First lady Michelle Obama shared that since moving into the white house her family frequently has the opportunity to eat dinner together. All family members sum up the day's events by sharing roses and or thorns experiences. It brought back childhood memories when my family of 6 would also engage in a similar activity. Since all of my siblings loved to read, we tried sneaking books to the table, but my mother always disallowed it. We were required to sit up straight, use correct grammar, and wait our turn to speak. Once that was all over--we could cut up and have a cool time just being kids. I wonder how many families still sum up the day's events--I don't think very many since drive throughs have replaced family dinners and conversation. Too much time spent in traffic often contributes to the lack of home cooked meals thereby diminishing the need for dining room table talk--everybody grabs their portion out of the fast food bag and off they go.
How do children find out the opinions and beliefs of their parents if not around the dinner table. Doing homework? Riding to soccer practice? Right before they get tucked in? Do parents still tuck their children in bed at night? Say prayers with them? Or share positive affirmation? I wonder. I like the roses and thorns idea. Since everybody is copying the new first family, who knows, maybe summing up the day will become popular again.
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We do the same thing but they are called our "high and low" for the day. We started this since Kennedy tends to share only her "lows" all the time. Seriously, how bad can a 10 year- old's life be besides have to clean your room and having a bad hair day? As for eating together, we try to do this at least twice a week. When I was a child, we NEVER ate together. You don't realize how something as simple as eating together affects your development.
ReplyDeleteBack home in the Philippines, we always ate together. Aside from learning good table manners from my mom, I grudgingly learned to eat and love vegetables. I think a lot can be gained from having dinners together --- I’ve heard that children of families who eat together develop healthy eating habits and are less likely to do drugs or be dysfunctional.
ReplyDeleteif we were able to do a longitudinal my guess is we would see some correlation between the erosion of american society vs. the erotion of the family dinner. i certainly think you are on to something here when you talk about the importance of family time. young people need to see empathy from a variety of adults in their lives, parents and teachers in chief. as a teacher, it was always drilled into our heads that we can't change what happens outside of school, but how do we work with kids that don't see the value in those types of activities? while we can't follow them home, is there a way to embrace those same dinner table ideals in the classroom for kids to experience that warmth?
ReplyDeleteThe focus of conversation in the principals' breakout session today was dropout prevention. It was alarming to see the numbers of students who are dropping out and the "predictors" that we need to be aware of (even at the elementary level) in order to begin interventions. There was quite a bit of discussion about the need to inform parents about things done at home can help or hinder school success. I suspect that family time at the dinner table is one easy action that might help eliminate this epidemic.
ReplyDeleteI have one child (Garrett) still at home. He's finishing his junior year. We still have dinner every night together, and sit and visit as long as we can. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part we have maintained that sense of family unity in then evening. As a result, my two older children often come home and usually on the agenda is -you guessed it - the family dinner and "talk time". It's not uncommon for us to be at the table for 1-2 hours. There's a bonding that takes place - a safe zone where my children can bring up any issues comfortably. WE talk, and laugh, and talk some more. One might say - how do you have time for that? My response would be - how do I not have time? Time building relationships is a priority I refuse to give up. I believe my children have benefited from our regular gatherings.
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