Does Your Family Eat Together at the Dinner Table?

We all sit together at the table for every meal. We even put the baby in the highchair, even though she's only 4 months and not on solids yet. The only time someone isn't at the table is if they aren't home.

We eat together at the table at least 5 nights a week. Now let me qualify that with whoever is home eats together. my husband is on call a lot so he may or may not be there but the rest of us eat together. it is the only time of day we can all talk and connect. my kids are grown up now for the most part. my youngest is almost 16 the others are in college. i miss the days when they were little.

maybe the minority these days....but we eat at the table pretty regularly. not EVERY night, but probably at least 4 nights a week. there are three of us so we're pretty tight anyway. but it's nice. it's how i was raised. so i like it.

My husband works during our dinner time, but I always have dinner with my kids and my husband always sit with us on his days off to have dinner as a family. It is one of the most important thing a family should stick to in my opinion. No TV, no toys allowed, we just enjoy our meal while talking.

Most of the time, we gather whoever is home and have a meal. You are not alone. We find that sometimes mealtime is the only time we get to see the older kids and talk to them before evening activities kick in. DD has been at the table as long as she could sit in a high chair, and in my arms before that if the situation warranted. TV is a rare treat during meals. It's been more than 6 mo. since we allowed it. And no texting or phones at the table, either.

OMG eating in front of the TV is just appalling. I think your friend is deluding herself that this is the norm so that she feels better about it. It's not the norm. And even if it were, that doesn't make it right.

In our house, we eat only in the kitchen as a general rule and there is no TV there. We eat all meals and snacks at the table. Breakfast is staggered because we leave in three different shifts. For dinner, it's often just DH or me with the kids because we both work and one of us is usually working late, but whoever is home and cooking eats with the kids at the table. The one to get home later also eats at the table, usually when the kids are finishing up homework or are having dessert.

Dinner together is tied to a lot of positive behaviors - it's really a simple way to connect, establish a nice routine and come together at the end of the day.

TV goes off, everyone sits at the table to eat and no one leaves unless asking to be excused.

Hubby often works late and it isn't consistent, the kids and i eat with the tv off sitting at the table. i really had to struggle tonight to sit with them and continue talking and not bring the book i am reading to the table, after 20 mins when i had finished my meal and they were still picking.
if hubby gets home in time sometimes he eats dinner and the kids have dessert. As soon as he walks in the door he turns the tv on, DRIVES me nuts. I hate having the news on when the kids are trying to talk but end up watching horrible things instead. Usually if i make a big deal he'll turn it off,

I think family meals are great and it's too bad your friend can't wait another hour or two until the kids are in bed to have their adult convo.

We sit down at the table for almost every dinner. My husband tends to run around doing chores during dinner if I work late (he is a SAHD) and he TRIES to do it when I am there, but I can usually gently get him back at the table.

I think there is some evidence that kids that get at least 3 family meals/week have a lesser chance of criminal behavior, but even if that's not the case, I think it's well worth the effort. We don't pull it off EVERY night, but we come close. Besides...we love family dinner. The kids LOVE family dinner (even if the sometimes only last 10 minutes before asking to be excused). Heck, we often do family breakfast and lunch too.

We try to eat together most nights. Sometimes the kids' activities are staggered, so we eat at different times (dad eats with son, then I eat with daughters a little while later, etc). But *someone* is always eating with *someone* AT the dinner table, just not all 5 of us every night. We rarely go out to eat on weeknights (too much homework squeezed in between activities), but we sometimes DO order in and eat THAT at the table. But ALL electronics are OFF during dinnertime. With a 13yr old, 10yr old and 8yr old and a hubby who works long hours, sometimes, dinner is the only time we can all be together during that day, even if it's for 15 minutes between activities. I grew up in a household where dinner was served each night at the same time and we were expected to be AT THAT TABLE when it was served. Some of my most cherished memories are of eating dinner with my family, joking with my dad and mom, hearing about my brother's school day, kicking my sister under the table...ah good times, good times.

We set the table for dinner and sit down and eat together.

