Belphoebe wrote:

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I think I needed that.


I agree - some of the posts in this thread have given me the impression that
some people feel that sitting down together to eat as a family is akin to
making sure your kids get their teeth brushed - like only a negligent parent
would let it slide.

To me, if eating meals together is how your family connects, great. I
imagine in larger families with older kids that's probably the only way to
make it work. But it's certainly not the only way to do that. Particularly
right now - meals together tend to consist of me reminding Gabe not to do
things like violently shaking his fork to get something he doesn't like off
of it. Our really good connection times are when we're doing things together
like playing with duplo blocks or drawing pictures, or when we've just woken
up and we talk and snuggle.

It kind of reminds me, honestly, of people who insist that babies take
bottles so that dads can be involved. As we all know, there are lots of ways
to make involvement happen.

And allow me to reiterate that Gabe is really very good at restaurants : )

--
iphigenia
www.tristyn.net
"i have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
i do not think that they will sing to me."