Do you eat dinner/supper together at the table....

[MrsPete]

I think there can be many reasons.

For us it doesn't happen every night, especially during the school/dance year. I teach two evenings a week & am at my studio from 3:30 until past 9 p.m. There is no formal dinner at our house on those nights. Two of my DD's are at the studio with me. There are also many evenings where I have to be there for other reasons, so there is no family dinner on those nights.

In the summer DH is in a golf league on Wednesday nights. He leaves around 4 p.m. so dinner is hit or miss on those nights. Some times I'll make grilled cheese or mac & cheese & DD's & I sit to eat, other times, we'll sit in the family room & watch some show that we enjoy but DH doesn't.

Now that my DD's are older on some evenings they are out with friends. One of them works & sometimes has an evening shift so can't join us for dinner.

I do think it's important that a family sit down & have meals together, but it's also unrealistic to think that every family can do it 7 days a week. In my case, even if I limited my kids activities when they were younger so we could all eat dinner together it wouldn't happen because of my career.

Many reasons...

We aren't all home at the same time.

The table is too full of stuff to sit down at.

We would rather eat on the couch with tv trays and watch tv together.

Like I said, we are a very close family that loves to do things together, but eating together just isn't a big deal to us.

Just not the way I was raised. It would never occur to me NOT to sit down at the table together. Some nights it might be sandwiches or take-out, but it just seems like the logical choice. It's the time when we talk about what we did that day, make plans for the next day. It just makes sense to me.

Sure, someone might be gone on occasion, but the rest of the family still sits down together. On a scout night or a sports night, we might eat early or late, or we might stop somewhere and eat fast food together. Often I'll plan ahead so we have leftovers or something in a crock pot. But it's a rare day when we don't all have dinner together.

 

[MichelleVW]

Just not the way I was raised. It would never occur to me NOT to sit down at the table together. Some nights it might be sandwiches or take-out, but it just seems like the logical choice. It's the time when we talk about what we did that day, make plans for the next day. It just makes sense to me.

Sure, someone might be gone on occasion, but the rest of the family still sits down together. On a scout night or a sports night, we might eat early or late, or we might stop somewhere and eat fast food together. Often I'll plan ahead so we have leftovers or something in a crock pot. But it's a rare day when we don't all have dinner together.

It wasn't the way I was raised either, but it's what works for our family.

 

[mhsjax]

Just not the way I was raised. It would never occur to me NOT to sit down at the table together. Some nights it might be sandwiches or take-out, but it just seems like the logical choice. It's the time when we talk about what we did that day, make plans for the next day. It just makes sense to me.

Sure, someone might be gone on occasion, but the rest of the family still sits down together. On a scout night or a sports night, we might eat early or late, or we might stop somewhere and eat fast food together. Often I'll plan ahead so we have leftovers or something in a crock pot. But it's a rare day when we don't all have dinner together.

Wasn't the way I was raised either, but then again, we didn't have all the activities that my kids do. My dance and piano lessons were over way before dinner.

Here is my crazy night and why we can't eat together, DS, Tae Kwon Do form 4:0 to 6:30. Other DS Soccer 6:00 to 7:30. DD tumbling from 7:00-8:00. I have to feed DD before tumbling, race to get DS from Tae Kwon Do, drop DD and take him home to feed him dinner, then hubby brings home othe Ds from soccer and he gets home around 7:45 and DD does't get home on 8:20. There isn't a feasible way to all eat together, I have about 3 nights like this per week. However on the other nights we do all eat together.

Also one added perk, is that DD will be just with me on those nights and she will open up about stuff that she doesn't want the boys to hear. So in a way, it is better for some conversations.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I"m amused by the people who have "moved their tables so they can't see the tv" and things like that so they won't be tempted to watch. Why not just turn off the tv? Then you can't watch it no matter where your table is.

 

[minkydog]

with your family? We always did growing up, its hit and miss now - sometimes we eat at the kitchen table other times in the living room watching TV.
Just curious how many families still eat dinner/supper together at the table?

Absolutely, every night. It is a rare event when we eat in front of the TV. Most nights DD17 joins us, though at times she has rehearsals and can't join us. In fact, DS23 often shows up at dinner time "Oh, are ya'll eating dinner?"

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Growing up we always had dinner together. No matter how many activities we were involved in we always had dinner as a family. I didn't always like it (especially middle school and high school when I thought I was too cool for my family) but we always did it.

