Comments on: Do You Talk Around the Dinner Table?

By: sarah

sarah — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:27:43 +0000

I could definitely see that for older kids, Mary. Mine are young — 4 and 6 — so it’s a good starter for them. But weather and the news are great topics too.

By: Mary@FitandFed

Mary@FitandFed — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:25:21 +0000

Our kids sometimes found being asked about their day or about school to feel too much like grilling (of course we are talking about teens here). So we like to start with safe topics like what’s in the news or weather and let things evolve from there.

By: sarah

sarah — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:48:57 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Nicole! We eat around the table together most nights too — with or without my husband. And the conversations? The kids definitely look forward to them.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:46:59 +0000

Hi Sarah,

As a mother of two, I understand your take on talking around the table. Luckily, we are able and do have dinner at the table just about every night. While my husband is more apt to want to jump to discussing his day, I streamline the conversation to include our 4 & 6 year old daughters.

Growing up as an only child, my family unfortunately rarely sat down together for meals. I made the commitment to give my children and family what I didn’t have.

By: sarah

sarah — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:14:24 +0000

Sounds similar to what we do. And yes, company is a free for all. In some ways, having company makes it a little easier, I think.

By: sarah

sarah — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:13:06 +0000

Oh, I remember that stage, Kate. Eek. Don’t worry, it passes. And then you reach the “can’t I take a bite, please?!?” stage where baby wants to participate but needs you to feed him. It’s all uphill from there though

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:34:34 +0000

Right now we’re in the “shovel food in while it’s hot in case the baby wakes up and needs to be put back down” stage of dinners. But we definitely talk during other meals we’re both home for!

By: Cate O'Malley

Cate O'Malley — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:13:39 +0000

As a single mom, it’s usually my job to lead any dinnertime conversation, unless we have company over (as we often do), and then it’s a free for all. We do “roses and thorns” or “peaks and pits,” an easy way for the kids to share the best and worst part of their day. And then the conversation naturally flows from there. Aside from when the kids are with their dad, we eat dinner together every night. Not always easy, but way too important to not happen.