Family Breakfast
We all know the importance of eating together as a family. We’ve been hearing it for years. Families that eat together are happier and healthier. Children do better in school and are better behaved. Couples are stronger. Families that sit down at the table together for meals are less likely to be over weight. Because we know all of this, we (and by we, I mean the ladies of the family – typically) tend to put a lot of pressure on dinner. It’s important to the success of our family, so darn it, it’s going to work! At least, that’s what we aim for.
Dinner time is often a nightmare in our home. Steve is rarely home for dinner, leaving Moanna and I to duke it out one-on-one over how much she has to eat and of what. Even when we plan to have dinner together as a family, something always seems to come up to get in the way. If we are lucky we get to eat dinner together, but we have exactly 17 minutes to get from prayer to a clean kitchen. You may have similar struggles over dinner time. No one is home at the same time, the kids don’t like what you cook, or you cook unhealthy food that the kids will eat to avoid an argument. Your husband doesn’t get home until late and is reheating leftovers close to midnight. It’s exhausting and frustrating. It turns what should be a special time together as a family into a series of emotional breakdowns.
After throwing my fair share of temper fits over ruined dinners, I had a revelation. Why don’t we have breakfast together as a family, and take the pressure off of dinner? We’re all home in the mornings. No one really starts their day until 9:00AM. So, why don’t we get up an hour early and have breakfast? We’ll start the day together over a nice meal. And hey, if we managed to pull off a solid family dinner once or twice a week, well than that’s just a bonus. It’s brilliant!
How was I going to convince Steve that giving up an hour of rest to eat breakfast in the morning was a good idea?
I sat on my brilliant idea for several days before I had my speech worked out in my head. When I was least expecting it, it all spilled out of my mouth…
Me, “This is going to sound crazy because we’re both sleep deprived as it is, but I think we need to get up early and have breakfast in the morning together as a family. I think this is something our family needs. It’s nearly impossible to have dinner together, and if you happen to be home for lunch we’re eating and working at the same time, so that doesn’t count. I think it will improve Moanna’s behavior and eating habits, and you and I will be better in tune with each other if we start the day together. I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m OK with that.”
I was waiting for Steve to stop me at any moment and go, “Nuh huh. That just ain’t happenin’.” But that was not his response at all…
Steve, “I’m so glad you came up with that idea because I’ve been thinking the same thing. I just didn’t know how to tell you it without sounding like, ‘Woman you need to get up and make me some eggs.’ I think you’re right.”
Me, “Crap! You feel the same way, so I guess there is no way for me to back out of it now.”
This is day one of our family breakfast plan. It’s going to take a lot of sacrifice and commitment to make this work (we’re slow going in the morning). To start things off on a good note, I made some preparations last night to make this morning less stressful. Last night, I prepared a crustless sausage and cheese quiche and put it in the fridge, so that all I had to do this morning was pop it in the over and bake it off. I also set the table last night, so I wouldn’t have to make all that noise this morning. I’m going to try and get Moanna dressed, and then it’s breakfast time!
Please pray for us! This is going to be good for our family, but it ain’t going to be easy.
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that’s a neat idea:)
Day one was a train wreck… Moanna did not want to get dressed!! Once we were at the table, things got easier
How clever! I like that idea. You’ll have to share the results.
Today was better than yesterday. Hopefully the improvement trend will continue
My husband is never home for breakfast so it’s a quick affair of me slapping food onto the counter for the kids. However, I do make everyone sit for dinner.
sometimes Mr. G doesn’t get home until close to 8, so I’ll give the kids a “pre-dinner” at about 6 or 7 and then we will all sit down together at about 8.
They love that. (no they don’t)
But here’s the thing, recently my son had to write a paragraph in school about a special place, and his teacher called to read it to me. Apparently his “special place” is our dinner table. He says we just laugh and laugh and spend hours there. (not true but I wish it was longer)
So I say HUZZAH! And good for you both, and hopefully it won’t take long before it’s Moanna’s favorite place.
Thank you for sharing that story. I bet your dinner table is a fantastic place to be every night.