My MIL once (early in our marriage) grabbed her plate and sat on the couch, then turned around in surprise because we were at the table. She was pretty embarrassed.

We eat together at the dinner table 6 out of 7 nights. One night per week the kids eat at the regular time and my husband and I eat after they go to bed so we can have a more "grown-up meal" with some grown-up conversation. Since we can't really afford a babysitter, it's our "date night." The TV is never on when the kids are awake unless they are watching a movie (or the Bruins or Red Sox are playing), and it is always off for dinner.

Sitting at the table is not really common now a days, but it should be. Its only 3 of us. Myself, my daughter and my son. I feel its good for us to eat together. It gives us a chance to get together to discuss our day, etc. I also feel its good for my 13 month old to hear the two of us talk, and kinda join in the conversation. LOL. I'm sure its much more exciting, the more people there are. Continue to do what your doing. It seems like your family really appreciates it.

We make a point of turning the TV off and eating dinner together at the table every night. I think that it is imporant to have that family time. The kids usually finish first and ask to be excused from the dinner table. Then my DH and I can sit and chat for a few minutes. I give in a little for lunch on the weekends....we sit at the table and leave the TV on.

We eat as a family the majority of nights. I was raised that way, and have some of my fondest memories around the dinner table with my brothers and sisters. I want my kids to have the same.

It's alot of effort to do it, but it's worth it. My husband and kids help on the crazy nights, but at least we do it. My kids also must ask to be excused from the table. We enjoy talking and getting caught up with the news of the day and there is always at least one really bad joke told at the table. I love it!

We do - But, my husband works out of town Mon thru Fri. So it is me and the kids during the weekday. Now, if I know hubby will be home say around 6 ish on Friday I will either a) give the kids a snack so they can hold off eating dinner till dad gets home or b) will let the kids eat while I sit at the table with them and wait on hubby to get home and then him and I will eat dinner together.

Family time is very important to us, especially since hubby/daddy isn't home everyday. We cherish our times together b/c we don't get it everyday.

We try to eat together as much as possible as a family at the table. I would say it's like 5 or 6 days a week.
Sometimes my SO just gets home so late that my girl and I eat together and he eats whenever he gets home.
It's funny though, even if that does happen, when he sits down at the table our 2 y/o will go and sit with him and play on the table while he's eating. So apparently she thinks it's important no one eats alone too. LOL.

My husband gets home late, but my daughters and I always sit down and eat together. We might have the tv on, but it's just background noise. We sit and talk about our day. I used to ask them what their favorite part of their day was just to get the conversation started, but now they automatically talk about it.

It's funny that you asked this because my daughters and I were just talking about this at dinner! My oldest (7th Grade) says that a lot of her peers don't sit down to eat with their families. She thought that was sad.

And usually when my husband eats, the girls are doing their homework at the same table, so he talks to them (or answers their homework questions).

Haven't read the responses yet. Good topic. My family of 3 eats together every night. It's where we have taught our 11 year old daughter table manners and the art of simple conversation. We share funny stories about what we did that day. We share our values, hopes, dreams while we eat. After my daughter is done eating (she's a quick eater), she clears her plate and then asks to be excused. My husband and I will sit and talk for maybe 10-20 minutes so we can catch up with each other. This family & alone time is our favorite time of day. On the odd days that we don't eat together (pretty rare for us), we all feel like something is missing.

Statistically (not my stats) - children who eat REGULARLY with their families do better in school, tend to not smoke or engage in drugs and other risky behavior. Interestingly for girls, it seems that eating together as a family can help girls avoid some eating disorders - or so I've read.

We all eat at the dinner table, with the tv OFF. It gives us a chance to talk and connect in a way we may not otherwise. That could all change as my son gets older (he's 4yr now) and is more involved in various activities, but I hope not. As for eating while watching tv... It is way too easy to overeat when you are being distracted like that.

