How often do you all eat meals together as a family at a table?

[LucyHF]

I am interested in what everybody else does - we really try as a family to eat together at the same time at the dining room table, but occasionally my little one will be shattered after pre school and want his tea early at 4pm for example; What does everyone else do?

Virtually every day. Me, dh and dd (6). Eating on the sofa is a rare exception and is referred to as "slumming it".

DH works from home and I work part-time. Dinner is generally at 6pm.

I have a 3 year old and a 4 year old.
I eat with them at about 5:30. Always at the table.

DH eats whenever he gets home, usually quite late.

On weekends we eat together as a family at a time early enough for the DCs.

Every evening. By the time DH and I are home from work and have made it, my poor DC often have to wait until 8 or later, but we all sit down and have a proper meal together.

DC 5 and 8. DH is home early (6pm ) one night a week, so we eat together then, otherwise the DC eat at the table around 5ish, DH and I eat at the table once they're in bed.

We have every meal together at the table at the weekend.

Almost every night. DD is nearly 2, and had started to eat less and less & we realised she did better/was less fussy when we were all together at the table. I make sure dinner is on plates ready to go as soon as DH gets through the door and we all eat together between 5.30-6.

DD never eats anywhere but at the table. On the occasional night that I feed her earlier or if DH is much later home, we occasionally will eat on the sofa but is v rare.

We all eat dinner at the table together at around 6.30/7ish (depending on how fast DH peddles home ) but mine are considerably older.

6 nights out of 7, dp works odd hours on a friday, so he has dinner whenever, dd & I sit at the table and have ours together

Almost never! On sofa in front of telly usually. Table covered with homework/mail/shopping.

Twice a day, every day. My children take naps, so they can go later in the evening.

Table whenever poss and always weekends. Don't suppose many MNetters will be 'slummers'

mainly 6 nights a week, once a week they are allowed to eat infront of the TV and me and dh have takeaway later.

Usually 6 nights a week. DH works late on Thursdays. Sometimes when we have games or practices (various sports throughout the year) the kids and I will have to eat early and leave, but DH will eat after whatever event we have is over, and then we usually sit at the table with him so he doesn't feel left out for not getting to eat with us.

We used to eat separately - the DSes at 5ish ( at the table with me sitting with them) and then me and DH later ( usually in front of TV ). Since Sept we've all been eating together at 6 and I can honestly say its one of the best things we've done. Saves a huge amount of time, far better for digestion, more sociable, gives Dh and I more of an evening. We watch far less TV as a result. Means I do all the cooking now as DH doesnt get home til 6, but worth it.

Almost every evening - me, DP and 15 month old DS have tea together about 6.30-7pm. Not tonight though as DP worked til 8.30pm so he and I have had ours in front of the TV. Also have breakfast together sometimes, maybe 3 times a week.

6 nights a week. On fridays the kids have theirs at table with dd1s best friend and e have indian later.

We eat every meal together, around the dining table.

All of us for breakfast (8.30am-ish)

Usually just me and DD for lunch as she's pre-school and DH is at work (12.30-ish).

All of us for evening meal ("Tea" to me; "Dinner" to DH ). (5.30-6pm-ish)

We eat out in the evening once a month (usually Indian - my fave!)

Every night apart from saturday when me and dh sit in the living room with a takeaway
tonight dh was late so we all ate about 6.40 but the kids usually manage to wait

Children eat at 5pm at the table.
I eat later with DH (between 8-8.30pm). He doesn't get in till 7.45pm.
On weekends we all try and eat together.

Very rarely.
The DC eat some time between five and seven depending on activities.
DH gets home at 8.30pm at the latest. We eat together around 9pm.

Every day (she shrieked smugly )

We usually eat about half 5 or when DH gets in. Occassionally at le weekend me and DH will share an M and S meal deal or takeway after LOs in bed.

about 4x a week. on some days dh has to work longer so will have leftovers.

Every day, although sometimes DH is away. We all eat at around 6pm (in theory, often 6.30pm in practice) - we have a 22 m.o. who goes to bed late so it suits us.

DS and I eat breakfast together every day, but never with DH.

Once a week on a good week. Dh works late and most weekends.

I'm always really surprised by these threads as I only know one family where the parents can both be home early enough to eat with their kids.

I'm about to go back to work after maternity leave and there's no way either of us will be home much before 6. Unfortunately, I think DD will get a quick tea and then bath time.

I do like the idea of aiming to eat together at the weekend.

I love eating together, but it can only happen at weekends. Dh only gets in at 7 or after. Sometimes he goes out then I eat with the kids as well. Even if I am not eating, I sit with them and chat, and they all eat at the same time. They are 3yr old twins and a nearly 6yr old. I love the fact we are getting to the age of having proper conversations over dinner. I was brought up spending at least an hour over our evening meal, chatting etc. and it was special family time. I hate that dh is home late and I'd rather live in a smaller house so he could work less hours, but what he does is important to him so we have to live with it. We do try to eat together at weekends, but they tend to be quite busy/ off routine...note to self: must try harder to cook a sunday lunch!