Dinner in the Dining Room

When I was growing up my mom cooked dinner every night. If we went to a restaurant it was for a special occasion and if we had takeout it was usually pizza which we drove to pick up. My dad worked in the city and got home from work late, but each night we would wait for him so we could eat dinner together.

All six of us would huddle around the table in our tiny kitchen. The lefty’s in the family would have to sit next to each other so they weren’t elbowing the righty’s. I still remember the faux brown wood table and the way the wicker chairs would bounce.

Dinnertime brought us together. A moment to pause, to eat, to share. We would get to share about our day and hear what others were up to. We couldn’t leave the table until everyone was finished eating and we were responsible for clearing our own plates. It was always one of my favorite parts of the day.

In my own home today we don’t have a kitchen table. Meals usually happen sitting side by side at our kitchen counter. And wrangling a toddler to not want to get up after taking two bits of a meal feels impossible.

Recently we tried something new. We have a dining room table, why not sit there. While Dustin was cooking I got Emma to help me set the table. She loved laying out the forks, knives and napkins. She was sure to get each of us what we wanted to drink and was so proud of her hard work.

We sat together, no longer side by side, but able to see each other and look each other in the eye. Emma sat through almost the entire meal. She was engaged and we all had a chance to talk and share.

It brought me back to being a kid. Not rushing through a meal, but sitting together as a family. It felt nice to be gathered around the table together.

Being able to sit down with your loved ones and share a meal together is a gift. It provides that pause in the day we all need. Where there is nothing to do and nowhere to go except to nourish your body with delicious food and enjoy the company you are with.

Sitting in the dining room has shifted our meals. It has made them feel special and brings that sense of connection we are all craving after a chaotic day. It reminds us to slow down and appreciate. To be with one another because we never know how many of these moments we are going to get. I am grateful for this shift and the closeness the dining room table is providing us.

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