by Petro Maritz

Created on: February 02, 2009

In my parent's home, they had a large twelve place table, where we had to eat at least two of the three main meals of the day. To be asked whether families should spend mealtimes together to communicate is a strange question for me. Of course they should. When else would they find time to communicate?

That dining room table was the axle that our family evolved around. During breakfast we co-ordinated our days' programs. We seldom had problems with clashing responsibilities and forgotten activities because we were reminded of everything at breakfast.

Lunch usually went a bit fast and often some members of the family couldn't make it due to other responsibilities. But if you were home at the time, you had to sit down with the family to eat.

Dinner was when it all happened. Every single problem I ever had was resolved around that table. All members of the family were equal when we sat down. Anyone could have a turn to speak, and what he said would be heard. We spoke about everything and anything. We decided together where we'll spend our next holiday or what we'll do for Christmas.

Our family was not perfect. But we handled the imperfections rather well, because we were a team. And we became a team during mealtimes.

A strong bond can be created between family members if they get a chance to get to know each other. Eat three meals together on a daily basis and I guarantee you'll get to know someone fairly well.

Mealtime communication served a few different rolls on our home.

The first is the very practical role of organization. When family members spend time together it gives them a chance to co-ordinate events and to plan in advance. Everyone knows beforehand who'll be out for the weekend, or who'll have friends over.

Mealtime communication creates a place where family members belong. The world outside often make people, especially children, believe that they are in no way different or special from others. A tight knit family banish this feeling of self doubt and gives its members a safe place to be themselves.

The dinner table is a good place to develop communication skills. Members have to learn to listen before they speak. So many people do not learn that good communication is a two way process which include both talking and listening. To properly interpret a message both verbal and nonverbal communication should be taken into consideration.

Another very important communication skill will surely benefit from practise is the skill of conflict resolution. All families

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