Why We Need to Eat Dinner with Our Kids
Family meals are about more than food
Years ago, we started a tradition in my family:
To eat dinner together at the dining table.
We miss each other at breakfast when my husband leaves early for work. We spend the day apart at work and school.
So dinner is often the only precious time we get as a family.
We switch off the TV. I remind us both to put away our phones. And we sit across from each other.
Why do we do it?
Over the table, we find out if there are any issues we can help each other with. Such as why a group of boys is bullying my daughter. We discuss how she feels about it and she tells us exactly they are doing.
We reassure her that her feelings matter and no-one should feel scared at school. Together, we come up with a plan to deal with the situation.
Over the table, we share worries. Such as whether my husband is about to lose his job in the next organizational restructure.
We work through how he can do something to feel more in control — rather than feel resentful and unappreciated. We chat about what he’s done so far, and how he can easily get another job — while hustling on the side.
