I was asked to put together a display for a church women's meeting last week. My topic was the importance of family dinner. (There were about a dozen displays). There was concern coming from local church leaders about the fallout they were seeing in families that didn't have this ritual in place. So I set to work doing my thing - which is apparently to set a colorful table. I also did some research and gathered together some of the best-received books on the topic.
I have always felt pretty strongly about the importance of family dinner, and I protect ours with the ferocity of a mother-bear. So it was nice to come across so much information that affirms what I felt in my gut to be important. You guys - it needs to happen.
So, do me a favor and sit down and have a lively conversation over dinner. Know your family better by the end of it. You don't have to set a fancy table (although at our house we think that's fun), but you do need to sit and eat (preferably something nutritious), and visit. And keep distractions in check.
Some of the books and resources I discovered (and fell in love with) through this adventure:
The Intentional Family by William J. Doherty, Ph.D.
The Family Dinner by Laurie David
The Hour that Matters Most by Les & Leslie Parrott
The Surprising Power of Family Meals by Miriam Weinstein
Table Topics Conversation Cards
(Kids version - there are several other versions that look great)poweroffamilymeals.com
mealsmatter.org
1 comment:
I love the post and I love the setting. These last 2 years, Clay has rarely made it home for a family dinner so they have become that much more important to keep so we stay connected as a family, even when we're not all together. But my oh my, has it been work but I'm always grateful for the peace in our home afterwards.
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