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generation, the ones who are now the parents, were the ones who missed out. This generation represents those who are now nostalgic for the warmth and comfort that the 1950's nuclear family represents.

Today an overwhelming number of families either seldom eat together, or no longer eat together. According to a 2005 article entitled "Family Mealtime All for One and One for All", Dr. Alan Green points out the following:

"An August 2004 study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine followed thousands of youth. About 1/4 of them reported having family meals 7 or more times a week. About 1/4 reported having family meals 2 times or less a week."

That means that in 2004, only 25% of kids polled had family dinner regularly. Whether this has a detrimental effect on the cohesiveness and the bonds within a family is without question. Dr. Green provides the evidence:

"Those who enjoyed 7 family meals a week demonstrated significant, measurable benefits such as those we have been discussing, including better grades, less depression, less suicide risk, and less substance abuse even in families that were otherwise similar."

This emphasizes the fact that a cooperative and bonding experience within the family that is centered around communication and teamwork is absolutely critical to the success of every member of the family especially the children. This is what family mealtime does.

Clearly women have made important strides in breaking new ground within the previously male-dominated workforce of pre-1980's America. Now, all of us, men and women alike need to cooperate together to provide our children the kind of warm, loving and supportive home that a generation of children have completely missed out on. We can turn around this trend if we make dinner a family event ... a time to come together and maintain a close bond with one another. Without that important family bond the next bond to suffer is the one that holds our society together.

Learn more about this author, Ryan Dube.
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