Bring Them to the Table: Solutions for Mental Wellness in Our Families
The hustle and bustle of Halloween has ended in my home. Costumes are now in our playroom for future fun. Our pumpkins are no longer spooky and have found their way to our compost bin. Christmas music is playing, and my children are asking when we will put up the Christmas tree. I am personally grateful for a small break in between the two seasons to be thankful.
I love Thanksgiving! I love time with family to simply gather. I’m not mad at the food either. I love a good reason to wear stretchy pants. As a child, I remember watching my uncle pile his plate high and enjoy himself at the adult table while I ate with my cousins at the kid’s table. This remained our continued plan for our children because it was “always done this way.” I am learning though; this is not the best plan for our family. My husband and I desire to bring our children to the table not just on Thanksgiving but year-round.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (2012) found, “compared to teens who have infrequent family dinners (fewer that three per week), teens who have frequent family dinners are almost one and a half times likelier to say they have an excellent relationship with their mother and one and half times likelier to say they have an excellent relationship with their father.” So, what does this mean for our children? By bringing our children to the table for five to seven meals a week the research shows: we are increasing their success in life and preventing risky behaviors, we are providing them with a place to belong and increasing their self-esteem, we are lowering their stress in their lives, we are teaching them the value of good nutrition, and we are increasing their success at school.
This Thanksgiving start a new tradition, bring your children to the table, but don’t let it end there. Bring them to the table all year and invest in their future safety and success.
References
2012 family dinners white paper finds: Teens who have excellent relationships with their parents less likely to have used marijuana, alcohol or tobacco (2012). . PR Newswire Association LLC.
Written by Amanda Bannister