Ideas for family togetherness when you're not doing family dinner

[Tiffany]

So our latest thing is not eating late in the day. My partner in particular does not eat after about 3pm. I've had to give up the idea of family dinner, which I always thought of such a great way to share as a family. Baby only eating something like mashed avocado as his last meal of the day, but still...I sort of have to give up that idyllic image of our future including us all sharing family dinner and bonding that way.

We're about to go out for a bike ride which will replace our "dinnertime" activity. I guess I'm just looking for some kind of ritual. I feel an emptiness when I think about not having that.

[Clare]

How about reading books you love together?

Playing family games, more so as the babies get older...

Praying and meditating together?

(We are Catholic so we like to pray the Rosary together, just 15-20 minutes. The kids have their own beads, pictures, and get to help light candles, sing, etc.)

Your baby and future babies will likely still eat an evening meal, so as you get older you both can sit at the table with them with water or whatever and still have family dinner since it's not about the food anyway. My kids never care when I don't eat with them if I'm there with them...

[Eva]

What a nice idea...

Playing cards?? I LOVE to do that with my dh... although I don't know if it would be as enjoyable daily.

And we go for walks, bike rides together. Sometimes we play tourists where we live and walk around downtown.

Frequently in the evenings, we'll sit on the sofa together, facing one another so my feet are in his lap and his in mine. And we'll massage each other's feet. Nothing fancy or with lotion, just while we chat about our day.

:)

[Tiffany]

I love your ideas, thanks mamas. We've started doing an evening walk as a family as much as possible. I kind of had to tell my husband that it is mandatory when he is home ;) But, now he enjoys it, too. And the little guy loves being close in the carrier before I get him ready for bed.

I love the idea of reading books together too!