, and reduces waste!).
We end the meal together. It doesn’t just fizzle out. Nobody wanders off to do their thing. If one of us is finished before the other, we’ll sit at the table companionably and continue our conversation while they finish eating. Who wants to sit at a table eating by themselves?
You don’t have to have huge 7 piece dining sets or a fancy antique buffet table to make dinner a quality time for family. A simple kitchen set, or other flat area can be covered with a cloth and become a delighful dinner table, a spot to bring the family together for a short meal and conversation.
I’m always looking for ways to keep the family dinner tradition alive in our home. It’s not easy. The world continues to get more rushed and busy. Family dinner is a quiet space to gather and to grow. And I want to keep it intact!
Do you have family dinner in your home? How do you make it special for your family?
brett
Monday 25th of July 2011
we do family dinner too. the kids used to stare at me when i asked what their favorite part of the day or weekend was but they are so used to asking they beg to be the one to ask someone else in the family that same question! i grew up with family dinners- i love them.
brett
Monday 25th of July 2011
we do family dinner too. the kids used to stare at me when i asked what their favorite part of the day or weekend was but they are so used to asking they beg to be the one to ask someone else in the family that same question! i grew up with family dinners- i love them.
Chelly
Sunday 24th of July 2011
We also say a blessing before the meal and on Friday evenings we have candles that little one gets to blow out. DD is 2 and she sets the table and usually helps do something to help prepare, maybe ripping some lettuce, cutting some cucumber, mixing etc.
Deut 8:10 is the commandment to bless YHWH *after* the meal. Which is difficult to remember as it says in scripture that the reason behind the blessing after the meal is so that we do not forget YHWH when our bellies are full. It's also a lot easier getting dd to be into the blessing when her tummy is full and not drooling over the food while we pray!
DH is gone most evenings for work and those dinners we usually eat picnic style on a blanket in the living room and sometimes I'll even make us a fort. DD loooooves food and sitting on the floor together is more relaxed and fun, so she really enjoys the special dinners we have together.
Chelly
Sunday 24th of July 2011
We also say a blessing before the meal and on Friday evenings we have candles that little one gets to blow out. DD is 2 and she sets the table and usually helps do something to help prepare, maybe ripping some lettuce, cutting some cucumber, mixing etc.
Deut 8:10 is the commandment to bless YHWH *after* the meal. Which is difficult to remember as it says in scripture that the reason behind the blessing after the meal is so that we do not forget YHWH when our bellies are full. It's also a lot easier getting dd to be into the blessing when her tummy is full and not drooling over the food while we pray!
DH is gone most evenings for work and those dinners we usually eat picnic style on a blanket in the living room and sometimes I'll even make us a fort. DD loooooves food and sitting on the floor together is more relaxed and fun, so she really enjoys the special dinners we have together.