My husband and I were friends a long time before we dated (even though we loved each other), and we dated a couple years before getting married so fortunately, we were able to talk about marriage and what we wanted out of it, how to raise a family, etc BEFORE we got married! I had 3 "requirements" to marriage: (1) Always be honest with me (2) No TV in the bedroom and (3) We eat at the table.
Growing up, my mom tried hard to raise us the way she was raised, with everyone eating together and talking, staying connected, etc. But then my dad started wanting to watch TV...so it became dinner in front of the TV, then TV dinners, then we moved to this big house and I would come home from soccer and fix my plate and sit at the table, but noone was around.....My brother was upstairs watching TV in his room, my dad was in the living room watching TV, and my mom was in the den doing cross stitch and watching TV. I was a teenager and I very distinctly remember the day I thought "this is crazy, I'm the teenager, I'm the one that's supposed to not want family time. Where is everyone? Our family is falling apart!" It was strange. And, it did fall apart a few years later. Dad's reason: "we all seem to have just grown apart". Well go figure!
So, we do our best to eat together, and my husband knows that story and what we went through, so he respects my wishes. Now for breakfast: during the week he gets up before the kids are up. I fix his breakfast and he watches BBC or Squawk Box (financial news) while I pack his lunch and prepare breakfast for everyone else. He's finished with breakfast and dressed, ready to go by the time the children get up so he pours their drinks and gives kisses, then leaves for work. I eat breakfast with the children (my youngest is in the highchair, but eats there at the table with us). On weekends, we all eat together. Lunches: we eat together on weekends (or sometimes we go to his work for lunch so he can be included), but I eat with my little guy while the older one is in preschool. For dinner: we all eat together on normal days, we pray and "salud" also, and catch up on the day and what we're thinking about stuff. However, on Tuesdays (soccer) and Wednesdays (awanas at church) I'll feed the boys 45 minutes earlier than normal because when we come home, it's too close to bedtime for the little guys, so my husband may or may not be home in time for dinner...but if he misses dinner, we'll have a little dessert planned so we can still catch up afterwards. (Sams has the coolest little sherbets inside a coconut shell, pineapple, etc...we love those and they're so simple to just grab and sit down, they're already in cute servings; perfect for those 2 nights). There have been a couple times in the year (usually end of quarter stuff) where he has to work a lot later; I sit and have a salad with the boys while they eat, and then I eat dinner when he comes home. If awake, they'll come have a dessert (even if it's just jello, lol) so they can join in the conversation. We do that because they are little, go to bed early, and my youngest one wait for NO mere mortal--dinner is sacred to him (he's an eater!)
It's just important to us. We're not dogmatic enough to say everyone must be home at a specific time everyday, but we make that effort to be together. It's when we stop making the effort that it becomes a problem. And especially when everyone's either got a tivo or dvr, why in the world would you watch TV at dinner time (except the Superbowl parties which we do throw), when you could just watch it 30 minutes later and not miss a thing?

We eat together at the table as a family, but sometimes it's just me and the kids because Daddy's working late. We also eat breakfast and lunch at the table together. For me it's easier because it's only one table to wipe down and one area of the floor to sweep up. If we ate in front of the TV then I would have to clean up the mess from there too, and my couch is a pain in the butt to clean!

We don't sit at the table...because our house is super tiny (as is our table!) and right now my new baby's bouncer and changing area are on the table. Instead, we all sit in the living room and IF the t.v. is on at the start of dinner (about half the time) we turn it off once we all get settled. After dinner, my husband and I make a point of spending the evening with our girls, no tv, really no electronics at all - including the phone.

I don't love t.v. with dinner but since we're currently eating in the living room I try not to worry about it. We're planning a re-arranging of our house after we re-finish a bigger table we picked up so I know this is only temporary, and I feel like that playtime or going for a walk or just all curling up in our bed for a chapter in our current book is beyond precious to me. Any time spent together as a family is incredibly special, whatever works for you!

Every night for dinner, lunch on the weekends, and breakfast on Sunday mornings. We live in Louisiana, so food is how we connect...we love our southern traditions.

