Comments on: Ways to Make Family Dinner More Meaningful: Share the Table https://thejoysofboys.com/family-dinner-share-the-table/ Parenting Resources for Raising Your Son from Boy to Man Mon, 29 Jun 2015 21:17:08 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 By: Kara https://thejoysofboys.com/family-dinner-share-the-table/#comment-69522 Sat, 20 Sep 2014 18:38:52 +0000 https://thejoysofboys.com/?p=5414#comment-69522 In reply to Tia.

I love this! Thank you for sharing all of your ideas. I can’t wait to incorporate these into our mealtime as well.

]]> By: Kara https://thejoysofboys.com/family-dinner-share-the-table/#comment-69516 Sat, 20 Sep 2014 18:30:19 +0000 https://thejoysofboys.com/?p=5414#comment-69516 In reply to Branson.

Oh, I hear you! My 2 almost 3 year old is impossible. But we try to be together at dinner at least a couple times per week.

]]> By: Branson https://thejoysofboys.com/family-dinner-share-the-table/#comment-66660 Wed, 17 Sep 2014 01:05:51 +0000 https://thejoysofboys.com/?p=5414#comment-66660 We struggle with keeping our 4-year-old at the table after he is done. We do really value sitting down to eat together though, and these are some great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Tia https://thejoysofboys.com/family-dinner-share-the-table/#comment-64152 Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:36:45 +0000 https://thejoysofboys.com/?p=5414#comment-64152 I’m a big believer in family mealtime, and think it can definitely help maintain family connection and help build individual worth (if mealtime is kept positive). I also agree it is very challenging to be committed to family mealtimes, even with young children – I know it will only get more difficult as my kids get older and are more involved in activities. Our goal is to place a premium on family time and if other things are interfering with that too much, some of them will probably need to go. We incorporate some of the same ideas that you mention above. Some other things/variations we also include: kids taking turns setting the table, going around the table and saying something positive about each family member (something we like or appreciate about them, something they do well, etc.), everyone saying something they are grateful for or something we are fortunate to have in our lives (trying to be cognizant of others who are not so fortunate at this time). Even if the kids eat quickly and ask to be excused, we don’t excuse them, but let them know that mealtime is not just for eating, but for having conversation with their family (and we often have to remind our oldest that that means listening to others too, not just talking). Thanks for the reminder on the value of family mealtime!

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