Comments on: Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Making the Most of Mealtimes http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/ The musings and ravings of a bloggart family Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:48:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Emily http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-4079 Emily Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:27:17 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-4079 I LOVE when we all sit down for evening dinner but to be honest it doesn't happen as often as I like. Monday through Thursday's the meals get prepared, the table is set and the candles are lit and whoever shows up to eat shows up. Carlos has been so busy lately that this week he didn't make it home for dinner one time but in his place we were blessed with my niece one night and Landon's friend another. Our table is always open . . but I covet the nights that we are all together sharing that meal. I LOVE when we all sit down for evening dinner but to be honest it doesn’t happen as often as I like. Monday through Thursday’s the meals get prepared, the table is set and the candles are lit and whoever shows up to eat shows up. Carlos has been so busy lately that this week he didn’t make it home for dinner one time but in his place we were blessed with my niece one night and Landon’s friend another. Our table is always open . . but I covet the nights that we are all together sharing that meal.

]]> By: Aunt Kate http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-4025 Aunt Kate Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:58:23 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-4025 Great ideas. I may try them with Uncle Jerry. Yea. Love you Edgrens. Aunt Kate Great ideas. I may try them with Uncle Jerry. Yea.

Love you Edgrens. Aunt Kate

]]> By: Debbie http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3983 Debbie Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:59:01 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3983 We have most evening meals together if Brian is not away (obvious on that one!). We used to talk a lot at meal time, but it is all about the eating for the Littles, so it isn't as relaxed as it used to be. We are trying to teach them that a family meal is about sharing, but we have a ways to go yet in that area. I'm going to try some of your ideas and maybe that would help. We have most evening meals together if Brian is not away (obvious on that one!). We used to talk a lot at meal time, but it is all about the eating for the Littles, so it isn’t as relaxed as it used to be. We are trying to teach them that a family meal is about sharing, but we have a ways to go yet in that area.

I’m going to try some of your ideas and maybe that would help.

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3976 Cynthia Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:38:46 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3976 After you have kids as old as ours you'll be ever so grateful for having a single meal together a couple of times a month. After they get their drivers licenses, jobs, and FRIENDS.... you hardly see them anymore! Enjoy all the meal times you can while YOU still control their schedules (LOL)!. After you have kids as old as ours you’ll be ever so grateful for having a single meal together a couple of times a month. After they get their drivers licenses, jobs, and FRIENDS…. you hardly see them anymore! Enjoy all the meal times you can while YOU still control their schedules (LOL)!.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3972 Jennifer Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:23:26 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3972 I love the idea of reading a funny, short story at the table or telling jokes. Laughter always diffuses the bad moods that can set in and help digestion. Elisabeth Elliot's father used to read at the table and she has fond memories of mealtimes. When I was growing up, my father came home from work and we all ran to the door yelling, "Daddy!". He hugged us all and then he got the paper and a glass of wine and sat in HIS chair for half an hour. While he sat and read, we were not allowed to talk to him or play in the living room. When his half hour was up, he would find us and play with us until dinner was ready which gave my mother time to prepare our meal without being interrupted. By the time we ate, we were all in a good mood and ready to eat. That worked well until we got old enough to have homework and were too big to play! Because Ian is gone so much and I cannot devote the energy needed to constant correction at the table, I explained to our kiddos that the table is a place for conversation and peace. Nobody is allowed to say anything negative at the table. If they do, they miss the rest of dinner and leave the table. I know this doesn't work for everyone, but my children have always come back truly repentant and apologetic....they still miss their meal, but the are welcomed back into our fellowship. Oops..you asked for ideas for teaching about God at meal times...I don't use that time to teach with words, but by example and a light heart that simply enjoys being together and listening to whatever pops into the heads of my kids that they want to share. If it's a hard situation, we can calmly and respectfully discuss it. I love the idea of reading a funny, short story at the table or telling jokes. Laughter always diffuses the bad moods that can set in and help digestion.
Elisabeth Elliot’s father used to read at the table and she has fond memories of mealtimes.