Yes - we eat dinner, at the table, every night, with NO TV. With three kids at the table, no need to have the extra noise in the background. And, yes, it is pretty hectic, but we make it happen. It is important, and a nice part of the routine. Thankfully, you are NOT a minority :)

We eat at the table as a family every night. It is very important to us. My husband works late and we wait for him.... we'll we may start 10 min before he walks in sometimes...but he catches up :)

I am sad for the families that do not. They are missing out. My husband and i sit on the porch after dinner and we have "adult conversation" then.

We do most of the time. Sometimes not but my kids always eat at the table.

I am a single parent and my kids and I for the most part eat at the table as a family. Occasionally I will do the left over night or fix it your self night cause I am exhausted after working all day come home the kitchen is a mess and so on.lol But for the most part we eat as a family. I think it is especially important in todays world for the parents to sit down and eat dinner with their kids as a family. Just my 2 cents

We eat at the dinner table pretty much every night, no TV, no phones. Its time for us all to chat and talk about our day and family things. Nothing too deep because my kids are 6 1/2 and 4.

On occassion, we will eat in front of the TV but that is probably only once or twice a month at most.

Sometimes we eat together at the table, sometimes together in front of the tv, and sometimes we eat separately because not everyone is hungry at the same time.

We haven't had a dining room table in years (at least 7 that I can think of). The one we had was getting rickety and we decided to not replace it. There was never enough room in the dining room for it anyway and we wanted a play room for our kids so we got a train table instead and turned the dining room into the play room. The living room is even smaller so it was a relief to get them out of here! We do eat dinner together every night though. We have a table in the living room that is the school table during the day that the kids eat at and my husband and I eat at TV trays. It works. We have a family movie night while enjoying dinner together. We're in a different situation then most, we're home schoolers and my husband works from home most of the time so we get quality time outside of dinner time.
Sometimes when my husband and I need to talk about stuff without the kids bugging us we text each other...even if he's upstairs and I'm downstairs LOL We're usually up before the kids so we talk then too ;)

We all eat at the table together with the tv OFF.

We eat our meals sitting at the table together. However, there are a few exceptions, like Sunday pizza night when we eat in front of the tv. During this time, the tv is off, and we talk about our days, our schedules, etc.

It seems like were in the minority, as most of my kids friends don't eat family meals. They think it's strange that we do, but seem to enjoy it when they eat over.

My daughter and I eat lunch and dinner together at the table. No TV, computer, etc. We will sometimes have music on. We talk about the day ahead or behind. We goof. We look at each other. She's 3.5, helps me set and clear the table and most nights, cook. She sits at her little dora table in the living room for breakfast with cartoons on and I have my coffee, shower, get ready for the day. I think it is SO important to take this time. To talk to your child, to learn who they are, what they think. How other people do it is up to them...this is what works for us!

I do my best to have dinner at the table. I think it's good for families to have at least some together time everyday, unplugged. Plus there are studies out that say kids who grow up in a home where there is consistant family dinner together are less likely to try drugs and alcohol.
If family dinner at the table puts me in the minority, oh, well! I say good for you, keep up the family dinner! :)

It's probably less common than it once was.

Eating dinner together has been proven to be an important family bonding time. We used to do it, usually, before my kids got older. Good for you.

It's just me and my kiddo but we eat at the table most of the time. Once in awhile we will have a "picnic" in the living room to watch a movie on the big (her words) tv. And the tv is pretty much always off on school days. On the weekends I will allow tv, but we've been together all day so not talking during dinner is ok with us.

We eat like you do. :)

We sit at the table together. Dinner time has always been a huge part of both of our (my hubby and me) upbringing. To us, it is strange to NOT sit together and eat at the table.

Before we had kids, we would sometimes rent a movie, get a pizza and eat in front of the TV...but that just isn't an option anymore. The kiddos are too young for that, it would be a disaster LOL!

Pretty much all of our meals are at the table, together. My husband isn't normally here for breakfast or lunch but the kiddos & I will sit at the table & eat. Dinner is together & at the table except on Friday nights which are family movie nights so we take it to the living room. The kids love to hang out with Dad at the table & talk about their day & ask about his day. The two oldest ( 3 & 5) will often finish their meal and instead of asking to be excused will say they want to hang out & be part of the conversation!
We just bought a new patio set though so with the lovely weather most of our meals will move outdoors to that table!

