For Thanksgiving, our family had planned to host, but when
the guests we invited couldn’t make it, I “invited” myself to Mom’s for
Thanksgiving. She was already planning
to host my sister and her in-laws. Mom laughed when I invited myself to Thanksgiving. Apparently, my sister had “invited” Mom to
host!
 |
| Thanksgiving at the "cool kids" table. We nearly ran out of black olives! |
Holidays aside, I’ve been thinking about invitations
lately. Not the major invitations, like
weddings and parties, but the daily, routine invitations. December 3 is national “Dine In” day. The goal is to invite people to remember
family meal time.
Growing up, my mom was a master of the invitation to the
family meal. I took this routine for
granted. The majority of our meals were
eaten around a table that either had placemats or a tablecloth and the places
that were set properly with cutlery and glasses. Food was passed around the table in serving
bowls. There was plenty of meal time
conversation, as in addition to our immediate family, we generally had a few
hired hands and an extra neighbor or relative at the table with us.
Unfortunately, my own family routine is generally a far cry
from my childhood mealtime memories.
Depending on our work and my daughters’ activities, we may eat in shifts
at the counter, serving from pots on the stove.
What we really like, though, is when we are all together, often enjoying
the company of a guest or two, eating at the table and enjoying mealtime
conversations.
Eating together may look different in different households,
but “Dine In” day on December 3 is an invitation to consider your family goals
and how planning a mealtime together can help families feel closer and provide
better nutrition. Family mealtime can
happen with any meal – breakfast, lunch, dinner or even a snack. It can include a tablecloth and full place
settings or paper plates. I know a dad who makes a lunch-time date weekly with
his school-age children. I know families
who eat breakfast together daily as it is the one guaranteed time they can all
be together. Dr. Sandy Bailey, MSU
Extension Family and Human Development Specialist says, “Research shows that eating a family meal together helps family
members make better choices in what they eat. Children learn a broader
vocabulary as they listen and talk with other family members. They also learn
social skills that they can use in other settings. Family mealtime also sends
the message to family members that family time is important!”
 |
| Gathering around the table with family and friends. This photo is at my Grandma's table, probably before I was born. My sister's family now gathers around the same table. |
I invite you to make the commitment to Dine In with your family, friends or guests on December 3. Our Thanksgiving meal certainly
did not lack in good conversation, aided in part, by the arrival of a cherished
cousin. It was a great day with conversation of shared memories, exciting
excursions, and life lessons learned.
I’m glad I invited myself to be part of it!
Resources that may be of interest to you below:
Disclaimer: No endorsement of these products is intended nor implied.
Conversation Starters:
Conversations to Go: I'm not sure if it was Santa or the Easter Bunny who first brought these to our house. They have been well-loved. A quick search revealed that there is a "money" set and "travel" set.
Dinner Time Games: Another gift brought to our family that has been well-enjoyed. Not so much conversation, but fun mealtime activities, nonetheless.
A search of a major online retailer revealed several options of table topics, chat packs, and
conversation starters. There are some designed for couples.
If you want a list of conversation starters I've been gathering over the years, email me.
No comments:
Post a Comment