Family Dinner Time
We have always been able to sit down and have dinner as a family. I'm grateful for that time together. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said in the October 2007 General Conference "The number of those who report that their "whole family usually eats dinner together" has declined 33 percent. This is most concerning because the time a family spends together "eating meals at home [is] the strongest predictor of children's academic achievement and psychological adjustment." Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children's smoking, drinking, or using drugs. There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: What your children really want for dinner is you."
Right now our family has a little bit of a challenge with my husband working a graveyard shift and leaving at 5 pm for the drive to work. But we still manage to have dinner together at least 6 days a week, it's a little early, but we do it nonetheless. This has definitely been a strength for our family.
We have always been able to sit down and have dinner as a family. I'm grateful for that time together. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said in the October 2007 General Conference "The number of those who report that their "whole family usually eats dinner together" has declined 33 percent. This is most concerning because the time a family spends together "eating meals at home [is] the strongest predictor of children's academic achievement and psychological adjustment." Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children's smoking, drinking, or using drugs. There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: What your children really want for dinner is you."
Right now our family has a little bit of a challenge with my husband working a graveyard shift and leaving at 5 pm for the drive to work. But we still manage to have dinner together at least 6 days a week, it's a little early, but we do it nonetheless. This has definitely been a strength for our family.
8 comments:
That is so awesome that you make such an effort with your husbands schedule. It IS so important to have family dinners. We didn't do it as much when I was growing up so I strive to do it with my family. So far we do pretty well. Elder Oaks really knows what he is talking about!
i love the days that we all get to sit down and have dinner as a family! at our house the missing ingredient is also usually dad!
good for you to take the time to do it anyway~ for sure you will see the blessings later!
That's great! Family dinners are so important... it feels funny to not all be there if someone is gone for any reason. Keep up the good work! :)
Totally agree with you. Maybe, in France we're even more traditional than in U.S. But more and more TV encroach on this family time. TV becomes the "last member " of the family! Protect ourselves from this "intruder".
catherine
I've just read your post concerning your son Evan (on the right). It brought me teardrops. I've been deeply touched, as french I 've not enough vocabulary to express what I feel. You're both a wife and a husband blessed with huge love for all your children. Instead of being a "burden"(as doctors said, how I hate this word!)Evan increase this feeling of love. Thanks for giving them a lesson.
catherine
What a great blessing. I love reading everyone's blessings. I feel like I should just second everyone's blessings.
We have a family dinner pretty much every night and I think it's so important for families.
This is a great blessing. I hope that I can keep it up even when my kids get older.
Family dinner hour is by far the choicest blessing when everyone can be together. It is not always easy, but so worth it. There are times when we have had to juggle schedules but we have always had dinner together. It seems odd now only 3 of us and a big table. We just eat at one end instead of spreading out. I try not to look at empty chairs. I enjoy when all of my children are home...but gee they grow up and have families of their own. However, it is really rewarding to see them carry on the family tradition of dinner time togetherness.
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