‘Making mealtime fun’
THE MUM OF SIX TALKS THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF PARENTING
Dinner time was always a special time for my family growing up. Mum was busy in the kitchen cooking up a storm (usually meat and three vegies) while my brother and I set the table. We then would all sit down together and discuss our day and what was happening in our lives.
I have so many great memories of sitting around our table laughing, arguing, talking over one another, or just fighting for the last burnt potato. I actually still have the same table and chairs from my childhood and I love that it is still in use. I don’t think I could ever part with it.
In our family now I have tried hard to recreate those special dinner times, but with the older kids at swimming training until late and Matt working long hours, we just don’t get to all sit together as often as I would like.
During the week we usually have two sittings for dinner. The first sitting is for the younger, fussier eaters. It is usually very early in the evening in case someone falls asleep after a big day. About four meals are on rotation, and it’s a very good day when it’s one meal that the whole family can eat.
I have been dealing with fussy eaters and getting reluctant children to try new foods for years now. I find that sitting them at the kitchen bench while I prepare dinner can be a big help and getting them to be involved. While they watch me prepare, they sample things along the way, so they are getting a part of their meal without noticing!
Luckily my older kids are great with any meal I make and they can sit down with Matt when they all get back to eat dinner together. I’m usually busy still with the bedtime routine, so Eva has really stepped up and quite enjoys helping to get things heated up and on the table.
The other big concern for us with all meals is allergies. We have to be nut free for two of the kids (Epipens are always on hand), dairy free for three of them, soy free for one and low fructose for another. It limits what we can have but I think we all have become so used to it that it isn’t a big deal. Eating out is more difficult but with six children it was never going to be easy or cheap!
On the weekends we make the effort to sit down together and it is always really special. Yes, it’s chaotic – and messy – sometimes, but it is still wonderful to all be together and have the time to talk and catch up on everyone’s news.
We play a game Lola started where we go around the table and say one good thing that happened that day and one thing we are looking forward to. If I could click my fingers and the clean up was done, it would definitely be the best part of the day!