Eating together

[Mommyof1]

How does dinner work at your house?

 

Do all sit at the table and eat the same thing?

 

Sit at the table and eat different meals

 

Or...something else

[Amy in NH]

Sit at table and eat the same meal.

[desertstrawberry5]

Well, we don't have a dining table yet-just a small folding table. But ideally, we all sit together and eat one meal. D and I can't always eat what the kids do, so we might have something different. But dinner is an event. 

[Ali in OR]

On weeknights with high school activity schedules, it is rare that we can all sit at the table at the same time. One dd is usually at ballet before the other comes home from soccer at this time of year. I try to make a meal if most of us will be here. Soccer player is also extremely picky, so she might have slightly different sides (she'll eat any meat), like grapes instead of a green salad. For tonight's pork carnitas, she'll have the meat separate from a flour tortilla (or two), while dh and I will make tacos with corn tortillas. And she'll eat at 8:20 at night (Tuesday's are her long day).

Edited September 26, 2017 by Ali in OR

[Mommyof1]

I would have made it a poll but I don't know how.

 

I would love to eat at the table and eat the same meal. Most of the time it's in the living room and DD4 is eating something else.

 

Our dining room table is covered with her arts and crafts.

 

Every once in awhile we clean off the table and eat there.

 

I want it to be every meal at the table though. I guess, I will have to make it happen or it never will.

Edited September 26, 2017 by Mommyof1

[HomeAgain]

Something else.

 

Dh isn't home for dinner 3x a week. :)  We eat one meal as a family each day.  None of us really do breakfast, so that's out, but we alternate between lunch and dinner, all eating the same thing together for the meal.

[Zinnia]

Sit at the table and eat one meal, all 3 meals. Its also our *one* table, so it sees a lot of use. Meals, school, art, folding laundry, and more.

 

Sometimes, if dh isn't home, I feed the kids before he gets home. I sit with them while they eat, but I usually wait for him to eat. We eat on our laps in the living room, watching tv, if we eat later like that.

Edited September 26, 2017 by Zinnia

[lllll]

I would have made it a poll but I don't know how.

 

I would love to eat at the table and eat the same meal. Most of the time it's in the living room and DD4 is eating something else.

 

Our dining room table is covered with her arts and crafts.

 

Every once in awhile we clean off the table and eat there.

 

I want it to be every meal at the table though. I guess, I will have to make it happen or it never will.

 

I think it's great your dd is into arts and crafts.  I would make a place for her to do that where she could leave out things she's working on, and keep the table clear for meals.  IOW, encourage her in the art stuff by giving her her own space.  Yet, have the meals together for the family encouragement.  Best of both worlds.  ;)

[MEmama]

Sit at table and eat the same meal.

This, mostly. We generally sit at the kitchen island instead of in the dining room (the table has been taken over by homework), or in the sunroom if the weather is nice.

 

Once a week DS has a pre race pasta party, so obviously we don't eat together then. But otherwise, it's family time.

[HomeAgain]

Oh, yes.  You have to build cleaning the table into your routine for the day.  We have a smaller table for arts/crafts to be left out (think Ikea LACK end table).  Games and such get moved there as one of us is cooking.

[dirty ethel rackham]

We plan our meals for the week, based upon everyone's schedule.  We expect to eat at the table together as schedules allow.  If anyone is not going to be home for dinner, they are to let everyone know.  Some things are known in advance.  Some aren't (working late.)  Dd trains for her sport 3 nights a week, which means she and I miss dinner with the family those nights.  But, I usually prepare that nights meal ahead of time (usually planned to be easily transportable.)  I also work a retail job that often has me late for dinner.  We try to plan our meals so that there is something everyone likes (or at least finds tolerable) and that fit the situation ...Does it keep for a flexible serving time if one of us plans to be home, but may be late?  Can it be made ahead of time and reheated or taken in a thermos to keep warm?  

 

Other meals are catch as one can (make your own breakfast and lunch), but dinner is a meal that we make an effort to keep as family time for anyone who is home.  We also expect that, if you are not going to be home for dinner, you let everyone know. 

 

ETA:  The kitchen table may have messes on it from day to day, but it gets cleared for dinner every day.  If we didn't have a dining room table (our current catch all for stuff in progress), I would put out another table to keep things out that needed to be out.  When we have more people over for dinner (and we can't eat on our back patio), I am forced to clean off the dining room table.  But, I know that ahead of time.

