The absence of regularly eating together or the "death of the family dinner" has prompted a State Government campaign to encourage parents to eat with their children for nutritional, academic and relationship benefits.
The campaign challenges families to share at least ONE meal per WEEK! Yes, I repeat ONE meal per WEEK! Surely this was a misprint? I was stunned and saddened to find that unfortunately it was not.
Even more astonishing is that the Government's campaign is challenging families to try to accomplish this figure.
Are today's families, so caught up with work and other commitments that eating one meal together per week is a challenge? Is eating dinner with the family on the verge of extinction? Maybe I was naive in thinking that because we eat dinner as a family every night, so did everyone else? Even with two young children we manage to achieve this, so perhaps I should be giving myself a pat on the back for puling this all together and making it happen seven nights per week? Dinner for us is a time to chat about the day's events, have a laugh and share stories.
Sure, there my be the odd argument or tantrum from the children (and my husband!) about eating their vegetables, or trying to explain to our one year old that throwing food across the room really isn't that funny, but it is our special time together.
So how do we manage this? Don't we work, play sport, or attend other extracurricular activities? Of course we do! The difference is we made a conscious decision to spend more quality time as a family and with our children.
I left my successful corporate job to start my own home business and we have never looked back.
Maybe it is time to re-evaluate your commitments, whether they are personal or business and work towards reviving the family dinner?