My children are each raised and married, one now with children of her own. They each turned out good, in spite of our many imperfections as parents. We were young ourselves when we first became parents, just twenty four years old. There was no way we could have been prepared for the challenges we would face in raising them.
If anything could have raised emotions within me, parenting certainly did …..
- waking in the middle of the night to be sure they were still breathing
- sleepless nights when they were sick
- middle of the night calls for prayer when they had nightmares
- fears they would walk away from God
- insecurity we would forever scar them and have years of counseling bills to show for it
- worry over the right schools
- worry about finding the right spouse
I have often been asked what was the secret, day in and day out, to parenting? Besides praying. Besides teaching them God’s ways.
My response? The dinner table.
As often as possible, we ate dinner together as a family.
My husband worked long days. But I found a way, most nights, to have dinner as a family. Homework and baths were done before their dad arrived home.
It was around the table, we talked and share about our days. We laughed till our sides hurt or food spewed. They knew dinner was more than the meal on the table. They came to understand, it was more important what they brought to the table. Their words and thoughts and days were served out as well as the food. Rare was the night where we ate with one of us missing.
In her book, Rhinestone Jesus, Kristen Welch says this:
Dinner is about the conversation, the laughter, the being together. It’s about unplugging and connecting. (page 142)
Who knew, while my children were growing up, we were defining dinner in that exact manner?
Kristen goes on to share the results of a study showing the positive things which occur as families eat dinner together …
- Kids are less likely to use drugs.
- Families are noted as happier.
- Kids have better grades.
- Couples enjoy stronger marriages.
- Kids adjust better to life in general.
- Families produce healthier kids with better eating habits.
In the middle of my messiest of days, I had to choose to say, “Yes” to family dinners. It is true that in order to fight for my family, I had to fight for dinner. I waged a battle for dinner, to be had together, as many nights each week as was possible.
Dinner – a battle worth the fight!
I am joining with … Thought Provoking Thurs. and Tell His Story and Thurs. Favorite Things and Thrive at Home and Quitting Thurs. .
It is worth the fight! Eating dinner together is the best habit a family can have.
I must admit though, I do think the battle has heated up even more as we all get busier. Not easy being a young family these days.
Lovely post!
Thank you, Beth. Glad you took time to stop here 🙂
Oh I can so relate to this Joanne! I was adamant that we eat together as a family. You captured it all so beautifully, it wasn’t about eating!! Although that was necessary, lol. Loved this post and thankful for my family. My Three Sons reminisce so much about their childhood prompting my DIL to say they must have lived the “Leave it to Beaver” and Donna Reed life. That’s not true but I understand what she is saying. I am most thankful, like you, that they are all serving God and working for Him!
Nannette, I am as thankful as you! May our children come to recognize how important those dinners truly were & learn to fight for their own families. That is my prayer these days. Always a delight to hear from you so thank you for sharing with me!
I don’t have my own family yet, but I already know I would want to have dinners together. My family didn’t do this, but I’m adamant to change it for my own one day 🙂 Visiting you from Quitting Thursday.
While your family didn’t do this, mine always did when I was growing up. Funny how no matter what our experiences may be, we learn from them. So glad you stopped here today!
good reminder of the value of family meals. I know the research is full of proof that eating tighter makes a huge difference.
Your words meant a lot to me, Jean. Thank you for always offering encouragement. May you have a wonderful week!