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Real Food

Back-To-School Is a Great Time to Start Family Dinner Traditions

When I first started my family (Umm……..that would be 21 years ago now), I was a young mother and read everything I could about parenting.  I had all of the magazines and devoured each one.  I read a lot of great advice that I have used for each of my children and I also read a lot of nonsense advice that was used on my oldest and then quickly disappeared.  One thing that I read over and over was the importance of the family dinner.

 

Back-to-school family dinners

I have held on to that advice like my life depended on it.  Why?  I don’t know……….maybe because it’s good advice.  Family dinners are a good time to reconnect with your family.  These are the people that I love the most in the world………it sure is nice to talk to them once in a while.  I love to hear about their days and find out what matters to them.  I love to talk about food (big surprise there) and laugh at their jokes.  I just love to see their faces…….even when they are covered with food.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of FAMILY.  Sure, I spend a lot of time with my kids.  I watch their practices; I take them to their friends’ birthday parties; and I am actively involved with Girl Scouts and the music program at the high school.  What I have come to realize is that there really isn’t any “family” time in that.  What I mean is time for all of the family members to come together and interact with each other without outside distractions.  Don’t get me wrong……. me being at my child’s football games and dance classes is important to them, but I still think we need that “family” time.

 

Family Time

Family dinners are a great time to grab some of that family time.  The meals don’t have to be gourmet and you can set whatever time works for your family……..even if it is family breakfast.  We did that for a while.  We eat our family dinners quite late right now, but a few snacks get us there.  We tend to change our schedules depending on the sports season.  I’m willing to be flexible in order to keep my family dinners.

I encourage you to put family dinners on your schedule.  The time you spend together with your family, just may be your favorite part of the day.  I know it is for me.

Do you celebrate family dinners with any special traditions?  Who sets the table in your family?  Who does the dishes?  How often do you eat together as a family?

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4 Comments

« College Boy’s First Apartment and Cooking At College
Converting Recipes to Real Food »

Comments

  1. Gaye Christmus says

    August 21, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    My comment seems to have disappeared before my eyes….Anyway, I agree with you completely on the importance of family dinners.

    Reply
    • Juggling Real Food and Real Life says

      August 21, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      Oh no…………I wonder what happened there? It's good to know that I'm not crazy for insisting on old-fashioned ways.

      Reply
  2. Nicole Burkholder says

    August 23, 2014 at 5:10 am

    My husband's work schedule is so crazy and unpredictable right now, and I really miss sitting down together as a family for dinner. It only happens about once a week right now. I need to be better about making dinner a family affair, even when Daddy's not home!

    Reply
    • Juggling Real Food and Real Life says

      August 27, 2014 at 4:51 pm

      Boy, do I know crazy and unpredictable! That is the norm in our house. Years ago, my husband was always missing dinner so we had family breakfast together. I do think it's important to keep the family unit together no matter what the combination. I'm guilty of well…………daddy isn't here so eat wherever. There are still 4 or 5 of us that can fellowship as a family. Oh well……..I'm learning!

      Reply

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