Families Bond Through Mealtime

Does eating a meal together really bring a family closer together? Having grown up in a family that ate every dinner together I think I have some real knowledge on this subject. If you like to watch old family sitcoms on TV you would notice they all showed families eating together. Even in most modern movies and TV shows today you will see most families portrayed eating a meal together. Take notice of it the next time you are watching TV. Why is this? Maybe it's just the all American dream that a family eats together. It's that one for all, and all for one, support that is represented in sharing time over a meal.

However, in today's busy world I see more families eating on the move, going from one event to another. Many are eating in the car, or grabbing junk food to tide them over until they can get some real food. If you have more than one child going to a game or practice it gets even harder to juggle a busy schedule with eating dinner together, and that's not even considering the work schedules of the parents!

From my observations, families are missing out on developing a sense of family identity, traditions, and togetherness when they don't eat most of their meals together. This time together can help children feel safe and secure in a confusing world. Mealtimes help build strong family ties by giving time to connect with one another. It's a great time to check in daily with how one another are doing physically, mentally and socially.

There's a bond that is formed when you share a meal together, much like a bond of a friend when you meet for lunch. And why are so many business deals made over lunch; because a bond is created in business when you meet over lunch. There are many reasons why people share a meal with one another, but none as important as sharing a meal with your family.

If a family mealtime is established early on in a child's life it becomes their normal routine. As they grow, mealtime together is an expectation that often becomes the highlight of their day knowing they will have undivided attention of their parents. This expectation doesn't mean as a parent you have to cook big meals every night. It just means you as a family are choosing to be together sharing whatever food is fixed, and sharing in conversation with one another. By making your family a priority they will feel loved and important.

While you are sharing food and the events of the day, you are creating a comfortable routine where manners are taught and dreams are shared. It should be a relaxed time. Yes, there will be struggles that develop when a child doesn't want to eat those peas, or power struggles over who gets to talk first, or when a child is relating who did what to whom. Eating together does not fix everything that goes on in a family, but it certainly helps families learn to communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships, and build a better sense of family unity.

It's a time when your Children learn what is important to you, and you learn what is going on in their life and what is important to them. With that knowledge you will together become a stronger family. It's an opportunity to establish family traditions, share experiences and feelings, and a way to build family memories.

To make the best of this time you will want to:
* Turn off the TV and all electronic devices.
* Keep meals simple.
* Encourage uplifting conversations.
* Everyone is to listen with respect to each other.
* If correction is needed simply state what needs correcting and why. Use this as a teaching time without a long lecture.
* Equal time for all to talk. It's important that everyone has a chance to share and not feel left out.
* Ask simple questions like what was your favorite thing about your day and why? Or what was the worst thing about your day and why? These two simple questions will get the conversations flowing.

I really hope you will try and plan some family meals together. It really does help unite a family. You chose to marry and have children to share your lives and dreams together, and what better time is there than sharing a meal together.