Can you spare the time?

Families in the 1950s sat at the dinner table morning and evening after mom turned off the modest black and white TV in the living room. Where did the time go? While technology skyrocketed its way to heaven, family-time has gone to hell. Don’t you have countless memories when waiting for that new person to care for; to cuddle, to share? How many times did you straighten those receiving blankets, caress the edge of the crib like a soft rabbit, or feel the round of a belly….Only to have drive-thru dinners in your kitchen, Styrofoam disks flying across the counter, with the television blaring? And, didn’t you have 4 kids? Where are those two other children of ours??
Sure, life is a busy place, but didn’t you take the time to (or many of you did) plan for this family? This has been on my mind lately. It’s “Family Fun Day”, not “Part of the Family Fun Day Because She Would Be Bored So She Went to a Friend’s House Day.” It’s not standing in the kitchen at 5:33 pm and 6:20 pm and 6:42 pm slinging cold green beans onto a paper plate along with something that looks like it might come up off of the foil, and then retreating to the living room and back to the latest episode of "something" on the Disney Channel.
Try something phenomenal. It’s called …are you ready for this?...eating together! *GASP* Yes, it means all at once. Did you know that FAMILY mealtime (along with proper rest, and less television also known as TECHNOLOGY) can actually improve your child’s health and grades?(1) Studies also show that children/teens that attend the family dinner table are less likely to abuse drugs!(2) STAY CONNECTED.An important key to being a good parent is knowing that the lines of communication are always open. Talk, and share your child’s day, even if it is all about iPods, a current crush, a bad hair day, or something that may seem insignificant to you. Don't drop the connection. Get involved again. Your family deserves it.


(1)http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100208091916.htm
(2)http://family.samhsa.gov/get/mealtime.aspx