Dinner Time

The Importance of the Dinner Table

We have recently began having our dinner at the dining table again. We had gotten out of the habit of having a sit down dinner each evening while the boys had football practice and other activities.

Our Dinner has become one of the most anticipated events of our day. Even the boys look forward to it with great anticipation. Why ? Because I have taken extra time to set the table with a tablecloth, napkins, and "the fancy dishes."

The "fancy dishes" are the ones that I have kept in the China cabinet that belonged to my mother and Grandmother. They never used them even on special occasions in fear of breaking them. Now they are not expensive dishes or anything just old and special "looking". My youngest said to me one day "Mom, why don't we ever use those dishes?" I pondered on that question for a moment and really couldn't think of a reason.  So that evening we used our "special dishes"  I put a tablecloth on the table and set the table using the dishes. We drank out of the nice blue glasses and had the matching glass pitcher filled with ice water for  refills. We ate our pudding out of the dessert dishes.

What happened? Nothing broke, the sky did not fall and we had a wonderful dining experience. A transformation took place before my very eyes! My 13 , 11, and 6 year old became little gentlemen. They used great manners saying please and thank you. The conversation was light and lovely. They  complimented me on  the food.  The same went for my husband. Hmm, was I on to something?

The next few days I cooked regular meals, nothing out of the ordinary. I continued setting the table fancy and using the "special dishes" and do you know what? We could have been having hot dogs and they still showed great respect at the dinner table. No more rushing to eat supper to go and play. They longed to sit at the table with me and Thane and talk.

My father in law came that Sunday for dinner. Now on Sunday I had fixed more of a sit down dinner than usual. He never said anything about the table setting (he is the strong, silent type) but you could tell there was a feeling of respect in the air. He is an old fashioned guy and I could tell it impressed him.

40-50 years ago it was unheard of to eat in the living room, or to grab a bite to go. Time has taken away some of the most precious attributes of a family. We are always in a hurry trying to rush right through life.

So I challenge you ladies, get out those fancy, special dishes that you never use, set your table nice and go back in time and enjoy your  family and your dining experience. Do it for a week and see what happens.

Ann