Edited September 26, 2017 by dirty ethel rackham

[ScoutTN]

We eat breakfast together Sun-Friday.

We eat dinner together about 4 nights a week, morein the summer.

[FriedClams]

Sit at table and eat the same meal.

this is us

[marbel]

How old is your daughter? 

 

The answer to this question varies a lot, mostly (in my observation) based on ages of kids.  Also, parents' schedules.

 

When my kids were little, maybe up till middle school age, we all sat together and ate one meal, pretty much every night of the week.  If my husband traveled for work, the kids and I would eat differently but mostly, it was all together.

 

Then evening activities started, but we always kept that to no more than 2 nights a week at first, so on the nights we were home, we ate all together. As time has gone on, and activities have increased and eating preferences have changed, we still try to eat together when everyone is home - maybe 3 nights a week now? - but often people are eating different things. 

 

As others have said, we also clutter up the kitchen table each day, but it is cleaned off daily so we can eat there.  I despise eating at a table where I've cleared a tiny space to set the plates.   But that is my own priority.  if I had my way, there'd be fresh flowers on the table every day too.  

 

ETA: we have an art table too.  My daughter has needed an art table since she was 4 years old, I think.  :-)  But homework, newspaper, other stuff clutter the kitchen table (our only eating table as well) and they get moved.  It doesn't take long, though sometimes we just stack it all on my desk to sort out later.  :-)

Edited September 26, 2017 by marbel

[FriedClams]

I would have made it a poll but I don't know how.

 

I would love to eat at the table and eat the same meal. Most of the time it's in the living room and DD4 is eating something else.

 

Our dining room table is covered with her arts and crafts.

 

Every once in awhile we clean off the table and eat there.

 

I want it to be every meal at the table though. I guess, I will have to make it happen or it never will.

I'd get her a card table. Cheap. You can hide it when not in use. But (as a huge crafter myself) I think dinner together is more important.

[AK_Mom4]

We eat dinner at the table.  Mostly all eating the same meal, but sometimes I eat something different.

 

We have done this since we got married.  When kids came along, they just joined us at the table- first in a carrier on a chair, then in a high chair or someone's lap.

 

The kids have a folding table that we set up for craft projects. Right now, it's covered with paints and Warcraft 40K figures as DS21 is painting a new army.

[SKL]

It varies.

 

Our kitchen table is generally cleared for eating, but we don't all eat together there most of the time.  If we're home, the kids generally eat together while I'm doing some work (and the work may be getting their breakfast or other morning things ready - I don't usually eat breakfast).

 

We're more likely to all eat together at a restaurant.  Though that doesn't happen every day either.  Sometimes we grab dinner at a drive-through and I guess you could say we are all in the car together.  :p

 

Probably the closest we come to the eat-together-at-home ideal is Sunday brunch.

 

The other thing is that I have given up trying to get everyone to eat the same meal.  We have behavior issues as well as legitimate differences and it just isn't worth it to fight that battle.  Miss Picky / Miss Contrary can make something else.  Never thought I'd say that.  :p

Edited September 26, 2017 by SKL

[Elizabeth86]

We all sit down. The kids usually just complain. Dinner is almost over by the time I sit down. I have to get up at least 10 times to help someone and the baby sits on my lap and tries to take my fork. Sigh. We are not the model family. Lol, but its ok.

[fairfarmhand]

We seldom eat together.

 

My dh works late, my dd is in and out from college. Sometimes me or one of the other family members is outdoors doing yard work till way past supper.

 

The table is often cluttered with stuff I cannot move. (My dh's stuff. That;s a totally different topic that makes me resentful)

 

I am trying here in the next few weeks to get into the habit of trying to have all of us sit down together for an evening snack or dessert.

[happypamama]

We try to all eat together. We don't all eat the same thing though. I make a meal, and I tend to make components more than one pot meals. One kid doesn't eat meat, so I leave some sauce out for that kid, take a portion of a veggie or salad out before adding bacon, whatever. That kid makes a separate entree if needed. DH and I don't eat grains or starchy vegetables, so I make zucchini noodles for us or a big salad. Basically, people eat whatever of the components they want and fill in different things if they need more, but we try to sit down together.

