The Blog For Family Dinner Project

October 7th, 2011

{parenting} Blog For Family Dinner Project

Remember that game show $1,000, 000 Dollar Pyramid? Let’s do a quick round.

Ready?!

Ashton’s mistress.
Occupy wall street.
Family dinner.

YES! Hizzy hot topics of the day on which I’ll say a little something.

Let’s start with Ashton’s mistress: really, we care about this? Far be it from me, the RHNJ fan that I am, to question others’ interest in this story, but I just find it boring. Maybe because I find him boring? Dunno, but I just don’t get this one.

Next up, the wall street protests: all I’ll say about it (here) is RIGHT ON! Contact me privately for more. Unless you disagree with the protests—then we might be better sticking to food (which I’m happy to do!).

Last, but never least: family dinner. Well, you know that I have lots to say on this topic. Lucky for me—and you—there’s a place other than here where I can carry on with others who have smart, thoughtful things to say about family dinner, too. That’s right hungry mamas and papas, there’s a new gathering spot where we can talk specifically about family dinner—why it’s important, the benefits, how to make it happen and so on. It’s the site for a wonderful project called Blog For Family Dinner

Blog For Family Dinner (B4FD) was initiated by the founders of EatDinner.org, Time at the Table and Dinner Together. It is dedicated to creating a community of people who care about food, family, health and the environment and who believe that family dinner is a powerful force for good.

Since September 26 through October 24, the B4FD site will feature daily blog posts exploring the benefits of family dinner, while acknowledging the challenges for busy families. Bloggers from all over and all walks of life have been invited to take part in the campaign and to share their perspectives. The posts feature personal stories, advice, resources, recent research and recipes, all to serve as inspiration to readers trying to make family dinner work for them.

I was honored to participate in the B4FD fun. My post, The Reality of Family Dinner—and Making it Happen ran this week. Here’s a sneak peek:

Don’t be overwhelmed by the research and stats. Dueling schedules, various bedtimes and just plain exhaustion can make family dinner seem impossible. And that’s not even to mention trying to stay connected as a couple, which has to be as important to our children’s health as family dinners. (Sometimes being a happy couple means spending time—even dinnertime—without the kids.)

I know. I totally get it.

We all get it. We’re all in the same boat and, for me, that’s what this initiative is about. Data reveals us; we know that family meals aren’t happening. We also know that it’s not because you’re a bad parent. It’s just hard. But, together, we can come up with ideas to help each other make as many family meals as possible a manageable reality.

You can read more here, along with lots of other great posts. This week alone, my piece was accompanied by “Why I Went On Strike,” an article from an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at the Harvard Medical School and an amazing video of two kids under five presenting their chef dad with a meal.

If you have kids, I encourage you to check out the Blog For Family Dinner. I promise it won’t make you feel bad or guilty. We’ll leave those feeling for Ashton and Wall Street. Instead, B4FD will remind you that we’re all in this together, trying to do our best for our families. I dare you to not be inspired.

Blog for Family Dinner
@blog4famdinner
Facebook.com/BlogForFamilyDinner