Having Dinner Together

by Dianne Drinkwater 08/04/2019

With jobs, school projects, extra-curricular activities, after-school programs, and shopping, most families would rather eat on the run. Swinging through a fast food restaurant on your way to the next thing might be all you can fit in most evenings. But an ever-growing body of evidence points to the fact that shared time at the dinner table, as a family, improves family life, assists in weight control and helps children learn to communicate.

Family dinner also gives an opportunity for teaching moments: those organic times you can instill your values into your children. Here are some benefits that come with eating together.

Self-esteem. When the family sits around a table, each person is facing the group. When anyone speaks, the others automatically look at them. So, when your children tell you something at the table, they more often believe that you actually hear them, and you automatically acknowledge it if even simple by your gaze.
Sharing food together teaches children to wait their turn, to take portions for themselves while leaving equal portions for other family members, and to make certain everyone gets enough to eat. After all, they can see everyone else's plate, so an empty plate is more evident than when everyone is staring at the television or out the car window.
Communication. Because you control the background noise in your home, you can facilitate communication. A noisy restaurant might be difficult for a family member to talk over, but in your own home, you can set the noise level at dinnertime.
Eating together more often directly correlates with healthy eating patterns. Home cooked meals often include more vegetables and fruits, and less processed foods that are healthier for all family members.
The American College of Pediatricians publishes research that shows family eating time promotes less drug use, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other high-risk behaviors among teens, and less teen depression.
In small children, sharing the family table improves language acquisition and development while teens sharing family dinner seven times a week are almost forty percent more likely to receive higher grades in school.

Regularly sharing meals together gives the whole family an opportunity to share in the lives and interests of the other family members. Because the parents make the “rules” at the family table, children and teens (and adults) are less often absorbed in their electronic devices and spend more time actually interacting with other family members. Memories often form around shared times of breaking bread.

Dinner

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Family Fun

About the Author

Dianne Drinkwater

Dianne is a full time, full service, state licensed Realtor®, member of Northeast Florida Regional Association of Realtors® (NEFAR), St. Augustine/ St.Johns County Board of Realtors, National Association of Realtors® (NAR), Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), and Northeast Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service And St. Augustine/St. Johns (MLS), Shearwater Certified, and Military on the Move Designation.

She provides a unique blend of leadership, sales acumen, project management, technology, and world class customer relation skills to enhance Watson Realty Corporation's values in the real estate sales and mortgage marketplace. She is a decisive take action solution-oriented professional with 25+ years of progressive business experience who efficiently utilizes technology to improve results. She has lived in the St. Augustine/Jacksonville area since 2005 and has seen the area continue to flourish and stays well informed of future growth plans within Northeast Florida.

Let's take a look at the lighter side of Dianne. She loves life is artistic loves music, the arts, yoga and genealogy! She loves to explore and hates to be bored. She loves the outdoors, especially plant life and wildlife. She has been a Master Gardener in Florida and Maine; as a photography enthusiast she has the eye to spot the perfect shot, which spills over to the photos she makes of the properties she markets AND frequently hires the best specialized real estate photographers/drone and videographers who make the difference in the sale. And, she loves to share her knowledge of the local real estate market and all aspects of the process to guide you through each step as a coach rather than a salesperson.

So, let's sum it up. Buying or selling your home is an important life decision. Reasons can vary greatly from change of lifestyle, to relocation or life challenges. You need someone you can trust, count on, respect and help shoulder the stress, anxiety and time commitment involved. Doesn't this sound like someone you want working for you?

So, what's the next step? Contacting Dianne of course. It is all about YOUR needs, goals, timeline and DREAMS! She's here to help you achieve them and she looks forward to hearing from you.

What are you looking for in a Realtor? - Someone who will really listen to your wants and needs? Someone who will expertly market your home until the SOLD sign adorns your front lawn or if you are a buyer tirelessly researches your wish list to find that perfect home? - How about someone who will always be honest, holds ethics in high regard as a realtor, who works aggressively to get you the best price for your home and someone who knows the market?

Selling or buying a home is a partnership with your trusted advisor- Dianne Drinkwater