[Lady Marmalade]

With DH working long hours, the kids dance activities, and 2 evening church services each week, dinner time varies every single day.  It IS usually all of us eating the same thing.  I seldom make something that someone dislikes enough to seek out an alternative.  

 

We don't eat at the table though.  We have a very small home and the kitchen table is an extension of the kitchen counters, so always in use.  We clear it off when we want to play a board game together.  Dinner is in the living room watching TV.  When the kids were small they would sit on the floor together at our coffee table while DH and I sat on the furniture.  Now the kids have TV trays and sit on the furniture. 

 

The ONLY time we sit at the table is when the IL's are visiting from out of state.  To them, it is not proper to sit anywhere but at a table to eat, so at the table we sit.  And it always affirms to us that we prefer more space between us like we get in the living room.   :lol:

 

It is *still* mealtime together though.  We may be watching something on TV or a movie, but we're still chatting from time to time and spending time together, which I think is the point of the family at the table.   I really, really, really dislike the sounds of people eating/chewing, so I need the TV as a distraction from the sounds all around me.  

[Guest]

We all sit and eat together. Some nights my husband is home a little later and the kids still choose to wait till he gets home. We haven't always done it, but once we started, it just feels like the thing to do.

[Mommyof1]

Cleared off the dinner table and we sat down together for breakfast.

 

DD4 has her own little table and chair in the living room. She plays and eats there sometimes. Play doh, clay and kinetic sand has been banned due to carpet and no paint allowed for same reason.

 

Dining table is on tile.

[MEmama]

With DH working long hours, the kids dance activities, and 2 evening church services each week, dinner time varies every single day. It IS usually all of us eating the same thing. I seldom make something that someone dislikes enough to seek out an alternative.

 

We don't eat at the table though. We have a very small home and the kitchen table is an extension of the kitchen counters, so always in use. We clear it off when we want to play a board game together. Dinner is in the living room watching TV. When the kids were small they would sit on the floor together at our coffee table while DH and I sat on the furniture. Now the kids have TV trays and sit on the furniture.

 

The ONLY time we sit at the table is when the IL's are visiting from out of state. To them, it is not proper to sit anywhere but at a table to eat, so at the table we sit. And it always affirms to us that we prefer more space between us like we get in the living room. :lol:

 

It is *still* mealtime together though. We may be watching something on TV or a movie, but we're still chatting from time to time and spending time together, which I think is the point of the family at the table. I really, really, really dislike the sounds of people eating/chewing, so I need the TV as a distraction from the sounds all around me.

We do dinner watching TV sometimes too. Occasionally we'll get hooked on a show and binge watch over dinner; for us it's social and fun. Our latest was watching the Amazing Race--I think we watched 12 seasons before burning out? Lol. Not that it matters, but we don't watch any other TV.

[mykidsrmyjoy]

We eat breakfast and supper together as a family. The table is cleared after every meal and kept clear between meals.

 

We have a separate table in the schoolroom that is used for school, arts/crafts and folding laundry. I'm sure this helps to keep the dining table free for meals.

[mykidsrmyjoy]

We eat breakfast and supper together as a family with DH. The children and I eat lunch together. The table is cleared after every meal and kept clear between meals.

 

We have a separate table in the schoolroom that is used for school, arts/crafts and folding laundry. I'm sure this helps to keep the dining table free for meals.

[Catwoman]

I would have made it a poll but I don't know how.

I would love to eat at the table and eat the same meal. Most of the time it's in the living room and DD4 is eating something else.

Our dining room table is covered with her arts and crafts.

Every once in awhile we clean off the table and eat there.

I want it to be every meal at the table though. I guess, I will have to make it happen or it never will.

It probably feels overwhelming when you have already had a busy day and it's getting close to dinnertime and the table is stacked up with stuff. You just don't feel like clearing everything off and putting it away. It's just one more thing to do, and you're already in the middle of cooking dinner, and you know that by noon the next day, the mess on the table will be back again.

 

You need to find a quick and easy solution. Can you just get a big box and toss everything off the table into that box at dinnertime? It may not be an attractive-looking solution, but it would get the table cleared in just a few minutes, and the stuff would still be handy when you want to get it back out to use it again.

