Set a pretty table during the week.
Ok I get it, some day’s there just isn’t time to even sit down at the table together for a meal, between school, work and after school activities, it’s either a trip through the drive through or nothing.
But for the evenings when you are at home, even if it’s a pizza night, I’m encouraging you to take just 5 minutes to set a pretty table. I’m not talking about pulling out your Grandmother’s good china and ironing a tablecloth, but I’m encouraging you to make a little more effort than just grabbing a paper towel and eating a slice at the kitchen counter.
For me that means putting out placemats, plates and utensils along with a cloth napkin. I will also light a candle or two on the table and if I have fresh flowers in the house they will also go on the table for the meal. It takes less than 5 minutes to do this.
What about snipping a sprig of greenery from a plant in your garden and tucking it in a napkin ring? You can do this while you wait for the timer to go off. Nothing over the top, just a little something special to elevate the meal. Easy, peasy and so pretty!
Don’t have any napkin rings? Need an easy DIY to create some inexpensive napkin rings? Click here for some inspiration.
Adding a few simple little touches will make dinner a more special occasion. I remember sitting down to dinner every day when I was growing up. My sister or I were tasked with either setting the table or clearing it off after the meal. Dinner was a time for us to talk about our day and connect.
I try to make dinner at the table happen at least a couple times a week; TV off, and no electronics at the table for the 15 minutes we are eating. I’m not always successful, but I try.
So…are you up for the challenge? Give it a try and see if it brings your family to the table. You might even get lucky and get more than a grunt when you ask your teenager what they did at school that day. Miracles do happen on occasion!