Family Dinners

Over the years that I've been working at the mission, I've had a number of youth/high school groups come in to set the dining room tables for our Thanksgiving banquet. Since one of my areas of OCDedness is having a table set properly, I always asked how many of the students knew how to set a table before I gave them instructions. Invariably, maybe only one of a group of twelve or so admitted to knowing. Most of them answered, "Who eats at a table anyway?" I guess I must really be out of touch with modern American culture, because I find it hard to believe that so many families rarely sit down to dinner at home. That's just tragic in my book! I understand hectic schedules; we've been there, trying to juggle work, sports, meetings, etc., but we always made it a priority to come together over dinner as much as possible, without the background noise of a television or radio program (soft music was okay). It was a time for the four of us to connect, share ideas and news, work on table manners ;), and...just be a family. We didn't have any particular traditions as some families do; although, occasionally we read together after the meal. (Maybe some of you have traditions you'd like to share.) I don't think we can overestimate the value of positive meal times in strengthening families.

Actually sitting down to eat together is obviously more important having the table settings "just so," but I do think it's beneficial to at least know how to set a table. I happen to have an old tattered book that belonged to my grandmother entitled Practical Cooking and the Etiquette and Service of the Table. Since the book dates back to around the 1920s, some of the information is obsolete (such as how to manage a coal stove), but much of the book is rather fascinating to read. It definitely takes the reader back to a different societal era. In the section "Family Dinner Without a Maid," I found the diagram below of a properly set table...it does my heart good. :) The other picture was taken before a Christmas meal at my family's home in Kansas, probably about twenty-five years ago. One of my brothers found this picture and made copies for the rest of us. It sure brings back fond memories, so I don't let the crooked spoon in the corner bother me too much. ;)