Family dinner hour

[siercia]

We've started trying to do "family dinner time" on the weekends when I'm home early enough to cook for all of us (for those who don't know, during the week I work until 7:00), and I'm not planning something that I think Widget won't like (and to that end, I've been trying to plan kid friendly meals). So far, it seems to be working nicely.

Widget gets a little more exposure to how big people eat, and we can both reinforce dinner table rules as well. And it means Widget gets a more varied fare - since I'll cook a roast beast for all of us, but wouldn't in time for just her dinner (and leftovers just aren't as good, ever). And, seeing us eat food seems to encourage her to eat them too - last night she was balking at broccoli, and when she saw me eating it with gusto she seemed a lot more interested in it, even though she still wasn't in love with it at the end of the meal.

It feels more normal to me too - we always sat and ate as a family when I was a kid - or at least we did by the time I remember, but I was the first. So maybe my parents didn't so much when I was small, but by the time my brothers were born there were two older kids to feed too, which makes a difference.

And the extra special bonus to it is that on family dinner nights, when Widget goes to bed at 8:00, I'm donefor the night and can relax instead of having to swing into action cooking her dinner. And that alone would make it worthwhile, even if there weren't other good bits.

Comments

[quiltlover.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I highly recommend having a family meal together as often as you can. We really try to do this most nights for dinner, and on the weekends for breakfast. I will say that it's a bit of work for me sometimes to get everything on the table by 6:00 each night. But I think the benefits are worth it. For us, it's a time when we get to be together as a family and talk to our kids and our au pair about what's going on in their lives. We get to teach them about things that are important to us, such as prayer. Julia, at 4, has become a very enthusiastic leader of grace. Caroline at 18 months knew to stop and be quiet and fold her hands for a few moments to thank God for our meal. And now she knows to say 'Amen' at the end of the prayer. It's adorable to see! (My mother is so proud).

We also get the opportunity to teach manners and expose them to different sorts of foods. One thing I try to seldom do is to prepare a separate meal for my kids than what we're eating (one exception is leftovers night where we may all be eating something different). That way they learn to try new foods. Often, if they refuse to eat something, it really isn't about the food at all, but rather about control. So I try to have a policy of -- this is what's for dinner; if you choose not to eat it, it's a long wait until tomorrow morning breakfast. But I never make them eat if they don't want to.

Also, remember the family dinner doesn't always have to be an elaborate meal. Simple foods work just as well. Some of our favorites include hot dogs (you can buy the light kind, if the full fat ones offend your dietary concern), tacos, turkey ham (you just slice it and heat it up), and even pancakes or waffles. It's not about the food, as much as it is about being together.