How often do you sit down with the whole family for dinner?
By Bunny2
@Bunny2 (2102)
Australia
February 23, 2007 11:43pm CST
As a family, we sit down almost every night of the week and most Sundays and eat dinner together. Sometimes there are others present such as the twins' best friend (nearly always) or the twins' girlfriends. Usually there are between 5 and 8 of us. At weekends, especially Saturday that might change as they each do their own thing. But our family dinners have become better and better as the years go on. We often sit for an hour after dinner (unless ther eis too mcuh homework) and just discuss whatever is going on in our lives. I really enjoy this.
How often do you all sit down together as a family and have dinner together?
18 people like this
81 responses
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
We try to do it every night, but most times 1 or 2 of us are out.
2 people like this
@kenisgold (40)
• Nigeria
24 Feb 07
Well my family sit and discuss every weekends,like saturdays and sundays,there is much fun in doing this.
2 people like this
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
I believe this is a really good practice but can't seem to get into it with our family . We are all off in different directions and everyone eats at a different time . It would be very rare for us to do this . We do it at Christmas time because we have over all the family but other then that we probably only do it a couple of times a month .
2 people like this
@Bunny2 (2102)
• Australia
24 Feb 07
I think it's harder as the children grow up. Mine are almost 19 and 17 (twins) and luckily they prefer to be here than elsewhere - as do their friends and girlfriends. Sometimes we work around someone else's timetable (basketball practice, soccer games, tutoring) but we usually manage several a week. Thanks for replying.
1 person likes this
@hi_gourab (242)
• India
24 Feb 07
a day has only 24 hrs !
that cannot be changed , but you can prioritize your daily work routine so that you have some time for your family may be its in minutes but it can have a century-effect on your family.
so try it out...
2 people like this
@edigital (2709)
• United States
24 Feb 07
Except holiday all of my family members usually sit together for dinner. On holiday I and others often go outside for outing or to friends or relatives house so it is difficult to attend dinner all together. Many times I and my other family members do dinner outside due to invitation. I do not see any better facility to sit down all family members for dinner as we our meal have fixed for each family and for younger one have more portion than elder one. My wife some time take dinner at the last time as she is boss or our dining and kitchen..lol
@drsbanerji (16)
• India
25 Feb 07
I do value family meals very highly, but can manage such occasions only very rarely. My relatives and even close family have developed interests rather different to my own over the years. We are now more drawn together by adversity and protocol than as a matter of daily routine. I think that your practice is a rare gift in this day and age, and hope that it continues to work well for you.
@mytwo_daughters (2663)
• United States
24 Feb 07
Since I have taken 2 jobs, it is hard for me to get to sit down with my family. Since I can be home for dinner 4 nights a week, I usually try and make something great for dinner so we can sit down.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
24 Feb 07
Unfortunately this is just a memory for me. My kids were only five and six when I left my wife. Now they're grown up and living far apart in WA, Perth and Broome, while I live in Thailand. Even now I don't eat with my new, 9 years, wife's family, as once again many miles seperate them. We even go one further, I usually eat at the table, while my wife sits on the floor in traditional Thai style with friends.
All I can say is your very lucky to have those special dinners, so enjoy and cherish the moments. Your post just took me back 50 years, and rejuvinated some wonderful memories. Thanks!
2 people like this
@Bunny2 (2102)
• Australia
25 Feb 07
Oh how sweet of you to say that. It must have been a tough time for you, leaving your children too. And it's not always easy leaving the country of your birth to live far away in a strange land. Still it's an experience and it's what makes us what we are. And, yes, I do enjoy our mealtimes together.
@chargoans (939)
• United States
25 Feb 07
My cousin is guilty of that same practice. He, like me lives in another state, and so he is alone most of the time for dinner. He has friends, but not family until he visits home.
1 person likes this
@hbk_maxy (66)
• India
24 Feb 07
in our family there is this unsaid rule dat every night we all together hav diner....all day we r busy with our daily choirs and dont get much time...but we alwaz make it a point to hav dinner together....its really a gud practice coz it strengthens our family bond a lot....we feel sum1 there who cares for us and wotevr b the case we alwaz stand united
2 people like this
@RogerRover (85)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
My parents think that it is important to at least try to all eat together. I have a brother and a sister who a rarely at the table together because of busy lives. We usually eat about 2 or 3 meals together each week
2 people like this
@naapranam (14)
• India
25 Feb 07
its very nice to have dinner with all our family members... i do usually when i am at home...but as i am working far away from home i miss the same...
2 people like this
@princemuyoc (28)
• Nigeria
25 Feb 07
its been long have dine with my family and ever since then i know what its take to dine with a member of a family ?
2 people like this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
We make it a point to sit down and have dinner together as often as we can. Sometimes it's not always possible, especially some nights when my partner is late home from work.
So then me and the kids sit and eat and my partner when he gets home.
Weekends are usually the one time we do it without fail.
2 people like this
@Charliefan101 (124)
• United States
25 Feb 07
We almost never sit down for dinner anymore. Since my mother works evening, and my father works day, it's been tough. We sit around the table for lunch on Sundays and that (usually) is a live-by requirement. :)
@andy_baex (428)
• Indonesia
24 Feb 07
everyday my friend i sit with myn whle family everyday, because it's make we strong and we can talk about anything that happend in a day and make support if among us have problem
@charmedgal1121 (50)
• United States
24 Feb 07
I try to make it a point to sit down every night with my family. I want to instill the meaning of family with my kids.
2 people like this
@vanchinathan (46)
• India
24 Feb 07
We used to sit down together everynight when we were young and now we all are grownup and have different type of working schedule, we are now unable to gettogether for dinner or any festive occasion and i often miss them whenever im having lunch or dinner, and im happy that atleast your having your dinner with ur family and try to maintain this as long as possible so that u will never feel alone like me, while having dinner or any other gettogether, im going to forward this to my whole family and see what their response is.
2 people like this
