Countdown to Freedom

Petal88

Tilly - growing up my family always had dinner together and used it to chat and bond and
I still cherish that very much. My OH grew up in boarding school so doesn't seem to know what he's missed out on, and it pains me to watch him have meals with his family now as he treats it as a food only kind of endeavour and excuses himself from the table the second he's done. Needless to say I'll try very hard to offer our kids what you've given yours and I LOVE the news in the morning idea

apple_muncher

Tilly, I love your idea of enabling people to study. Many years ago, I helped to financially support a chap through his studies, and he is now a BISHOP! You never know the long-term impact of what you do, do you? All the best x

Hollyboll

Tilly I had the most frustrating conference call today and it made me think of you (Obviously I didn't actually do any ironing as generally believe life is too short for ironing). But now that I'm in the board, I wondered if it would let me post this for you … you've probably seen before but :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_tiqlBFjbk

AlexLK

Tilly, do you plan your meals a MONTH in advance? :eek: Everyone is far too organised on here.

As for family meals, we tend to cook, eat then wash up together. Son loves cooking and baking. Have to admit I avoid reading the news and have for a while due to a lot of the things discussed affecting my mental state in a negative way.

HelenDaveKids

We always have our meals together at the table as a family, I agree, its important and is time to discuss things.
I remember being told by an estate agent that people don't want dining rooms anymore when we said that was part of our criteria. I beg to differ.

AlexLK

Helen, I read somewhere that people don't want dining rooms anymore too, though it was also one of our criteria. I think the people not wanting them are something to do with a lot of modern builds having a "dining kitchen" instead. Wouldn't personally want to live with one of those myself but we're not exactly the most tidy.

greent

I like dining rooms - but I also like kitchens with eating areas in too - and it's handy for small people drawing/ colouring/ reading at the table when I'm doing stuff in the kitchen - we're still in the same room then so we're often interacting, rather than being dotted around in different rooms in the house.


We don't always manage to all sit down together during the week - small ones get fed earlier - there are days when activities require them to be out by 5.45/ 6pm - but they do eat at the kitchen table then (usually - occasionally the dining table), and I will be in the kitchen at the same time, usually prepping stuff for the later dinner, so it's still quite sociable. It's a rule of ours that meals are eaten either in the dining room or in the kitchen - we have a full sized table capable of seating all of us in both rooms. The kitchen probably gets used more in the week, as meals are consumed more in 'sittings' due to activities on an evening/ different wake up times on a morning. The dining room is used more on a weekend/ holidays as it's easier to get everyone together at the same time.


If there are 2 or more people eating then interaction is required. However, teenagers are strange creatures who can wander in and out for food at random times - and if they are the only person in the room eating then they may read if they wish. Neither our dining room nor kitchen has a television in, so there is no screen activity taking place, but all of our downstairs rooms are *wired for sound* together, so we can choose to play (the same) music in any/ all of them, and a couple of them also have I-Pod docks in too if people choose to play their own stuff


I like eating together and talking to the children about their day/ what's happening at school etc - but, realistically, getting 2 small ones, 2 teens and 2 adults to eat at the same time every day just isn't going to happen here - we have regular activities 4 nights a week, with most weeks having at least one 'extra' activity happening. It's also going to get further complicated by OH working away Mon-Thurs for the next few months - argh!
x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning Greent, we do exactly the same. We have a large dining table in the kitchen and another in the dining room.

We do have a TV in the kitchen but it's only used when I'm batch cooking :rotfl::rotfl:

With two different age groups of children I can appreciate activity stuff must be bedlam . As it's only DS at home now, I'm only driving him twice a week for cadets and once a week or so for social stuff. He does use the bus now as well

Sounds like we are similar - no TV when eating and when we are all eating together, no mobiles.

Now because of you, I have been singing 'Wired for Sound' to Mr T - you're not in his good books :rotfl:

Best wishes Tilly x

brizzledfw

Hi Tilly :wave: glad alls good.

Thx for the oxtail recommendation....haven't don't that for a while so will add to the menu planner

Have a great weekend

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning Alex, yes I normally plan a full month in advance.

I used to work ridiculous hours, be travelling abroad, Mr T travelling and in order to keep the home running well, I found menu planning made life easier. I choose cookery books of the month and although there are a few dishes I repeat, I cook new dishes often.

This has saved a fortune, means people can look at the menu plan and see what needs preparing if required.

Best wishes Tilly