Eating meals as a family

[Jemster]

Hi
I'm interested to know if people sit and eat their evening meal as a family and the effects this has on behaviour, manners etc.
I have ds 6 and dd 2 and only ever really managed to get all 4 of us eating together at weekends up until now.
I am a bit ashamed to say it but the dc normally eat at the table about 5.00 and I stick the tv on for them so I can do some much needed jobs in the kitchen. Me & dh then eat about 7.15 by which point I am ravenous!

This week dh is away and I have tried eating with them although I do find 5.00 a bit early. It felt worthwhile though as I was able to help both with their cutlery technique and keep more of a close eye on how much they were eating. Ds and I even had a nice little chat without the tele blaring out.

I'm feeling bad not making this a regular thing as my family always ate together and I look back on it as a nice thing to do. I'm just trying to figure out if I could make it work on week nights what with dh preferring to eat later and not wanting to let the dc get over hungry and grumpy as a result.

What do other people do please and do you think it makes a difference possibly to their behaviour/manners if you do sit with them?

Also can you all have breakfast together without telly? And all weekend meals?

We eat together on weekends and Wednesdays (we live abroad and DS1 only has a half day in school on Wednesdays) during term time, and always together during school holidays. We usually eat around 5.30/5.45. Even on the times when DS1 (4) and DS2 (1) eat by themselves, there is no TV on and DH or I will sit with them and help DS2 with his food, talk to DS1, etc. I think it's really important to lear to sit and chat about your day with your family. It's also helped us end up with 2 very good eaters, as everyone gets the same meal on their plate.

Easier when kids are younger, and I always ate with my children (although Dad was never home in time)

I am actually thinking about the mealtimes that all of us are even in the house at the same time nowadays though.

OH gets back at 8pm usually and likes an hour or two wind down before he eats, so for him it's a 9.30 dinner, he is often away anyway on business, including weekends.

DD has 10 hours of extra curricular dance class a week, so often gets home at 4pm, needs a meal and out again at 5pm, not back till seven or eight , 4 times a week. DS stays late at school to use the gym three times a week, not back till six, ravenous, and on a Sunday has his evening meal at a computer club.

Many days we are lucky if two of us eat together these days, never mind the whole family.