Call me old-fashioned, but this week I want to emphasise the importance of sitting as a family at the dinner table.
Modern living, where most parents are already struggling to juggle the demands of work and home life, makes finding the time to sit down at a dinner table difficult. This is a shame, because sitting at the dinner table (without the distraction of the TV or homework), gives us the chance to connect with our family members.
This connection is an important time for our children to learn from us. They have the chance to hear about our values, problem-solving skills and dreams. This is also an important chance for parents to learn more about their children. So many parents and children complain that they don’t understand each other.
If we took the time to do this most days, this would be less of a problem. Try asking your child about their role models, what they think is important in life, and what they think could make the world a better place.
During this time, parents are also able to see when and with what their children might be struggling, and then open the doors to helping them. Eating at the table also encourages all of us to eat and live slower, and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.