 

I'm assuming you live in a small space where you don't have the option of setting up a separate table for your dd's arts and crafts, but if you want to avoid the constant mess on the dining room table, can you get creative and build a little desk inside a small closet, or steal a corner of a bedroom for a craft area? Is there room to shove a card table into the corner of the dining room so she could work there instead of on the main table?

[SKL]

Just a thought - inspired by my kid's Legos.  I bought some thick but lightweight poster board for her to play with her legos on.  That way we can move her creations when someone comes over.  It might be a workable idea for crafts also.  She could play wherever, but then you could quickly remove her stuff without messing it up.

 

Another thought - if she is doing mostly flat, dry stuff - how about one of those roll-up puzzle keepers?

[Shellydon]

For dinner, we all sit together and eat the same meal, whatever I make that night (some nights are leftovers, so everyone can choose their own leftover, but we still eat together).  Lunch is eat together, but choose you meal either sandwich or leftovers.  Breakfast is on your own. 

[Element]

On nights when dh is home (usually 4x/wk) we sit together and eat mostly the same thing. Daughter and I have some dietary restrictions, so I substitute a bit. On nights when dh is at work, the kids & I mostly forage and eat whenever. 

[Ellie]

How does dinner work at your house?

 

Do all sit at the table and eat the same thing?

 

Sit at the table and eat different meals

 

Or...something else

 

All together, eating the same thing. Because I am not a restaurant, lol.

[SparklyUnicorn]

It varies a lot.  Sometimes we all sit together and eat (mostly) the same thing.  Sometimes we don't.  Sometimes we eat in front of the TV on the coffee table.  Sometimes we eat at different times by ourselves.  Different schedules...different food likes/needs...etc. etc.

 

I'm with my kids all day long every day so I don't feel the need to require a sit down meal together regularly. 

[hjffkj]

Breakfast and lunch are almost always eaten together at the table. Dinner is eaten at the table without dh 5 days a week because he works nights. On the weekends we eat together

[wendyroo]

We have a routine to keep our school/craft/eating table clear.  

 

The kids eat all meals at the table.  I eat breakfast and lunch separately and read aloud to them while they eat.

 

We all eat dinner together (more or less the same meal) 5-6 days a week.  Sometimes I am fried by that point and eat my dinner at my desk while DH and the kids bond over dinner.

 

Wendy

[gingersmom]

Whoever is home eats dinner together. 9 out of 10 times we are eating different things. It's always been this way, it works for us :)

[fraidycat]

It depends.

[Wheres Toto]

With DH working long hours, the kids dance activities, and 2 evening church services each week, dinner time varies every single day.  It IS usually all of us eating the same thing.  I seldom make something that someone dislikes enough to seek out an alternative.  

 

We don't eat at the table though.  We have a very small home and the kitchen table is an extension of the kitchen counters, so always in use.  We clear it off when we want to play a board game together.  Dinner is in the living room watching TV.  When the kids were small they would sit on the floor together at our coffee table while DH and I sat on the furniture.  Now the kids have TV trays and sit on the furniture. 

 

The ONLY time we sit at the table is when the IL's are visiting from out of state.  To them, it is not proper to sit anywhere but at a table to eat, so at the table we sit.  And it always affirms to us that we prefer more space between us like we get in the living room.   :lol:

 

It is *still* mealtime together though.  We may be watching something on TV or a movie, but we're still chatting from time to time and spending time together, which I think is the point of the family at the table.   I really, really, really dislike the sounds of people eating/chewing, so I need the TV as a distraction from the sounds all around me.  

 

This is basically how we do it, and for similar reasons.  Very small house, no room for a real table.  

 

All of us except ds generally eat the same thing.  With his sensory issues he eats something different than the rest of us most nights.

[HS Mom in NC]

90% of the time:
We sit at the dining room table and all eat the same thing.  If someone doesn't like what we're eating, they're welcome to eat leftovers at the table with us. We eat between 5 and 7 depending on whether or not we have evening activities. It's usually between 5:30 and 6.

10% of the time:
We eat in front of the TV.

[EMS83]

I make one meal, the kids help set the table and clean up afterward (extra clean up plus dishes if a treat is involved).  The kids and I all eat at the table at the same time.  All meals are like this.