- I DESERVE TO ENJOY A MEAL
Seriously. I’m up and down throughout breakfast and lunch. I haven’t eaten warm eggs in years. Sometimes I eat dinner early with my son, but sometimes I deserve to wait until after he goes to bed to eat. Occasionally it’s nice to eat a leisurely meal that doesn’t involve standing over the kitchen sink shoving food in my mouth. Parenting is relentless, and we’ve all earned the right to enjoy a few simple comforts.
Occasionally it’s nice to eat a leisurely meal that doesn’t involve standing over the kitchen sink shoving food in my mouth.
- DINNER ISN’T MAGIC
Getting everyone to the table isn’t enough to create a healthy family. Plus, there are plenty of happy families with non-traditional schedules who don’t have the luxury of sitting down to a meal together every night. Tight-knit families find all sorts of ways to remain close. Sharing meals can build community, and family time is essential. However, I fail to understand why dinner has become the gold standard for family bonding.
Sometimes what we’re told we “should” do for a happy family actually causes more stress.
More importantly, we all get to decide what works for our families and then do it. Sometimes what we’re told we “should” do for a happy family actually causes more stress. We can unapologetically follow the unique path that suits our family’s lifestyle, and we don’t have to justify it to anyone.
When my son is in school and is no longer eating on an early-bird schedule, I’m sure I will institute family dinners. I’ll wrangle everyone to the table each night just like my mom did when I was a kid. But at this stage it’s just not going to happen, and I refuse to feel guilty about it.
Megan Stonelake is a therapist and parent coach who teaches parents all over the world how to become more peaceful. She has written extensively on peaceful parenting for Parent.co, Hey Sigmund, and The Huffington Post among others. You can follow her blog or schedule a session at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
