Through the Eyes of Your Average Six-Year-Old
February 16, 2009
When I visited my friend Kim’s first grade class,
I learned what the kids thought about family meals: The good part is
that the food is often better than kids-only meals.
The bad part is that they take too long, and you have to sit still.
Sitting still is a major challenge for these youngsters.
Although they were well-behaved and tried hard, I watched
them slouch, slide, and slither off their chairs in class.
Even sitting on the floor listening to a story was tough.
When I asked them point blank if they liked family meals,
they had a hard time responding. Whatever routine their family
followed was just the way things were, whether it meant everyone
sitting down together and eating the same food, or
eating wherever and whatever they wanted.
One girl told me about her family’s game, which she called
roseanthorn. She explained that, first you tell the rose – something
good that happened that day; then you tell the thorn – something less than good.
So what did I learn in my morning at school? If you’re six,
whatever happens in your house is what is normal. And sitting
for long periods isn’t normal at all.
Mealtimes Matter Video
from Miriam Weinstein
About Miriam
Miriam Weinstein is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. As a journalist, she has won several awards from the New England Press Association. Her work has appeared in Boston Magazine, the Boston Globe magazine, Hope, and ParentSource. A former staff member for North Shore Weeklies and freelancer for Essex County Newspapers, she writes restaurant reviews and food columns as well as features on a wide variety of subjects. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband and has two grown children.
The Surprising Power of Family Meals
In her book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, Miriam Weinstein shows how this basic human institution helps nourish and strengthen our families today. You can buy this book from our friends at Smucker's® Online Store.
