by Heidi from Michigan
My family loves the rhythms of mealtime! I think it really helps us to teach our kids a lot about life. Let me be real, the time leading up to mealtime is definitely the “witching hour” in our household!
Let me paint the picture for you:
My almost one year old grabs the back of my legs screaming, “Up, up,up!” She wants to be picked up of course, while I am trying to make dinner! In the other room, my 9 and 10 year old boys seem to be roughhousing again! I quickly secure the baby into the high chair; she is a climber and we have to make sure she doesn’t fall! I grab her a banana and give her a few slices to give me 2 more minutes of prep time.
I begin moving quickly, making sure I have everything on the table as I ask my sons to set it, mostly so their antics don’t turn into hurting each other! They pour milk for each other and water for my husband and me. Finally sitting down, my husband rushes in and joins us. Many weekday nights, one parent is working, and one pulls dinner together. Finger foods for the baby and other food cut up small, protein, and at least one thing I know the boys will eat without protest! We begin singing our prayer, “Oh, the Lord’s been good to me…”
As we dig into the meal, we try to help our kids with portion sizes as we dodge the food our almost one year old throws!!
My oldest always says, “This is so good!!”
We give the veggies out, so that they are not avoided – being careful not to let the foods touch on the 9-year-old’s plate. Somehow the meal is contaminated if they touch :)!
We ask our kids questions about their day by saying, “What was your rose and thorn today?” They share their good and bad experiences and listen to ours. This doesn’t always work, but we try!! Then our oldest begins humming Star Wars songs, he is obsessed!! My 9 year old protests, asking him to stop and in the process falls out of his seat for the millionth time because he never actually sits down. Of course he is fine!!
We wrap up the meal, reminding our oldest to load the dishwasher. Our almost one year old is covered head to foot with our meal, and we head to the tub.
It flies by, some days better than others, but I am so thankful for that time together each day, because in the blink of an eye, time passes.
This blog was written by one of our guest bloggers, Heidi.
About Heidi. . .
I am an Area Director for a local youth program called Young Life. I am also a foster parent.
I am married and we have 4 kids right now. Foster kids fluctuate that number! I love my family, my job, and my community! I am also a PCUSA Pastor.
Want more information on family mealtimes? wichealth.org has a free online lesson called Making Mealtime A Family Time. Find it on wichealth.org in the Feeding Your 2 To 5-Year-Old category!
We would love to hear about your family mealtime. . .Leave us a comment!
