Feeding Frenzy

By Nixon

October 7, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

We eat all over the house. We don’t have a “eat in kitchen”. SOmetimes we are at the dinner table, sometimes in the living room in front of the tv, or downstairs in front of the big tv.

It’s just two of us, and sometimes only one for dinner……

By amy

October 7, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Most of the time at the Kitchen table-which is not in the kitchen but in a small area off the kitchen. Or other times at the island in the kitchen.
When company comes or at holidays, at the dining room table.

By TJ

October 7, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Call us old fashioned but during the week, my husband, my toddler and I still eat at the table together. We get dinner on the table when we get home, we wash our hands, say our grace, turn off the TV, turn on some soothing music and eat and talk to each other. You’d be surprised at how much info even little ones will share with you over a quiet meal. Its one of my favorite parts of the day (followed by my glass of wine when the kid is asleep!).

By Trey

October 7, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

We recently moved to a home that had enough space for a ‘proper’ dining room table and it rocks. Instead of eating in front of the tele, now we eat at a table. It’s more relaxing, gives us a chance to really talk and relax-as opposed to mulitasking by eating, talking and watching the news.

By CAP

October 7, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

I like the idea from TJ and I don’t think it is “Old Fashioned” at all! It is really a good idea to have dinner at the table together! My husband and I have always done that and now that our kids are grown we continue to do it…..although, I have to admit that sometimes we will sneak to the living room to watch TV….not often though! One of our favorite things to do on Sat. mornings is to sit at the table either in the breakfast area or out on the deck and enjoy a relaxing breakfast watching the birds and enjoying the morning! Although we are older, not ancient, but older…….hopefully the eating at the kitchen table with your family will never be outdated!

By DP

October 7, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

The only time I eat at the table is when I need someplace flat to put my plate while I’m at the computer (which is right next to the table). Soup often prompts this, since it requires more care to eat.

By Mel

October 7, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

We try to eat at the dining room table (we don’t have an eat-in kitchen) as much as often, but especially for evening meals during the week. I complete the meal, we all sit down and pray together (we take turns saying grace). We make sure the tv is off and the house is quiet so we can concentrate on the conversation at hand. As TJ stated, it is indeed surprising what the kids will share! I have 4 children ranging in age from 7 to 18…so you can only imagine the things they say! But as they grow up and leave our home, I pray they will keep this tradition with their own families. It is well worth the time & effort invested!

By Family time

October 7, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

We always had family dinners, with very few exceptions. When the kids were growing up we waited until they were home from activities to have dinner and often their friends joined us. they still bring friends to dinner to this day. These were almost always at the table in what we called the “breakfast room” although we ate almost all meals there. There was no TV and we said grace and talked to each other during dinner. One time our son said he’d heard of a family that each had their own TV tables and ate in front of the TV every night - how lucky is that? He exclaimed!

On Saturdays we would sometimes have a casula dinner in front of the TV for big football games but these were and still are considered treats!

The dining room is used for special dinners - with company, on holidays etc.

Now that the kids are grown, the days at the breakfast table are special memories for me - sharing time, hearing about their days, enjoyig the company of their friends.

Now it’s just two of us, but we always sit at the table and have dinner together (except for the still special football game meals!).

By KoolAid House

October 7, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

My daughter and I eat in the living room. No formal dining table, but do have a kitchen table in the kitchen. We just don’t eat there. We talk while eating, even sometimes turning the tv off.

By sharon

October 7, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately we don’t eat our meals at the table. Everyone is so busy and keeps different hours. I know this is a “big no, no but we grab a plate and eat in our rooms.

By Perkle

October 7, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

At the kitchen table on the weekends and when we have company. In the living room in front of the TV when just me and hubby.

By Mo's Mom

October 7, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

I don’t have a kitchen table either but my son & I eat EVERY MEAL at the dining room table. On an extremely rare occasion, he may be allowed to eat a small weekend snack-type meal in his playroom.

By Grammaw

October 7, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

As a kid, we always ate at the kitchen table, unless we had company, when the adults ate at the dining room table, and the kids ate in the kitchen. It was family time, when we all actually TALKED to one another, and found out how each one’s day went. Now, as a grandma myself, I insist that we eat at the table (kitchen or dining) as a family, especially for dinner. My 5 y.o. granddaughter loves to sit there and talk to everyone, and it’s important for her to see how family is supposed to be, since so many have no idea anymore.

By by Tracey

October 7, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

My family of 5, mom and dad and 3 boys, ages 19, 15 and 10 eat at the dining room table. The table remains set, we put the food on the table, we take turns saying Grace and we eat and talk. It’s a tradition that I grew up with. I know that it is a tradition that has already been passed along. When my kids eat at their friends house, they comment that they don’t eat together, the dishes don’t match, and they don’t say Grace.

