A concept many in society have steered away from, Marialisa Calta, author of "Barbarians at the Plate: Taming and Feeding the Modern American Family", emphasizes the importance of eating dinner as a family, and each child having a set place at the table.
I think that meals are a time when families can
really learn about their connections. One of the mothers I interviewed said, “My
kids have had to learn that even if they’ve just had a fight with their sibling,
they still have to sit next to them at the table.” That’s important.
There is something very soothing about sharing a
meal. Just think about the phrase “having a place at the table.” I think if you
have a place at the table – which can be extrapolated as a metaphor for your
place in the world – it helps you feel a little more grounded. What I found
interesting – and this is definitely true in my own family and in many of the
families I visited – was that most kids had to eat at a certain place every
night. I worry about kids who are eating standing up or next to the microwave –
where are they finding out how to fit into the world?
Read the rest of her thoughts here- it's worth it!
No comments:
Post a Comment