Pass It On!

When is the last time you held a dinner party or invited your family to sit down together around the table and share a meal?

Last weekend my oldest daughter reminded me how important setting the family table was and eating side by side as a family.  After my daughter’s soccer game, we went to a local pizza joint for lunch.  It was nice treat, but my daughter was upset by the fact we were split between two small tables.  My older two children sat at one table across from us, and my husband, myself, and our youngest daughter sat at the other table.  My oldest said, “But mom, we always eat together as a family.”

It was in that moment, I realized how important setting the table each night had become to my family.  Each night, with plastic plates, cups, and silverware my children take turns setting the table as I prepare supper.  When you have small children, fancy dinner plates don’t mean as much as simply sitting down together at the dinner table.

Tonight, set the table for your family.  Pull out your finest china or use paper plates.  Today doesn’t have to be a holiday or special occasion; it just has to be a family day.  Sit down together around the table and share a meal, perhaps for you this isn’t something so easily accomplished or routine in your daily schedules. 

Make a point of setting the table and sharing a meal.  When you set the table you are passing on family values and traditions to your children and their children to come.   If you can’t do it every night, strive for once a week and soon you’ll see a difference in your family as I have in mine.

What will you serve for dinner tonight?  I’m thinking Itailan…..