The Family Who Eats Together…

My kids are 8, 6, and 2 so I am FAR from a veteran of the parent schedule juggling act.  But already, especially with my two oldest kids, it’s getting harder and harder to balance their schedules, which now include sports, Boy Scouts, birthday parties, and friends.  As I tell people who ask me “how I do it” (meaning balance ministry and motherhood), the toughest part of my day is 4-8 pm when I’m focused on motherhood but balancing three children.  : )

That’s why both as a youth worker and a parent, the recent research about the importance of family meals has gotten my attention.  Two studies, one done by Boston College and one done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, have found that the more teenagers and their families have dinner together, the less likely they are to be involved with drugs, alcohol, and risky sexual behavior.

Now it’s always possible that those families who are likely to have family meals together are also the types of families who are more intentional in communication, boundaries, and a host of other behaviors that help kids make good choices.  So I’m not saying family dinners are a silver bullet.

But I believe a central part of our calling as youth workers is to empower families.  Maybe we need to rethink how many nights per week we invite kids to youth group activities.  Or maybe we need to facilitate family meals at some of those activities through potlucks and BBQs.

Gotta go.  Time to go make my family dinner.

©2008 Fuller Youth Institute