It is so easy to get caught up in the madness of everyday life. Trust me, I live it. And whether you’re a SAHM or a working mom, there is always still so much left to do around the house. It’s a never-ending cycle. But I believe that amidst all the chaos, busy schedules and chores, there’s always enough time for family dinner.
Family dinner is most precious to me.
Ever since I was little, my parents made it a “rule” to always have dinner together as a family. This was our special bonding time where we talked about our day and shared things with each other. It truly helped us connect and spend time together with school and work keeping us away from home all day. It was the only time when our focus was to enjoy a meal and each other’s company without thinking of anything else.
Much of what we know about parenting comes from how we were raised and what we were taught. I love that my parents instilled family mealtime in me from a very young age. It is most definitely something I want to continue doing with my own family.
There are so many proven benefits to family mealtime.
As the Family and Children’s Center notes, families who eat together on a daily basis tend to:
- Have more nutritious meals
- Build better relationships
- Set an example for the children
- Prevent obesity
- Lower the chances of kids engaging in high-risk behaviors
To me, the most significant benefit is that it strengthens a family’s relationship while giving our kids a sense of belonging and importance. We show them that family time is a priority. It shows unity and involvement within our families and we need to teach our kids that time together is treasured.
I started to make family mealtime a priority for our family when our girls were 2 years old. Of course, I had to adjust my routine and schedule so that dinner would be ready for all of us at their time. I also had to modify the meals so that I would only cook one meal we all enjoyed (I used to cook separately for them). The first time we all sat together at the table they got so excited they wanted to eat off our plates. I could truly see they loved sitting alongside Daddy and me and it made them feel important that the four of us were enjoying our food together. As little as they may be, they notice so much and they know that mealtime is our special family time.
There’s nothing better than ending a long day connecting with those you love most. The laundry, the dishes, the mess, and the endless amount of chores will still be there 20 minutes later. Yes, you will go to bed a little later because things are put off but trust me, something as simple as eating together and enjoying each other’s company is priceless.
