Tuesday, July 05, 2011

The SECURITY of the Kitchen Table








I saw this picture on Pinterest (yeh, I'm hooked)...

Immediately I thought about the kitchen table...and how everyone had their OWN chair. You didn't dare sit in your brother or sister's seat.....it was YOURS. There is such security in knowing you have a place at the table. There was, at one time, some arguing and some complaining about the food. Hubs put his foot down one night and ordered no more complaining about a food you don't like. No thank you was sufficient. Also, you had to tell one good thing that happened at school if you were going to tell a bad thing.....That way, nightly meals did not turn into a grumble fest! We drilled Bible verses and Spanish words at the table. We made Valentine Cards and learned about where all the states were on the U.S. map (thanks Poppy). We addressed birthday cards there, and thank you notes. Wedding invitations were made and many punch bowls for baby showers have been there. We celebrated birthdays at that table and served lots of Super Bowl food. We read a bible verse out of a little box before meals...and we prayed. We celebrated making baseball and basketball teams and cheerleading squads too.  We served our meals out of bowls (mom said never sit the pots on the table)...and we sat there every night. No television. No phone calls. Nothing but family...and your very own seat. It was one of the few things that was sacred......that you didn't have to EVER share with your sibling.  

Memories were made there. 

Never underestimate the SECURITY of your child's place at the table.


12 comments:

Just a little something from Judy said...

What an interesting post! It is so true that seat at the table holds an important place for just you. I like how you shared all that went on at your table over the years. It is important to stop and think about some of the things we can so easily take for granted. I especially like your husband's rule about no complaining.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful post.

I so agree with you that dinner time should be a happy, positive time. I have a friend who was constantly criticized at the table while growing up and now gets tense whenever she sits down to eat.

I love how you and your husband have intentionally made your meals into Happy Meals!

Blessings,
Becky

carolinagirl said...

Our children like to sit at the bar...they each have their own barstool - I now have new number vinyl decals on them (1, 2, 3)...the chairs are not in order though since Emma sits in the middle - ALWAYS so it looks like 1, 3, 2! It makes an interesting question when visitors see this.

Anonymous said...

This is a great post. Family rituals are so important....as is eating together.

Love it.

Megan said...

Such a beautiful post and so true!!! Even when visiting friends as a kid and now I always ask where to sit if the table doesn't have place cards to avoid sitting in someone's "assigned" seat. We always had a no phone/all positive chat/family chat table whether it was just family or friends that were family! Memories! :)

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

I have always been a big believer in family meals and time at the table together. That is such an important time together. Plus, I love food and preparing family meals to share together. What a lovely post. We have such wonderful memories of my sweet Daddy telling stories around the table together. Love & blessings from NC!

A Little Latin said...

Mom, I am so thankful for our "table" memories, and now A and I do many of those with our own kids.

Justabeachkat said...

So very true. Our time around the table is meant to be peaceful, loving and memorable.

Hugs,
Kat

Heather Best said...

Hello! I have been following your blog for awhile now. Well, since your grandson was about 1 month I think. I promised myself that I would say hello at some point and this post seemed a good a time as any. :)
I love your posts about your family and I love how excited you are about them. I am an only child and have always wanted the kind of bond and relationships that I see in your family. I grew up without my father and my mother died when I was 16, but God has blessed me in other ways. He has given me a wonderful husband and 5 children so far, (we are hoping for more). I figure if I didn't have it growing up, we'll just grow it ourselves! :)
I don't mean to dish out my life story. I just wanted to explain why it is that I come and stalk your blog and smile at the beautiful pictures of your family and your joy. Congratulations on the recent blessing of twins.

Connie said...

Thanks for taking me back in time. Love your memories and now I've remembered a few of my own. Wonderful family time!

Shanda Ingle said...

Love it! I had placemats made with everyone"s intial. Now I need to get more made for baby number three! :)

Tonja said...

We had a curving bar where we sat to eat all our meal when I was growing up, but still, we had our own bar stool! This was very interesting...I have never thought about the fact that having your own chair could be so important. But, it makes perfect sense.

I love it when someone posts something that I have not ever thought about that gives me something new to ponder. Thanks!