Let’s not kid ourselves, this world we live in is getting busier and busier with each passing day. It is certainly busier than when you or I were young, that is for sure. With how busy you and your family are, it can be really tough to keep in touch with each other. Of course, one of the best traditions of the past, the family dinner, can help keep your family together today as well.
Now, it might seem like a simple solution, but the family dinner is a family tradition for a reason, and it isn’t just to enjoy delicious food! It can provide your family with remarkable benefits that you might not realize until much later in life. In this article, I’ll give you a quick rundown of all the amazing reasons to make sure you eat with your family every night.
Family Connection
The first and most obvious reason to eat with your family every night is to keep yourself connected to each other’s lives. This is especially important if you have older children who are starting to do more and more on their own. By eating together, you open up the lines of communication and can help keep yourself abreast of what’s important in their lives.
However, you need to be sure that they are a welcome participant in these open discussions. You need to be sure to let them talk and have a voice in the dinner conversation. You also don’t want to pass too much judgment either, or they’ll end up just clamming up. If however, your children feel like you are invested in their interests and feel validated, they will be more likely to want to eat as a family.
Unplugged
Technology. I’m sure lots of you have a strong reaction to that word. While technology is an integral part of our everyday lives, a family dinner is a chance to unplug from it and just focus on the people in front of you. This is an essential skill that your children will need to possess as they get older.
Conflict Resolution
In families, like in any group of people, there are going to be conflicts. A family dinner gives you an opportunity and obligation to resolve these conflicts, however, since you are forced to work together through your problems. This is another essential skill that children will need in their life, which can be instilled during your family mealtimes.
Responsibility
A family dinner can also be used to help children develop a sense of responsibility, even at a very young age. When your kids are young, you can have them help to set and clear the table. When your children get older, they can then help to prepare the meals or even make the meals all on their own. Not only will this give them an invested interest in the dinner, but it will also help to prepare them for life on their own.
Delicious and Good for the Whole Family!
As you can see, eating together as a family has a whole bunch of benefits that you simply can’t ignore! It will help to keep you connected to your family, prepare your children for life on their own, and keep you fed, and all it takes is a bit of prep and a willingness to have open communication with your family. What a deal!