Dinner's Ready!!!

Of my 5 sons with their families, I do not know if any of them sit down to a family dinner or breakfast table. One of them does not even have a table and chairs! My heart feels heavy about that. So much is learned about one another over the dinner table.

I remember learning so much about what was going on in the lives of my boys at the dinner table. The laughing, the bantering, the insights into each other, the family bonds formed.

Life lessons are learned at the dinner table. Each person learns that they are NOT the center of the universe. (at least if there are multiple children involved) Special orders are for birthdays only.

To ask a teenager how their day went is like shutting the steal door on a safe. To have conversation around the table is usually like opening the window on a spring day. I remember saying little and listening intently to the laughing and talking. What a person considers to be funny or serious reveals so much about them.

What do we do when we 'date'? Go out to eat. Read the Bible, how much took place around meal time or eating?

Oh yes, and when do we teach those kids manners? Unfortunately it seems that many are not learning at all.

It is not an easy thing to do. With Mom and Dad are both working full time, kids have activities, parents have activities, but it can be done!

The more people involved, the more difficult 'routines' are. Still it is possible for families to have dinner together more than 50% of the time.

This is how we managed to do it. With 7 of us cost was a factor, so we seldom concidered eating out.
Saturday was the big day for me. On Saturday morning it was the traditional 'oven pancake' Everyone loved it. 9AM we were at the table.

After breakfast cleanup, I would begin my cooking marathon. I had 5 large glass baking dishes. I made at least 3 different 'hot dishes' or 'casseroles'. I put them in the freezer.

Monday before I left for work, I would pull one out of the freezer and put it in the oven. I would set the timer for the oven to come on at 3:00P.M. @ 250*. The schedule of who would set the table was already on the calendar. When I or my husband arrived home, there was a vegetable cooked or made ready. By 6:00P.M. the hot-dish was ready, the vegetables prepared. The table set, including condiments done. Put on a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk and 'Dinner is Ready'!
Tuesday, same story different 'dish'.
Wednesday, same story different 'dish'.
Thursday was dubbed 'Sweet Supper' by our 4th son. It was 'left overs' with some added 'stuff' ie bowl of fruit, chips or fish sticks or..... to fill in.
Friday was Pizza! Most of the time home made, untill the kids started playing football. Then durring football season, doctored up frozen pizzas and occationally ordered out.
Saturday, Lunch was simple, (sandwiches, hotdogs, hambergers) Dinner: Chilli, Crock pot dinners or Meat loaf
Sunday: Hot muffins before heading off to church.
Dinner in the oven. Pot roast vegetables, potatoes etc
Supper: Popcorn, fudge, apples. (treats!) Fridays with Pizza and Sunday evenings soda was allowed for beverages. Plus whenever they and dad could sneak them in.

There were summer campfires (in the back yard) bar-b-ques and all different manner of foods during hunting and fishing seasons.

All 5 of the boys learned to cook. 3 of them enjoy it and do it to this day. The other 2 avoid it!!!

We ate together as much as possible. There are a lot of memories.

What brought this subject to my attention again is an article in the February 2008 Readers Digest. 'The New Family Dinner' look it up, @ rd.com

I truely believe it is a very important part of family life.

Is it difficult? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes.

Until Then,
Kate