Do you eat dinner together as a family?
By doulaworks
@doulaworks (1079)
United States
December 17, 2008 8:25pm CST
growing up we alway ate as a family. When I had my own children, we always set the table, and sat down as a family say grace etc. we have more rules about dinner too. no tv, no radio, no answering the phone (unless a family member wasn't home or I was on call for a client due to deliver a baby). We have had the same "rules" for 28 years and now my grown kids have the same rules at thier home with thier kids. We all took turns talking about our day and just generally checking in with each other. Many tiems when my kids have a frined over, they were shocked at the family dinner at our house and many many times over the years other kids would say they wiished thier family would sit down and eat together even once in a while. I know many families dont' even eat at the same time, much less at the same table. so how do things work for your family?
3 people like this
11 responses
@CJay77 (4438)
• Australia
18 Dec 08
We also eat together as a family when I was a child. I am married now and its just me and my husband at home, we eat together all the time, except when my husband has to go for a meeting outside his office! My husband office is in the same building where we lived and he always come home for lunch.
1 person likes this
@mindym (978)
• United States
18 Dec 08
When I was growing up, we did eat as a family at 5:30 p.m. sharp. I know that families are busy, but I think dinner/supper time is an important part of the day to be able to communicate about how the day went without any distractions such as the phone, tv, etc. I live by myself, so I just eat when and where I want to, but someday when I have a family, I would like to eat as a family at the table.
1 person likes this
@doulaworks (1079)
• United States
18 Dec 08
I promise that if you make it a priority, most often, it will be well worth it! Thanks for the comment!
@roger3611 (200)
• China
19 Dec 08
We have four mems of our family, and all of us is saperated, we meet each other only when my sister and me are on holiday, so we don't have enough experiences of having dinner together, and the situation will get worse...
But anyway, we enjoyed every dinner together...
1 person likes this
@xxaznsugaxx (146)
• United States
19 Dec 08
I live away from my parents for college so I rarely get to eat together with them. However, whenever I'm on vacation, we ALWAYS eat together no matter what (dinner that is lol). We believe that a family that eats together, stays together. Those are the words of wisdom from my mom lol.
1 person likes this
@leeapollo (611)
• China
18 Dec 08
I want to eat dinner together as a family.
but we were seperated in different places.my parents eat at home ,my sister eat at work place and I eat at out side near my work place.so we seldom have time to sit together to have a dinner.
happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@doulaworks (1079)
• United States
18 Dec 08
maybe you could find time each week to work it in your busy schedules. I am sure you will find it worth every effort! Thanks for your comment!
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
18 Dec 08
We are but only 3 in the family. My hubby and I and my one and only son. All of us are going to work everyday day so in the morning, it was hard because we are all rushing to go to work and would just eat our breakfast in the office. Of course we also eat lunch in our respective offices. It is only during the night that we have time to be together in a meal so we do not skip this opportunity anymore. We do really consider dinner time an important time to be really together. For this reason, I also make sure that the food we will eat is something we will really enjoy. It's nice to eat light but nutritious food during the night. We also find pleasure in exchanging our experiences during the day while eating our dinner. So I really am sad for those family who do not eat together. I believe they are missing something in their lives.
1 person likes this
@doulaworks (1079)
• United States
18 Dec 08
IT sounds like you are on the similar path that we choose. it is great to have that family time each day! Thanks for your comment.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
18 Dec 08
We never sat down as a family either, not even at family get together's. I don't know why, but we just never did. Now though, living with my fiance, we sit at the kitchen table almost every night unless it's take out. Even then, we'll sit at the table occasionally.
I think it's great to have the "family time" then and I wish that my family would have partook in this activity more, but they didn't. I'm glad your daughter also did the same, and I plan to bring our family together (once we extend it) at the table.
Have a wonderful holiday season?
1 person likes this
@Margarit (3676)
• Philippines
18 Dec 08
Yes! we dinner together as a family and up until now we still practice the same manner. I would say this is our favorite time, we love to share and talk how our days is doing. we are very close family and im glad and proud my family. we don't do all the rules that your family did but we certainly do the blessing of the grace we have in the table. Yes, i do agree that some of my friends are wishing to have their family together even just in the meal time but indeed to sad they are that busy and they just don't practice that way. I am hoping that whenever i have own family we still going to do the same practice.
1 person likes this
@mrbrownedeye (781)
• Philippines
18 Dec 08
it was a good tradition in our family that we should have to ate together in both dinner and lunch. except that one can get out of time to be there or have some appointment that's a different story. gathering with the family in table is very rare as i can see it was almost extinct. being with the family in one table (eating) helps lots of motivation and teaching thing such self respect, discipline, politeness and etc... (good manners) where you can get to know more about each of the member in the family. in our case we do ate together.
@jzqt27 (541)
• Canada
19 Dec 08
yes, i usually have dinner together back then, maybe four years ago. right now, we only have dinner together once a week, on sunday. everything change for me and my family, because they work at a restaurant which they have to work at least 10 hours a day and six days a week.
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
19 Dec 08
Normally yes, it is a good chance for family communication, which is very important to keep a positive relationship. But I notise more and more families are away from the tradition, as the kids are set free to their own communities, some even without a notice to their parents. Even sitting together, they are reluctant to share with their parents about their study, work and whatever.
It happened that I saw from the TV yesterday, that a famous Taiwanese composer currently staying in Beijing, named Li Zhongshen, has managed to keep the practice. However busy he is, he will be home by 5,and set the dinner table ready by 6, expecting his two daughters enjoying the dinner together. His daughters are likewise happy to share with their father, being aware of his hardship as well as appreciating his accomplishments. The daughters visits their mother during the vacations.
It seems the parents should take the initiative, keeping the tradition and let the kids know the necessity from early ages.
1 person likes this