Education at the Dinner Table

Dinner at my house is mandatory and unless you’re out (ie, my sister and I take square dancing lessons on Sundays and youth group on Tuesdays), you are required to be at the dinner table when Dad calls you and you can’t leave until you request permission and permission is granted. Our conversations at the dinner table are often educational, so I thought I would share.

For example, last night, my mom mentioned how Our Lady of America said that more families should be like the Holy Family. Our dinner conversation revolved around what things we could do to be more like the Holy Family and examples of those things. “We could be good,” my 6-year-old sister mentioned. “How can you be good?” Mom asked. “I could do things when you tell me to instead of waiting to do them.” “That’s a good example,” Mom replied. My 9-year-old sister said we could be pure of heart. Then she wanted to know what pure of heart meant. Mom bestowed the honor of explaining onto me (I’m the oldest, in case anyone was wondering). I told her that it meant not hating someone or feeling bad things. Pure of mind would be not entertaining bad thoughts, like if the devil is trying to tempt you to do something. Ideas circled around the table and we basically had “religion class” over dinner.

Dad recently shot a deer. That night, we had a discussion of the deer (to which I repeatedly stated that some topics are NOT appropriate for the dinner table, as my younger siblings (11-year-old brother in particular) enjoys discussing the more gruesome aspects). My 14-year-old sister complained about the cruelty of shooting deer. Then we had a mini-debate over the pros and cons of killing animals to sustain ourselves. My view is that if we did not regulate the deer population, they would multiply greatly and then they would all die of starvation. Also, think of the chickens (for example), who are bred to die. At least the deer gets a good, free life before its sudden demise. It was interesting, and quite thought provoking.

Mom’s a genealogy/history buff, so we often have “history class” over dinner, as well. Some of our ancestors were in the American Revolution. We have discussed the American Revolution, the particular ancestor, and what he could have been thinking when he did what he did. I seriously believe that my mother is a walking encyclopedia of her heritage (dates, locations, and all). It’s also interesting to note that various relatives that resemble certain ancestors have inherited certain traits.

Everyone in my family loves movies. Some of our favorite family movies to quote include “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Princess Bride,” “The 13th Warrior,” “Lord of the Rings Trilogy,” “Enchanted,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Road to Avonlea series,” “Pride and Prejudice,” and “Sense and Sensibility.” Sometimes whole dinners will consist of movie quotes going back and forth. My 14- and 9-year old sisters love talking like Pip the Squirrel in “Enchanted.” My dad and brother can quote every single stupid word in “The 13th Warrior,” (and have been demonstrating that ability nearly every day for the past five years). Then movies like “Princess Bride” have so many quotable parts that leave the whole family dying of laughter. Thus, we can often have the arts present at the dinner table (especially since my 14-year old sister and 11-year-old brother are so dramatic, that they could do a movie on their own).

We live on a farm. Mom has a large garden, we have an orchard, and we have animals (goats, chickens, guinea hens, dogs, cats, and more to come). Over the summer, we had numerous discussions over how the majority of our food was off our land, how much it would cost approximately, and then how much we saved by growing it ourselves. I make bread sometimes, so that also goes into account. Mom makes cheese out of the goat milk. Our chickens are still too small to lay eggs; hopefully that will come soon. Thus we have “math class” and “environmental studies” at dinner at the same time.

Another popular topic is “sayings from the old country.” My dad grew up in Italy, so he is always coming up with these sayings that his elders said when he was in Italy that he now repeats and explains to us. His favorite is probably “the sheep who goes “baa, baa” does not eat.” Of course, it’s in Italian, but what it basically means is stop talking and just eat. I can say it, but I’m not even going to attempt to spell it on here. Thus, we have languages and proverbs at dinner, too.

These are just a few examples of the different discussions every night. Our short half hour at the dinner table gives us the opportunity to cover a variety of topics on a vast number of subjects.

Others agree with the family dinner idea, as well. One source states that girls who have 5+ meals a week with their families are one-third less likely to develop eating disorders. The same source also says that teens who rarely participate in family dinners are three-and-a-half times more likely to have drug addictions than those who frequently participate in family dinners. Another source claims other positive effects of frequent family dinners, such as less occurrence of suicidal thoughts.

It’s fun, educational, and bonding all at the same time. It’s an awesome way to be progressive in the education of all family members while also getting to know each other better. Try it some time!