https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:52:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-7697 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:49:55 +0000 Tidybee 7697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We ate together every night, and yes each of us had a chore. Looking back, it was one of the best things we could have done as a family, and we're all still so close. I know we'll do that as much as we can in our own family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-7661 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:33:32 +0000 looch 7661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yes, we did as well. 6pm was dinner time, if you wanted to eat, you had to be there. It was only 30 minutes, but that was the program. It was altered a bit when we had activities, but really, that was only when we got into high school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-7625 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:52:43 +0000 theotherstark 7625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, we did! I loved it. Well, as a surly teenagers, I got annoyed about it, but before and after that (and particularly now looking back), I am so glad my family did this. As my sister and I became more and more involved with sports, it became trickier, but we always tried to sit down to a meal together and talk about our day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-7620 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:05:21 +0000 eeh 7620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we always ate as a family. We took turns setting/clearing the table and I got to pray on even days and my sister on odds. It's a really special memory for me and I loved that time spent together. It was the first time all day all four of us were together since mom was at work before we woke up and dad didn't get home until dinner. Once we got in middle or high school we may not have eaten every meal together but my mom cooked every meal and if we weren't at an activity we ate it together. Once we got in late high school and college we started to recognize it as a free meal. We could either eat at home with the family or go out with friends and pay for it. Free food almost always won. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-7588 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:06:42 +0000 mrsjyw 7588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep! And during middle/high school, I started prepping/cooking dinner for my parents as well. Dammit, my parents had me trained! :P I wouldn't have had it any other way, hubby and I always try to eat dinner together as well and we hope to continue on the tradition with our kids in the future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-7586 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:02:00 +0000 Meridian 7586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! And I definitely hope to carry on the tradition! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6828 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:56:59 +0000 alongfarview 6828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup - this was something that was really important to my mom. Now my husband and I try to eat meals at the table together (it's so easy to just sit on the couch in front of the tv, so we both try to make the effort to eat at the table). It's definitely something that I want ingrained in us now so that when we have kids we can add it in as part of our routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6785 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:45:59 +0000 mrbee 6785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119 - Wait, you sang a song? I'd like to hear more!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6783 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:45:13 +0000 chopsuey 6783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We ALWAYS ate dinner as a family. We sang a song, prayed and ate! No one left the table until everyone was done eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6778 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:42:39 +0000 leelee 6778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup we always sat down and ate together. In addition, my dad made Sundays family says and would take us places or we would just go to the park to fly kites. He would never take any excuses for not participating. At times I thought it was kind of a drag, but now looking back and comparing stories with DH about his family life, I realize I was extremely lucky. All the family time has made my siblings and I extra close whereas he only sees his siblings every couple months or when there's a birthday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6772 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:35:27 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 6772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well 9 and 2 babies </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6769 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:34:55 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 6769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup! Now we have family lunches every Sunday. All 9 of us. It's fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6766 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:31:47 +0000 Jenna 6766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rarely, but I wish that we did. Usually my stepsisters and I would sit at the kitchen counter and eat while my mom and stepdad ate in the living room. When I got into high school and became more of an internet junkie, I usually ate in my bedroom. That's not going to fly with our kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6680 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:03:39 +0000 mynoahbear 6680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we had sit down dinners every night. My sister and I took turns setting the table but I think I remember my mom doing all the after dinner clean up by herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6666 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:54:02 +0000 singingbee 6666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always did! My mom and dad always made a point of making sure that we ate together. If my dad was still at work late, the girls would eat and then sit with him for a little bit while he was eating. Whenever we go back home to visit, we always eat dinner together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6656 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:38:36 +0000 Andrea 6656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we did but we didn't have many family discussions. We were all sat around the table but a TV right there. Oh well, I guess it was still bonding time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6653 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:35:42 +0000 tequiero21 6653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we ate dinner every night together when we were younger. i think once we got into hs, might have been a bit different but it was nice. i definitely plan to do that with my kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6648 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:14:21 +0000 twinmama 6648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always ate dinner together as a family. My sister and I usually helped set the table, but I think giving each kid a consistent job is a good idea!</p> <p>I also saw in a movie where the each family member shared their "high" and "low" of the day at dinner each night. I've always thought that was a cool way to keep tabs on what was going on with everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6639 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:36:32 +0000 jennylynn 6639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had family dinners for a long time every night when I was younger. As me and my sister grew up, they didn't happen so often, but we always at least made it to the dinner table together every sunday. It was a nice way to catch up with each other, and start the new week. We def. plan on having plenty of family dinners at the table. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6636 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:23:07 +0000 MegWag 6636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always had family dinners and they are some of my fondest memories. We'd talk about stuff and spend quality family time. One of my favorite things was my dad's "Ethical Dilemmas". He'd bring home some problem from work that he was dealing with and lay out the key points for us. We'd then have a discussion on what we would do about it. He'd usually update us on the outcome once it was acted on in reality. When we got to that age (probably tween?) when we hated to sit at the table, we'd ask to be excused and mom would say "No. We've having pleasant conversation." </p> <p>I'm pretty sure there are all kinds of statistics about how eating dinner together has positive long-term effects on kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6635 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:22:34 +0000 rawrasaur 6635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we almost always ate dinner together. I don't really remember how discussion went, but I know we talked. It was good times. I plan on eating dinner with my kids when that time comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6633 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:19:08 +0000 Red 6633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of the time. We didn't have meaningful conversation or anything though, I think it was just easier for Mom, lol.</p> <p>Me, my husband, and our LO have dinner together and plan on continuing it. It's just nice to sit down and talk about the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6617 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:32:08 +0000 Adira 6617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! We always had sit down dinners with the whole family! It was sooooo nice! I think my brother and I took turns setting the table, but I don't really remember, haha. But looking back, I LOVED that. I think it was such an important part of our day and such a nice time for the whole family to just talk and bond. I definitely want to have that with my family when I have kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-eat-dinner-together-as-a-family-growing-up#post-6613 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:25:05 +0000 mrbee 6613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For a while growing up, we had sit-down dinners with the whole family. The kids would each have a job: one would put the plates and silverware out, another would put food on the plates, and another would put glasses of water out. Haha looking back, my mom totally had us wrapped around her finger!</p> <p>Anyway I'd love to have sit-down dinners together as a family once the kids get older! We could ask the kids about their day, and bond together as a family unit.</p> <p>Did you have sit-down dinners together as a family growing up? Looking back, was it an important part of your upbringing? </p>