Hey everyone, it’s Jessica here ready to dish (pun intended) about the ever-evolving family dinner dynamic. Growing up, sitting down together every night for a home-cooked meal was pretty much non-negotiable in our house. But fast forward to today with my own kids and let’s just say things look a little different!
For starters, my youngest daughter Taylor prefers to eat at the counter while my oldest Hayden will sit at the table. Meanwhile, my husband DJ and I often find ourselves unwinding with a plate in front of the TV. It’s a far cry from the traditional “everyone gather ’round the table” routine, but you know what? That’s okay!
As much as I thought I’d be hardcore about family dinners when I became a mom, the reality is that trying to force it when attitudes are sour just breeds resentment. There were so many nights when I was a moody teen where the last thing I wanted to do was engage in cheery table talk. But as an adult looking back, I do have fond memories of that dedicated family time. It’s a bit of a Catch-22.
My sister Sam is in a slightly different boat with a toddler at home. She and her husband Brett are aiming for a more “90s kid” upbringing for their son Bo – less tech, more imagination and play. Sitting down together is a priority for them right now while he’s young. But as Sam wisely pointed out, who knows what that will look like in a few years as schedules get crazier!
The landscape of family life has changed so much since we were kids. With both parents often working outside the home, the notion of Mom having a made-from-scratch meal on the table every night is a bit outdated. That’s where services like HelloFresh come in clutch – no meal planning or grocery shopping required, just grab the pre-portioned ingredients and get cookin’.
Sam also brought up an interesting point about how some kids today may not be used to the whole sitting-at-the-table rigamarole if it’s not something regularly practiced at home. As a former pre-K teacher, she noticed stark differences in mealtime skills and behaviors among her students in that regard.
At the end of the day, every family has to figure out what works for them in this season of life. If that means a sandwich in front of the TV here and there so everyone stays sane, so be it! The big picture is finding moments of togetherness, even if it doesn’t fit the Norman Rockwell image.
Funny enough, the one constant seems to be extended family dinners – when the whole crew is together, you best believe we’re crowded around the table catching up! It just goes to show the power of food in bringing people together, no matter the setting.
Anyway, all this talk about dinner has me hungry! I’m off to see what HelloFresh deliciousness is on deck for tonight. Until next time, keep fighting the good fight and don’t let the mom guilt get you down. You’re doing great!
Eating on the couch and proud of it,
Jessica