By Busy Mom

October 7, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

The kids & DH sit at the table & I usually eat standing up at the stove. Why bother sitting down because someone always asks for something!

By Becky

October 7, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

When it’s just me & the husband, we eat in front of the TV..I talk on the phone all day at work & when I get home, I don’t want to do a lot of talking…On the weekends, we eat when we have the grandkids, we eat at the table.Growig up, we never ate at the table as a family..Most of us were in & out, so there was never a set time to eat..

By Hungry

October 7, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

We don’t have any furniture, so we just eat on the floor. After getting too much house we can’t afford, we can barely make the payment, let alone furnish the house.

But hey, we have a roof over our heads.

By verlin

October 7, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

I don’t even have a kitchen table… I eat on those TV trays or the bar in the kitchen, but then again I am a bachelor

By clyde

October 8, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

My wife and I eat at the kitchen table.Isn’t that what it’s there for?

The kitchen table is the friendliest place in the home.That’s where we eat our meals and that’s where friends sit when they come for coffee.Ours is very old,purchased by my great grandmother in the 1800’s.I’ll bet it has a lot of tales to tell.

By PTCMomma

October 8, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

We eat at the table, as a family, almost every night. The two regular exceptions are Fridays, when we go out, and Sundays, when the kids have youth group at church. We don’t allow regular interferences with family dinners as we feel it’s an important to eat at least one meal together daily.

By TableMom

October 8, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

As a child, our family always sat down at the kitchen table to eat. It was our way of winding down the day. My parents would ask what we did, how was school, etc. To this day, with children ages 7 & 5, we have at least one meal at the kitchen table (it’s usually dinner). I ask them about their day, how was school. It’s a good example to set for your children to bring the family together just for that short 30 minutes meal (ok, sometimes it’s only 15 but you get the picture).

My fiance asked why I insist on a sit down gathering at dinner time. I just told him it’s how I grew up and how I want my children to grow up. It’s also how I want my future grandchildren to grow up. Table time is family time…period.

Even when my parents visit, when mom & I prepare dinner, once it’s ready, it’s time to pick out a spot at the table. We all have “our” spot but when gramma & grampa are there…the plastic picnic table is brought out and say right beside the “big” people table.

By gcsu mom

October 8, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

When our girls were at home, we always had family dinner each night. It was a time to sit down as a family and share the day’s events. When their friends ate with us which was alot, they would always comment that we were the only family they knew that still ate dinner together each night. They loved to join us. We always laughed and had a great time. Now one is out of college and on her own and the other is at college, but my husband and I always eat at the table each night. Doesn’t matter what we have to eat, it is a time to share what has happened in our day and to make plans for the rest of the week, talk about current events or even share some gossip! Advice to young parents…. Make dinner time a priority, it will definately make a difference in your family. Communication is so important in relationships with your children and spouses.

By I am a little more organized

October 9, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

It’s very interesting to read all of your comments - busting my image of the family sitting down at the table and sharing the day’s activities and interacting. I personally have a rule against TV watching while dining - it’s the only time DH and I can sit down and spend any quality time together. In two weeks I plan to visit a family member and have been dreading how I will eat my meals, b/c for breakfast and lunch no one sits down at an actual table to eat, it’s just catch-as-catch-can. But now that I know their habit is not that unusual, I’ll simply make sure the food I need is in the house and just find a quiet place to have my food as I need it, no biggie.

By Laura

October 16, 2008 1:03 AM | Link to this

We instituted a media-off, sit-down dinner (even if we’ve just ordered Zifty’s!) about 2 years ago, and it’s been great for us and our 3 kids. One element that was important; convincing my husband that it was important not to nag or criticize the kids during this meal time. Once he got the hang of that, it’s become a relaxing time of togetherness, where the kids feel free to share their thoughts and experiences, and we all enjoy each other.

By Laura

October 16, 2008 1:14 AM | Link to this

Also…we have the choice, space-wise, between having stools set up next to our optional eating counter, or to have a kitchen table and chairs. Both would not fit in our nook. We chose the table, because we knew this use of space and furniture would help ensure our family meal time, and make it more interactive.

We don’t use fancy, or even matching, plates and there’s no fanfare or complicated cooking—like I said, delivery suits us fine, too. It’s the togetherness, and the communication, and the opportunity to have fun together.

It’s an interesting question you posed, because it makes you think about the way the use of space and even furniture arrangement can have impact on the way a family behaves.