We eat in the living room watching tv , isn't that sad? ;) Our kitchen is small and although we do have a dining room table and chairs, it just dosen't get used for dining purposes. I cook the meals, set it out on the table, and everyone just gets their plates.
When everyone is done, I ask that they bring it all back into the kitchen sink, plates, glasses, cups, and help me clear off the table and wipe it down.
It works for us, everyone is happy with the routine.

My husband travels for work so is only me and my kids and we do eat together all our meals except breakfast.... with tv :( I know the tv is one of my many bad things.
When my husband is home we also eat always together but most of the times we eat out.

DH and I both work. We eat dinner with DS (5) at the table every night. We eat breakfast together at the table 6 of 7 days (DH leaves really early one morning). There is some great evidence that families that eat together have kids with fewer food issues, fewer behavior and discipline issues and fewer drug issues. More importantly - it's great time to talk with each other. How else do children learn manners as well as how to carry on polite conversation? We have eaten together since we have been together. We have eaten with DS since he started sitting up in a high chair (6-7 months).

We eat together as a family every night. It is very important for us to do so, and we guard it jealously. On very rare occasion, my husband or oldest son are later getting home from their other responsibilities. We try to wait if we can, but if they won't be home until 7-8pm, we go ahead and eat.

We don't eat at the table.
We usually do dinner and a movie.
And that's usually because my kitchen table is covered in stuff that gets dumped there on a daily basis.

Yes. Most of the year, my oldest is in one type of sport or another. This means that he could have practice until 8 or 8:30 in the evening, depending on the sport. So, our family may be sitting down for dinner between 8:30-9! Crazy, I know. But, it's important to eat together. Sure, there are times when the rest of the family eats together and my son warms up his dinner when he gets home. But, we make a point to eat all together at least 3-4 times a week.
We have had some of our most thought-provoking and interesting conversations at the dinner table. I remember them, well, from when I was their age. I know families are busier and busier these days. Believe me, I KNOW!! LOL! It can be done, though. Even if it's just one or two nights a week.
The other times that are precious, are in the vehicle. Driving my kids to or from school, driving to activities, waiting in the car for the bus....stolen moments that I cherish.
:)

We eat at the table together. Many nights my husband works late, but the kids and I still eat at the table together . . . without the TV.

We sit at the table and eat together, but my husband isn't there since he works evenings. On the weekends it's all four of us. I really do think that we are the minority, however studies have shown that eating dinner as a family is very beneficial. There are closer family ties/bonds, and kids tend to have better morals and values. Now, that doesn't mean parents who let their kids watch TV are bad, but we will always be a family that eats together. It's a chance to talk, listen, and know what's going on with other members in the family (granted, by kids are two, but we're setting a good example now).

We eat at the dinner table most nights. Once in awhile (about once a month) we'll have "movie night" and eat dinner on the floor in the living room and watch a movie. Sometimes, when Daddy isn't home from work yet, my daughter and I will have a "picnic" dinner. There is rarely TV on during mealtimes at our house.

We eat at the table every night - even if hubby works late the kids and I still eat there. We even pull up the bouncy seat for the 5 month old so he can "participate" in our dinner conversation. I find this is the best (and sometimes only) time I can really talk to my older kids and find out how their day has been. We laugh, joke, and have a great time at the dinner table! I am glad it is one of our "traditions". Great question!

It might not be as common (or as easy!) as it once was, but we pretty much sit together at the table. If DS wants to watch a cartoon or something, he sits in the family room...about 15 ft away from us. That might be a few (2is) nights per week.
I'm amazed at how many people eat at all different times, places, etc. but people are busy I guess.

We are "family table sitters" in my house --- and we do the best we can, even if this means only one parent is present. We all sit down together.

This was how it was in both my house and Hubby's house as we grew up. And I am so anti-TV as a babysitter (which is a whole different post!!)

