The Dinner Table

When we look at our own lives and think about the daily events that take place, it can be rather overwhelming.  Sports, homework, social life, and so much else consumes us, leaving us wondering where the time went.  Much of the time we spend is in the virtual world, whether it be on the phone, computer, or watching television.  It is because of this that my family always places and emphasis on sharing meals together.  With very few exceptions, we ate as a family seven nights a week.  The family dinner table has provided us with a solid chunk of time to simply enjoy the company of family, and leave our hectic lives behind.

With seven people at a dinner table, each of whom had a full day of events and experiences, there is always something to be discussed.  As soon as grace is said, it is a race to start talking first to tell everyone about your day.  Conversation at my dinner table ranged from daily events and politics, to sports and picking on someone.  Invariably, someone was singled out almost overnight to be teased as a result of something they said or did.  My family meals make up many of my favorite memories such as the time that my brother Ryan, at the age of twelve, found out the dressing wasn't said as "Dresseling".  A reoccurring and timeless family classic was watching my sister Abby try to eat food that she hated, which consisted of her gagging and retching until she vomited and the rest of my family laughing to the point of tears.  In a practical sense, the dinner table provided me with a knowledge about daily events in the world and in my family.  It was at the dinner table that I learned manners that I very often forget to follow.  These memories have a special place in my heart and the heart's of my family, and they play a larger role in our lives than we normally think.

The average American spend 162 minutes daily on their phone according to a recent survey.  Only 59 percent of families said that they ate at least five meals a week together as a family according to the Huffington Post.  Sadly this is the new way of life for families.  There simply is not an emphasis on family life, and the family meal for that matter.  Why does this matter? Various studies have concluded that family meals promote healthier eating habits, create better family cohesion, and overall help keep children health, both emotionally and physically.  The family meal is an excellent way to combat the growing decentralization of family life.

Family meals have played a crucial role in my upbringing.  Every night, I knew I could count on a meal with my family as we gave thanks to God for our food and for each other.  In a practical sense it brings us together and away from the things that pull us away from one another.  Its such a cliche statement in our culture to hear about how we spend too much time on technology.  Listen and make the change.  Next time you are with your family, eat a meal together and put the emphasis on family.