- Week 32: Dinner Time. On a typical childhood evening, who was around the dinner table? Was the meal served by one person, or was it a free-for-all? What is dinner time like in your family today?
Childhood dinner changed over the years, depending on the employment of my parents among other things. We often ate as a family when everyone was home, but there were stretches when one parent worked nights. As we lived far from any relatives, there was never an extended family dinner situation unless someone came to visit, or we went visiting. Food was cooked and set on the table usually by one person, but then we each served ourselves for the most part.
Currently with my family, we share cooking responsibilities in that each of us cooks dinner one night per week, including all three kids, which leaves a couple of nights unaccounted for each week. Each person has their scheduled day to cook, and they need to plan their meal ahead of time to ensure the proper ingredients get purchased on the weekly grocery shopping trips. Once cooked, the food is set out, and each can grab a plate and serve themselves. We don't often sit around the table as a family, as schedules have become chaotic with one son working, another doing odd jobs and Boy Scouts, and so forth. We tried to purposely "enforce" family dinner for a while, but it just didn't take, long term. Too many variations in schedules.
At least with everyone sharing in the cooking, I know my kids will be able to feed themselves when they get out into the real world.
This and all other articles on this blog are © copyright 2011 by Daniel G. Dillman
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