Everything happened at the dinner table! From talking about the days events to planning the next day's to griping about teachers or whatever to meeting boyfriends/girlfriends to just about anything you can think of! LOL. I was one of four so it was very chaotic and mom cooked for an ARMY! With 2 boys and 2 girls! LOL.

In fact, I'll never forget when Hubby ate at our house for the first time - it was BBQ chicken with corn on the cob. He was so polite and had like one serving of everything and ate pretty quietly while food and conversation was flying around the table. My mother looked at him and told him if he was hungry he had better speak up and take some more. I think he ate like 4 pieces of chicken that night! LOL!! He has been a perfect fit for "my crew" ever since. (We are celebrating 8 years of marriage and 15 yrs of being together!)

It's a GREAT value to instill in your kids - that family matters.
~C.

We eat dinner at the table every night together. There have been days where due to my husbands hectic schedule during the day, causes him to eat a very late lunch - which in turn makes him not su hungry for dinner. Well, even if he is not eating, he still makes it a point to sit down at the table with us. That dinner time is so very important for children and especially for the entire family as a unit. Kudos to you!

We sit at the table on "weeknights", i.e. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Fridays we go out. Saturday is movie and pizza night, so that's in front of the TV. Sunday is kind of a roll of the dice. Some weeks we sit at the table on Sunday, more often we don't (watching another movie usually). On rare occasions, such as if we're running late on our dinner plans which would make the kids late for bedtime, we feed the kids in the kitchen and make something for ourselves later. But we are usually hanging out with them while they eat. I've spoken with several people who grew up in homes where a family sitting around the dinner table is a foreign concept. It depresses me to think about people "fending for themselves" at dinner--scooping up a plate of whatever's in the kitchen and returning to their separate bedrooms to watch TV or play video games. I love family dinner time whether the TV is on or not; we're all together and it's like the icing on the cake of my day.

Rarely. We have a small table that only seats 4. One of the chairs is taken up by a highchair for my 2 yr old son. My DH and sister eat at the table and I am usually eating on the couch while breastfeeding my DD. On rare, fortunate nights when my DD is sleeping, I get to eat at the table.

We always eat dinner together as a family. Right now, it is only my husband, my almost 3yo, and me. I am due with our daughter in June, soo we will be adding another kiddo to the mix! :)

Wow, I haven't even read all the answers you already have but I had to add my two cents to this one.
I really do believe it is important to eat as a family and have that time to talk about the day. I work Monday through Thursday evenings but my husband is home for dinner (which I prepare during the day) and he always sits with my kids to eat dinner. My family did this as I grew up and I want to pass that onto my kids, hoping they will learn the importance of eating together as a family.
There have actually been studies that show that children who eat together as a family on a regular basis are less likely to get into trouble as teenagers. It is thought that this time spent together each day creates a connection, a time where parents can talk to their kids and keep on top of what is going on in their lives.
I love sitting down and eating with my kids, it is one the things I miss the most about having to work in the evenings. It is such a blessing for those three days a week that I am home.

my hubby and i both own businesses and work full time and i still cook when i get home and all 5 of us sit down to eat at the table. our kids are 15, 11 and 8. we do the same thing as Obama and go around the table and each one shares their "rose and thorn" of the day (the good and bad). sometimes hubby has late appointments but me and the kids will still eat together at the counter and the tv is NEVER on while we are eating. i think its very sad that families can't make an effort to do this. and as far as me and hubby having 'uninterrupted' conversations, that comes AFTER the kids are in bed. All 3 of our kids are in their rooms with their doors closed at 8pm. They all stay in there and color, read, play, whatever, and put themselves to sleep. i check on them all before I go to bed and shut off radios, adjust blankets, etc. so hubby and i have all the conversations we want after 8pm every night. if its a priority to you, you will make a way to do it. good for you and keep it up!

We always sit at the table with no television allowed.
:-)

My family Does. Who ever is home sits down and eats dinner. Even if one of us is not hungry we still sit down together at the table. It is just what we do as a family.

