At the dinner table

Does your family, whether that’s two of your or six of you, sit down for dinner together? It can be hard to juggle everyone’s commitments and scheduling but we’re big believers in the positive benefits of sitting at a table together and sharing a meal.

A recent feature in The New York Times told the story of Kathy Fletcher, David Simpson and their teenage son Santi. Santi began inviting one of his school friends, who sometimes went to school hungry, home for dinner. Word spread and now it’s not unusual for the family to host 15 hungry teenagers at the dinner table. Many of these kids have had a hard time of it and this weekly dinner has become an important part of their lives.

“And yet by some miracle, hostile soil has produced charismatic flowers. Thursday dinner is the big social occasion of the week. Kids come from around the city. Spicy chicken and black rice are served. Cellphones are banned (in the now,” Kathy says).

The kids call Kathy and David “Momma and Dad”, are unfailingly polite, clear the dishes, turn toward one another’s love like plants toward the sun and burst with big glowing personalities. Birthdays and graduations are celebrated. Songs are performed.’

Now, we’re not suggesting that you need to open your home (and kitchen) but we love the idea of people gathering and talking and eating – around a table and a home-cooked meal. Dinner doesn’t need to be fancy, the crockery doesn’t need to match, it just needs to made and served with love (and quickly, if you’re anything like us!) What might the benefits be to your family or social circle?’

If you’d like to read the full story, you can find it here.