Now, we still have dinner every night together. We (my brother and I) go over to my parents house every night and my Dad always cooks (he always did growing up) and we all go out to eat on Saturday nights. I enjoy it much more now. There are some nights that not all of us are there but 75% of the time we have dinner together every night still.

 

[mrodgers]

The families I know that don't eat regularly at a table don't have an eating area in/near their kitchen - only a formal dining table in a separate dining room that's often covered with stuff.

We are the opposite. We don't have a dining room. We also had to knock the wall out between the tiny kitchen and the living room to fit a table. Previous owners had a really small table in the kitchen, but you could barely fit 2 people eating there. Our table sits in the center between the kitchen and living room.

Before Wifey went back to work, we ate every night at the table. Now she starts dinner then heads out to work about half an hour after I get home. I finish dinner or it is pretty much finished and sometimes the girls and I eat at the table, but usually they eat back in my bedroom and watch TV.

Wifey is off usually 3 nights a week. We always eat at the table 99% of the time when we are all together.

 

[locolala]

We don't even have a kitchen table! Our house is tiny.. just over 1000sq feet, and it's not laid out well. We either eat in the family room and watch tv/movies, or we just eat at the computers since we're normally gaming together at that point. Once we have a bigger place, we'll have a table and will sit down for family dinners occasionally.

When I was a kid, we were almost always different places. I was either at the barn, at scouts, or at soccer, and my brother had his TKD stuff. My dad often worked late or had work emergencies, and mom was shuttling us kids around. We ate when we could. From about 10 on, I was responsible for making sure I ate.. whether that meant asking mom to make a stop on the way home or making a sandwich or a thing of mac and cheese.

 

[aprilgail2]

We usually sit down at the table 2-3 times a week....the other days we are either eating out in restaurants (still sitting down for dinner together) or eating in the car going from one place to the other (still eating together LOL). Sometimes I eat while she is at an activity and I feed her when she gets home....those are dinner and computer or dinner and tv nights! We are really laid back- just take it as it comes, not obsessed over eating a certain time together etc....

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

We don't most nights and I hate it. DH likes to eat in the LR in front of the TV. I like to sit at the dining room table. Both kids like to eat in the kitchen watching the TV there. DS10 cannot eat without the TV on - it's awful! I do like to eat breakfast while watching the news, but I don't zone out. I turn it off when I'm done. Once I sit for the night in the LR after dinner, I'm done. I don't like to sit there while I eat, or I will get involved in a show and never clean up! Once a week or so, usually on the weekend, we will all eat in the dining room, at my insistence.

I should add, that my DH's mom always smoked, and DH hated it, even when he was a kid. As a teen he would take his food up to his room to avoid her smoking at the table. He of course laid on his bed with his plate in his hand and ate while watching the TV in his room. So now, he sits on the couch with the plate in his hand and watches the TV. I understand where he gets it from but I still think it's weird and I really don't like that the kids have learned it from him.

 

[islandmum]

most nights I eat with the kids at the table, if hubbys home he will too. Even if I'm not eating I sit with them at the table or am in the kitchen talking with them. I eat breakfast with them every morning too.

We never eat infront of the TV - I think its disgusting, both socially and manners wise. Amazes me that there seem to be so many families these days who eat all their meals in their sitting room infront of the TV ... gross.

God forbid there has to be a break in watching a show to eat some food

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Wow, reading through this has been surprising to me. I didn't know there were families that didn't eat dinner together most nights at the table. I have 5 kids as you can see in my signature, and there is a meal served at the table every night. Now, of course, a child or two may have to eat early or late certain evenings, but the rest of the family still eats together. This is so important. And the tv should never be on, in my opinion. I think that having the tv on gives the impression that you don't want to have talking time. With 5 kids, our kids are scrambling to get their stories in during dinner! But, they all know there is this comforting family time every evening. It's good for us.

 

[MichelleVW]

most nights I eat with the kids at the table, if hubbys home he will too. Even if I'm not eating I sit with them at the table or am in the kitchen talking with them. I eat breakfast with them every morning too.

We never eat infront of the TV - I think its disgusting, both socially and manners wise. Amazes me that there seem to be so many families these days who eat all their meals in their sitting room infront of the TV ... gross.

