Families who eat together stay together

Its is Spring Bank Holiday in the UK so it seemed right to talk about families and how we can improve the time we spend together. My observation is there are many benefits from families who eat together.

In our busy 21^st century lives, there is a trend towards families eating their meals from trays watching TV rather than sitting to a table and facing each other.  Likewise teenagers, if allowed, will take their food and eat in their bedrooms.

Eating a meal at a table together as a family strengthens the family bond.  Over the meal conversation will flow backwards and forwards between parents, between parents and children.  By sharing their day’s news, family members are more involved with each others lives.  This gives opportunities to support one another and for parents to guide a child.

Listening to the conversation between parents is another opportunity for children to learn how to behave with another person and to love and support that person.  The simple act of eating a meal together provides many opportunities to learn for all involved.

Children may resist family dinners but as they become adults they will come to value them. They may even repeat the process with their own children. Children can learn much at the family dinner table. This can include listening to and participating in parental discussions on economics, world issues, and what it means to be living a life. Children gain the opportunity to assess and form their life values.

Dinner is wonderful opportunity not to be missed. Even if siblings want to fight and argue over dinner or  parents disagree with children, (yes I have been there…) do not despair, it will pass and you will gain the benefit of being together even if you agree to disagree. Life is often about compromise so practising it at home is good.

Dedicated to my mother and the wonderful five little boys and two girls in our family who represent the next generation arriving.

If you relate to this article and need some more help and guidance in your life Get in touch with Alison. Here are her contact details.

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Tel: +44 7966 137568  Email: alison.wem@yoursoulfamily.com

Available face-to-face or via video conferencing depending on location.