| Author | |
Sarah M
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 06 2008
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1423
|
| Posted: Jan 08 2009 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Meal times have been rough for me in the past. We all sit together and eat for dinner, but breakfast and lunch were very slip-shod.
I would fix breakfast for kids as they stumbled into the kitchen in the morning- and each had their own request. I felt like I spent 2 hours (and sometimes I literally did) in the kitchen, preparing the first meal. Then, at lunch, I would pick at the food while preparing it, wouldn't sit down with the kids, and would get really frustrated when it took them so long to eat it because I just wanted to get the kitchen all cleaned up so I could finally get out of it!
But I decided to make a change. Motivated by our "Mother's Rule of Life" thread, I set 90 minutes on my daily rhythm for each meal's prep, eating, and clean-up. Now I don't feel so rushed, and can even let the 7yo help out and not get frustrated if things take a bit longer to get on the table.
For the last week, we've been sitting down family-style to breakfast, lunch, and dinner...and most importantly, I actually sit with the kids, instead of standing at the counter, picking at food and running around to get refills. I used to get so frustrated by every "more milk!" or "more pretzels!" or whatever. Now, I bring everything to the table, we light a candle (at every meal- I told the kids this reminds us that Christ is present here at our table with us), and we sit and enjoy the meal. Then, everyone busses their own dishes to the counter, and the 5 and 7 year olds help wash up the table and sweep while I get the dishes.
Bliss.
I can't believe what a difference this has made in our mealtimes (and, as a result, in my whole day). I feel so much more relaxed and like I can take the opportunity during meals to talk with and enjoy my children- not feeling rushed about.
(contented sigh)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lara Sauer
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 15 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 679
|
| Posted: Jan 08 2009 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Sounds beautiful...enjoy these days of blissful youth with your young ones...they pass very swiftly.
Peace.
__________________
You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but you can't take the Wisconsin out of the girl!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Jan 08 2009 at 10:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yeah, candles do wonders for mealtimes. I miss them during the summer, when we don't use them as much.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
crusermom
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 09 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 878
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2009 at 7:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I often light one when I am stressed out. I too use it to remind me that Christ is present. It can make a difference.
Mary
__________________
Mary
Army wife and Crusermom to 8 wonderful children!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lilangels
Forum Newbie
Joined: Sept 06 2008
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 21
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2009 at 12:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dear Sarah,
Do you get up in the morning before the kids in order to do this routine you've established for breakfast? Or perhaps set up the table the night before? Does it in practice roughly work out to a half hour for making the meal & setting the table - half for eating - half for cleaning up?
This works out to 4 1/2 hours per day! I am sure we do in fact spend this much time or more doing these things but I have never blocked off so much time to account for it when I try to schedule our days. I would think with dinner cooking, etc it takes even more than 90 minutes some days.
Was this advice in The Mother's Rule? I never got far in that book and then I gave it away...maybe I should rebuy it?
You are right the kids love the candles. I have at times been all organized and set up and we have lit them at all the meals but lately I've been more jumbled than anything. I like the idea of saying the flame is the light of Christ here with us.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Pax - Barbara
Mom to 5 ages 12, 10, 7, 5, and 21 months
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Sarah M
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 06 2008
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1423
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2009 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Barbara,
The 90-minute advice wasn't it the Mother's Rule of Life book. It was actually advice from the women on this board- they suggested that I schedule large blocks of time (more than I think I need) to attend to basic daily tasks. 4.5 hours per day just to tend to meals IS a lot! But I can't believe how much less stressed out I am, and I'm finding that our mealtimes are more a time to connect and enjoy each other- before I felt like I was just trying to fill everyone's bellies so I could get on to "more important things." It was a paradigm shift for me- to value meal times as just as critical a time in our day as prayer time or school or anything else. Cay suggested that I read this blog post, and that has been HUGE in helping me plan out our days.
Blessings!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lilangels
Forum Newbie
Joined: Sept 06 2008
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 21
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2009 at 6:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dear Sarah,
Oh my gosh that is a great blog post  . It gave me a much needed laugh  and some real good things to meditate on. Thanks!
__________________
Pax Christi,
Barbara
Mom to  4 DD's (12, 10, 7 & 5) and 1 DS (21 months)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Booksnbabes
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 20 2008
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4141
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2009 at 7:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Cannot thank you enough for that blog link...so much what I needed right now...off to dry the tears and get kiddos down--peacefully...
__________________
Wife to wonderful DH, mom to SIX beautiful gifts from God!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: What a difference a candle makes!
