Having dinner around the table with my family growing up is definitely a core memory of mine. And was a daily occasion (if we didn’t have sports that evening). My mom had her staple dinners…tacos, spaghetti, meatloaf, pot roast, lasagna, the list goes on. But what I remember most about family dinners was the conversation and connection. I grew up in what I would call a large family. There was never a dull moment around the table. Everyone always had something to say or share and it was entertaining. When my husband and I would talk about how many kids we wanted I always said four! Maybe because I loved having that full table, the noise, the talking over one another to get our turn because we
always thought what we had to say was more important than the other persons story that day. Four kids just felt like home. Always having an even number, never going without having someone to play with, and the inevitable ganging up on one another while in the front yard playing. It was what I always wanted. Fast forward to 2023, we have two kids and although our chairs aren't as full, our conversations and talks about the day still give me the same feeling of happiness, connection, and good conversation.
How to get your kids to talk
We often pick the kids up from school or get them off the bus and ask them “how was your day at school?”. Their response is always “good”. They never really elaborate more or explain what happened and I’m always feeling like I want to know more. I am going to admit, this trick came from The Kardashian Family’s reality TV show, and it works! At dinner we do the Rose & Thorn. We each go around and tell the best part of our day (the rose) and the worst part of our day (the thorn). It’s a way to connect. Have conversation. Find out what actually happened at school that day. And often times the rose or thorn lead to more conversation about the day and other things that happened, both good and bad. My husband and I share as well. It gives the kids a glimpse into daily life of what we do while they are at school. It makes for good questions and the kids are always curious. It’s the perfect way to bond over a home cooked meal.
The Dinner Table
If your having trouble connecting with your child, finding out about what happened at school or how things are going for them; turn off the television, clear off the dinner table, cook that meal and talk about your Rose & Thorn for the day! You wont regret it! We also have another “game” we play that really gets the kids talking and works like a charm. Subscribe to my youtube channel to get notified when the video releases! I would love to hear about your rose and thorn experiences or something you do at the dinner table with the kids!
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