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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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We were sitting at dinner last night and laughing. It was a beautiful laughter, all four of my kids and the dog with her nose in my lap (of course, she doesn't laugh, more like gives this low muffled groan). We weren't eating anything fancy, just mac-n-cheese, smoked sausages, peas and mandarin oranges. It wasn't any special occasion. It was just dinnertime. This is one of the ways we spend time together.
The family table is so important to me. It brings my family together nightly, except for the ocasional evening when we are so busy we can't eat together. I detest those nights, so I try very hard to not have them. We have things to do, but I make time for dinner, even if it is sandwhiches, hamburger helper or hot dogs. I hear of families that never eat together. My parents eat in front of the TV. They have a dinner table, but it just collects stuff. Mine has stuff, but we move it, eat around it. We can see each other's faces while we eat.
Some people are so busy that they have to eat in the car every night. Yikes, how not fun is that. We did that one night this week. The kids don't like it because I won't let them use ketchup in my van and they think it is one of the foods in the vegetable group. Plus, I have to eat finger foods, because it is crazy to eat a hamburger and drive..I almost need a bib when I eat as it is. It isn't relaxing, we aren't laughing and we are rushed.
When we eat together, we start with prayer. Sometimes we say what we are grateful for. I get to hear what happended at school. We tell jokes, albeit sometimes not so funny ones. My anecdotal son gives us some of his best lines at the dinner table. We try new foods and take comfort in the usual ones. I can look at my children and see them sometimes in a way I wouldn't, maybe see if there is something wrong or if something is right. It is a little harder with my teenagers, but I can still get a sense.
As my children get older and start making lives of their own, I can tell you probably one of the things I will miss the most when my nest becomes empty (if it ever truly does)--the family table, because it gives me so much joy and togetherness with my family.
Oh yes the dinner table is oh so important! As soon as we set down DS (3 yrs old) will ask everyone "so how was your day" then when he finishes asking everyone we ask him and his answer is almost always "peachy". It is so cute!You are absolutely right! There's no place like a family dinner table to learn how to talk and listen, laugh and commiserate, tease and be teased. Well said!
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