[soccermama]

For a while now, DS eats dinner around 6pm or so each night and then H and I eat a little later - usually around 7:30ish. While we're eating, DS is watching his bedtime shows in our room and H and I are able to catch up on the day and watch our favorite shows in the living room. Once we're finished, we have family time, play, snuggle, read books, etc., and then DS is off to bed.
Is this the norm or do you make it a point to have everyone eat at the same time no matter what time it is??

 

[mama_ani]

We make it a point to have everyone eat at the same time no matter what time it is. We usually arrange our meal times around when dh is awake (he only works overnights)
I think every family does what is best for them

I'm curious though, why don't you and dh eat at 6?

 

[Drummer's Wife]

we always eat together and it's usually between 7-8 pm depending on what's going on. I think it's whatever works for your family, yk? I like eating after DH is home because he helps me make dinner and/or entertains the kids. Also, with four, it's nice to have another adult sitting down with us as well as the whole eating together as a family thing. My kids are not starving by say 5'oclock though. The older two don't get home from school until 4:30 and they eat a snack shortly after.

 

[ellemnop]

When we're able to, we eat at the same time. Right now we work opposite shifts, so don't eat together, but Lem always eats whenever a parent is eating, and if two parents are home then we all eat together.

Take care,
El

 

[MPsSweetie]

We eat together every night as a family. I eat with the kids every meal pretty much.

 

[slsurface]

We always eat together unless one of us (DH or I) is out of town. Usually dinner is between 5-6pm for us. I make dinner as soon as I get home from work.

 

[sarahr]

We eat dinner together almost every evening, although if one of us is working late or we want to eat something that requires more cooking than can be done before DD's dinnertime, she'll eat at 6 and then we'll eat after she goes to bed (happens maybe once a month).

She usually doesn't want to eat breakfast until she's been up for a while, and I like to eat right away, so we don't eat breakfast together. Lunch depends on my mood and how hungry we each are.

 

[soccermama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mama_ani We make it a point to have everyone eat at the same time no matter what time it is. We usually arrange our meal times around when dh is awake (he only works overnights) I think every family does what is best for them I'm curious though, why don't you and dh eat at 6?

We don't eat at 6pm because I usually don't get home until 5:45/6pm with DS and he wants to eat as soon as we get home - some times a little later. I just wondered if I need to make it more of a point to get us to all eat together. When H is out of town, DS and I eat together as much as possible, but it really depends on the day, what is cooked for dinner and if any errands need to be ran after work.

 

[reezley]

About once a week the timing works out for us to all eat at the same time. But usually - the kids are hungry (meaning, ds1 is starting to get crazy, hitting, running, whining, etc....) at about 5/5:30, and dh doesn't get home until about 6/6:30. So I give the kids their dinner early, and wait until dh is home for us to eat together while the kids watch a video. Sometimes kids eat a little more dinner with us, going back and forth to their show.

 

[mytwogirls]

Absolutely we eat together. That is a very special time of night for us. No phone calls, no tv, no toys, nothing but bonding and conversation. I feel that is very important for a family to eat together at a table with no outside interference.

 

[mama_ani]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pookie50104 We don't eat at 6pm because I usually don't get home until 5:45/6pm with DS and he wants to eat as soon as we get home - some times a little later. I just wondered if I need to make it more of a point to get us to all eat together. When H is out of town, DS and I eat together as much as possible, but it really depends on the day, what is cooked for dinner and if any errands need to be ran after work.

That makes sense! Definitely a "what works for our family!" I can't imagine a little one waiting til 7:30 to eat, kwim? I think in that situation I'd do something similar to what you described in your OP.

 

[Mama~Love]

We always eat together as well. But you have to do what works for your family.

 

[Miss Chris]

I would love it if we could all eat together, one less preparation and clean up cycle every day would be awesome. But for now our girl gets starving hungry at about 5 o'clock which is way too early for me and my husband is almost always still at work. Plus, she is in bed between 7 and 7:30 so I give her an evening snack around 5 and then the grown ups eat dinner around 8, after she goes to bed. It's not the best plan in the world but for now I stay at home with her all day so there is no shortage of family togetherness or bonding time. I think eating dinner together is more important when a family is scattered over the day and need some time and space to reconnect with one another. I expect that in a year or so she'll start going to preschool a couple days a week and I'll start working again and at that point dinner together will probably become more of a priority.

Like they say, you do what works, and when it doesn't work, you change.

 

[columbusmomma]

We always ate together in my house when I was growing up. So of course this is always on my mind as the "right" thing to do. However we don't eat all our meals together every single day in our home! DD is hungry early so I put her in her highchair and feed her. Later when DH,DS,and I are sitting down to eat, she'll often join us for seconds. DS is sometimes hungry before dinner is ready or before DH and I are hungry. So I feed him and DH and I eat later, he plays,watches a video, draws, etc. at this time. It is nice to catch up together and have a little adult conversation just the two of us. I do really try my hardest though to make it a point if someone is eating alone that I sit there and converse with them, use the time to hang out, vs. quickly try to start laundry or checking email. WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOUR FAMILY!

 

[Girlprof]

We eat together right now - kids are 10 months and almost 5. But there were phases with DS (the almost 5 year old) when he needed to eat and get to bed by 6:15 or 6:30. I felt weird about it at the time, but it was just a phase. A solution for now doesn't have to be a solution forever. Especially when the kids are pretty little, their schedules are still in flux.

 

[AkRotts]

We always eat dinner together.

 

[Alyantavid]

Well my dh works nights 4 days a week so the boys and I eat together every night and on dh's days off, he eats with us as well.

I think eating together is important for our family so I make it a priority.

 

[tabrizia]

DS gets breakfast and lunch alone, though I will sometimes eat breakfast with him and DH will eat lunch with him when he's home, but we all eat dinner together. It has meant a much earlier dinner then DH and I use to have, but we feel that having dinner together with all of us is important.

 

[cappuccinosmom]

We feel it important to eat together as a family. Dh's schedule is odd, but no matter what, the boys and I always eat together. Whenever we can arrange it so dh will be able to sit down with us, we do.

 

[riverscout]

During the week, we never eat dinner together. My husband doesn't even get home until after my daughter is in bed. She is an early to bed early to rise kind of girl.

On the weekends, we usually sit at the table with her while she eats dinner and will maybe have a snack and chat so its kinda like a family meal but it is usually just too early for us to eat.

I think the important thing is to just to slow down and spend time together each day without distractions. I don't think it has to be eating dinner or eating any meal for that matter. We are morning people (or we have to be because of my daughters internal clock

) so we do breakfast together.