When I was growing up, my father came home from work and we all ran to the door yelling, “Daddy!”. He hugged us all and then he got the paper and a glass of wine and sat in HIS chair for half an hour. While he sat and read, we were not allowed to talk to him or play in the living room. When his half hour was up, he would find us and play with us until dinner was ready which gave my mother time to prepare our meal without being interrupted.
By the time we ate, we were all in a good mood and ready to eat.

That worked well until we got old enough to have homework and were too big to play!

Because Ian is gone so much and I cannot devote the energy needed to constant correction at the table, I explained to our kiddos that the table is a place for conversation and peace. Nobody is allowed to say anything negative at the table. If they do, they miss the rest of dinner and leave the table. I know this doesn’t work for everyone, but my children have always come back truly repentant and apologetic….they still miss their meal, but the are welcomed back into our fellowship.

Oops..you asked for ideas for teaching about God at meal times…I don’t use that time to teach with words, but by example and a light heart that simply enjoys being together and listening to whatever pops into the heads of my kids that they want to share. If it’s a hard situation, we can calmly and respectfully discuss it.

]]> By: Charlotte http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3971 Charlotte Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:53:05 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3971 We often do "highs and lows" at dinner and each of our kids says the best and worst part of their days. I will try to incorporate some of your ideas; they add some depth to an already fun routine. Great suggestions. We often do “highs and lows” at dinner and each of our kids says the best and worst part of their days. I will try to incorporate some of your ideas; they add some depth to an already fun routine. Great suggestions.

]]> By: Holly http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3969 Holly Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:47:00 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3969 Our boys just turned three and already we have the tradition of family dinner firmly established. Since they are so young, our teaching them about God and his blessings usually isn't much deeper than, "We pray before our meal because we thank God for what He gives us." However, lately the boys have begun asking to say the blessing before dinner and the things they come up with amaze me! Hearing a three-year-old little boy thank God for Mama and Daddy is truly touching. Our boys just turned three and already we have the tradition of family dinner firmly established. Since they are so young, our teaching them about God and his blessings usually isn’t much deeper than, “We pray before our meal because we thank God for what He gives us.” However, lately the boys have begun asking to say the blessing before dinner and the things they come up with amaze me! Hearing a three-year-old little boy thank God for Mama and Daddy is truly touching.

]]> By: tina http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3963 tina Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:02:49 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3963 I love to hear postive encouraging comments regarding the meal we are eating, especially because I probably just fixed it! :) I have found that excusing a child who complains about the meal from the remainder of said meal goes along way to encouraging complimentary comments in the future! I love to hear postive encouraging comments regarding the meal we are eating, especially because I probably just fixed it! :)
I have found that excusing a child who complains about the meal from the remainder of said meal goes along way to encouraging complimentary comments in the future!

]]> By: Dorothy http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3958 Dorothy Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:47:19 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/10/01/tuesday-tips-for-parenting-making-the-most-of-mealtimes/#comment-3958 You know, just HAVING a daily family mealtime is a shocking rarity in modern Britain. We just converse. {g} We do often get into the Big Conversations, but don't formalise it, except occasionally at our Saturday evening Shabbat meals. We've found our family meals to be a great time to invite other kids, who never normally experience such, to see what mealtimes can be like. I see this as a kind of ministry. BTW, sometimes it's much easier for kids to be appreciative of eachother under cover of anonymity. We used to write things down and put them in a bowl to be read out at the end of the day. When the recipient can't tell who wrote the nice thing, it's just easier to be warm and loving. At least it is in our family. Maybe that's just us, though! {g} Keep up the good work! You know, just HAVING a daily family mealtime is a shocking rarity in modern Britain.

We just converse. {g} We do often get into the Big Conversations, but don’t formalise it, except occasionally at our Saturday evening Shabbat meals.

We’ve found our family meals to be a great time to invite other kids, who never normally experience such, to see what mealtimes can be like. I see this as a kind of ministry.

BTW, sometimes it’s much easier for kids to be appreciative of eachother under cover of anonymity. We used to write things down and put them in a bowl to be read out at the end of the day. When the recipient can’t tell who wrote the nice thing, it’s just easier to be warm and loving. At least it is in our family.

Maybe that’s just us, though! {g}

Keep up the good work!

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