Can you believe it? School is back in session!
It’s time to scour store aisles for new school supplies and back-to-school clothes. A time to enjoy fresh crayons and cool notebooks!
It’s time for parents to break out the calendars and color coordinating what each person is doing and how it will all come together.
Yep, scheduling. The struggle is real.
For instance, how does a parent get one kid to rehearsal when another child has a game in a different town? Making appointments that won’t conflict with scheduled activities? When and where will the family sit down to eat dinner together?
It can be tempting for busy families to eat on-the-go between activities, but the dinner table matters, even if it’s a restaurant table. Regardless of what kind of schedule a family has, it’s important to carve out time to chill together.
Each family can have priceless moment to interact together at the “dinner” table. Table talk helps build understanding and strengthen relationships.
Benefits of how taking the time for table talk:
- Helpful father/son discussions about basic values like manners and respect.
- Families nurture their faith by offering grace to other over the meal, before debating emotional topics like family dynamics and uncomfortable decisions.
- A time of reflection and evaluation of each other’s experiences to understand better what could have been done differently.
Using your own table to create a safe space that encourages a growth mindset.
In a world where text messaging makes it easy to avoid conversation and ignore the things you don’t want to deal with, in-person communication can be uncomfortable. It can take real practice to learn how to look at someone eye-to-eye and communicate face-to-face. That kind of communication is the key to understanding one another.
That’s why the table offers the perfect place to develop your communication skills.
Sitting at a table makes it easier to slow down. Sharing space encourages you to pay attention. Looking at each other helps you think about others’ points of view.
Even during the school year rush, don’t forget to take time out for families and let table talk bring you together!
-Coach Quis