God forbid there has to be a break in watching a show to eat some food

Our tv is hardly ever on because we are hardly ever home, and if we all happen to be home at the same time we will make dinner and attempt to catch up on one of the very few tv shows that we like to watch. It's hardly disgusting. The girls will sit at the bar and talk to me while I make dinner, then we turn on the tv and catch up on our dvr'd shows. It works for us.

No way would I ever speak to my kids at breakfast....talking in the morning in our family is considered disgusting, both socially and manners wise!

 

[islandmum]

No way would I ever speak to my kids at breakfast....talking in the morning in our family is considered disgusting, both socially and manners wise!

Whilst I dont agree with the other bit I would probably concurr with this ... LOL! Theres rather more sleepy grunting than real convsersation!

 

[MELSMICE]

Just not the way I was raised. It would never occur to me NOT to sit down at the table together. Some nights it might be sandwiches or take-out, but it just seems like the logical choice. It's the time when we talk about what we did that day, make plans for the next day. It just makes sense to me.

Sure, someone might be gone on occasion, but the rest of the family still sits down together. On a scout night or a sports night, we might eat early or late, or we might stop somewhere and eat fast food together. Often I'll plan ahead so we have leftovers or something in a crock pot. But it's a rare day when we don't all have dinner together.

Unfortunately, it just doesn't always work this way for all families. As I stated in my post that you quoted, I am working at my dance studio at least 2 nights a week. When my DD's were younger I left as soon as they got home from school & got home after they were in bed. There wasn't even a chance to sit down for cookies & milk, let a lone a meal. Now, 2 of them share in the studio responsibilities - the other works at a different job.

I'm sure there are many other people that have evening work hours & are unable to eat dinner as a family.

There are evenings when one or 2 of my girls are gone & the rest of us will still sit down to eat together, but that is not the entire family sitting down to a meal.

Like I said previously, I do think it is important to sit down together for meals - TV off, with conversation. It just isn't always possible for many different reasons. That doesn't mean our family loves each other any less or that we are disconnected - it just isn't possible for us every night.

 

[aprilgail2]

No way would I ever speak to my kids at breakfast....talking in the morning in our family is considered disgusting, both socially and manners wise!

I agree!!!!! Just give me my newspaper and leave me alone!

 

[disykat]

Unfortunately, it just doesn't always work this way for all families. As I stated in my post that you quoted, I am working at my dance studio at least 2 nights a week. When my DD's were younger I left as soon as they got home from school & got home after they were in bed. There wasn't even a chance to sit down for cookies & milk, let a lone a meal. Now, 2 of them share in the studio responsibilities - the other works at a different job.

I'm sure there are many other people that have evening work hours & are unable to eat dinner as a family.

There are evenings when one or 2 of my girls are gone & the rest of us will still sit down to eat together, but that is not the entire family sitting down to a meal.
Like I said previously, I do think it is important to sit down together for meals - TV off, with conversation. It just isn't always possible for many different reasons. That doesn't mean our family loves each other any less or that we are disconnected - it just isn't possible for us every night.

I disagree. You are eating a family meal.

I just don't understand posts like this. We've said over and over that every family has times there isn't every family member there. The basic debate is whether you make an effort to eat meals at a family table when possible, not does every family member eat together every night.

 

[krcit]

I know as my own kids get older and have more activities, it's harder to eat together every night. As I posted before baseball/softball season is near impossible. I have 3 kids playing on 4 teams so dinner is hit and miss sometimes but I try to make it work at least a few nights a week. My DH works until 7 a few days a week so on those nights during the school year, the kids and I eat before he gets home but in the summer we usually wait for him. As far as the TV, the only time they eat in front of it is if they are sick and I put a tray table in the family room for them. That's just what works for us although my ds would eat there every night if I allowed him too, lol. I also don't allow texting or electronics at the table but that really hasn't been an issue(yet, lol) I still shudder at my nephew at Christmas dinner..he was texting throughout the whole meal so I looked ta his mom to see if she noticed and she was doing the same thing

 

[Minnesota!]

Yes, we do. It's a very important time of the day for us. Even if it's a quick meal - sandwiches, etc. - we still all sit down to eat together.

Once in a while we do a special treat where we put down a blanket in front of the TV and have a "dinner and a movie" picnic.

 

[DeniseinNS]

Dinner is eaten at the dining room table as a family EVERY night and is very important to us, if someone is not home everyone else still eats together. We will very occasionally let the kids eat on the floor in from of the tv is we are doing pizza/movies but thats not something that happens often because I don't want it to become a habit.