We eat most dinners at the table together, even if it is something quick for the night. On the weekends we do breakfast and most of the time lunch together at the table too. My kids are not always well behaved at the table, but I think it will eventually pay off and as they are older will become our daily family time when everyone has busy schedules.

There is 3 of us..mom, dad and our 28 month old. We ALL eat at different times because we have different schedules. My day starts at 6, my daughters at 7 and dads is at 8, so for dinner, I eat while Im preparing her meal at 5, she eats around 6 and hubby eats around 730 or 8 right before baby goes to bed.
If I was a SAHM, we would all be eating at the same time ask I would make it so we are all up around 8am like daddy.

I hope it is still common to do this. I think it is very important and the kids
really do enjoy it.

There are many who just cant' get the family together for meal because of both parents' working. However it is still proven that if you can have dinner together it is involving your children, you learn of their day and how everything went as well as your husband. It has been proven that if you are all together and can speak openly, joke around a bit, talk of your days events your children will excel better in school because you are taking that time out to include them. Yes many families have changed the traditional ways only because of schedules and they do get together at times. You have to decide yourself. I know its hard for myself to have everyone at the table however I do speak to all family members' individually when they get home. It shows' you care and want to be a part of their lives. Whether your eating with them or not, take that time to share your day. You need not go along with someone who isn't able to do this, and no it hasn't gone out the window. People still sit at the dinner table together and discuss things, it helps to eliviate stress, its calming and it is a caring side that you are showing. Go with how you feel not what others "think". Your family enjoys it, so why change, you dont' change for someone else, you change for yourself. Take care!!

It's not the table, but we do eat together ate the kitchen bar. No TV. My husband and I talk while the kids fight!LOL!

We sit together for sure. Especially dinner. And lunch and breakfast when I am in charge. I am home most days with my son, but occasionally on the weekend or during the week, my husband is in charge of breakfast. Which usually results in my son running around stopping to take a bite here or there. But if I am home (which I usually am) we all sit down together, or at least my son and I do, when my husband is at work. I think its a nice to for us all to eat and talk and be together.

I have no idea whether or not you are in the minority, but I commend you for making dinner time family time. My parents both worked and we all ate together at the table. I think it's one of the reasons that we are all so close. I have every intention of establishing the same tradition with my family when my finance and I have children. Who cares what other people do?

I would love for my family to sit at the table together. But we are the average family....we eat at different times and in front of the tv!!

we all eat together at the table 90% of the time the only time we dont is if someone is asleep from getting up at 4am to open the family store or if someone is sick

We try very hard to sit at the table together...I would say at least 80% of the time. 5% of that is out to dinner so we are still sitting at the table together.

The other 15% we do not. Mostly, due to the fact that four nights out of the week, daughter and I are not even home and by the time we get home the boys have had dinner and she and I sit together.

We did not do this as when the kids were little, however, my daughter wanted to so we started. I love it when we can. My family only did this at holidays growing up.

We eat at the table all together when my husband is home. If he's working late, I eat with the kids at the table or sometimes, if he is going to be just a bit late (like 8 pm) then I will have the kids eat first and I'll wait to eat till he comes home. But I still sit down with my kids and chat with them, maybe have some water or a snack. Once a week I let them have a picnic in my bed, where I make home made mini pizzas and put a big towel down on the bed and let the girls watch tv and eat there, and I relax with them. (I'm 35 weeks pregnant so I need to rest sometimes!) My daughters are 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 and they love this! And sometimes (maybe once or twice a month) we'll go to Mcdonalds with mom friends of mine and their kids.

My children, daughter-22 and twin boys-15, and my husband eat dinner together most nights. It's casual for the most part but it is the time we are together that counts. Sometimes we watch a program while we are eating. We have always eaten together, situations permitting. I would say it stems from my upbringing plus I like to cook.
When my husband is working late, the kids eat together and I sit with them. When my husband comes home I eat with him. So nobody is left out. Seems to work for us.

We eat together as a family. We communicate and discuss our day. Our son gets to express himself as well. It's a good thing to do if you can.