Do you ever feel like....

[mommy2many]

You don't get enough time with your family? Most of the children are off to school all day then they have afterschool homework, events, and stuff. Sometimes I feel like I see my children less and less each day.

I had a mom today give me a dirty look when I told my Daughter No she couldn't do another activity after her girl scouts tonight because we had to get home for dinner. I generally have dinner everyday @5PM and I feel everyone should be there unless my husband is working, then he has an excuse. The mom said she would have let her daughter go and would have just given her a frozen dinner....I told her well we value our time together....it was obvious to me she didn't understand.


Maybe I am too strict when it comes to family time but I think that time is important. I already feel like i don't get enough time with my family know what I mean?

[Guest1]

We homeschool & I still don't feel like I get enough time with my kiddos.....
Katie turns 18 in a few weeks & I ache for the years I squandered away with her.....

If family mealtime is important to you (as it is to us as well) you shouldn't have to defend your position to another mom and shame on her for making you feel that your causing your child to "miss out...."

Cherish the time - they will thank you for carving out time for them.....

[Missy]

I agree with Debbie. Let that woman regret the frozen dinners and missing time. You are doing what you feel is right for your family, and instilling an important family value. Good for you!! I think family time is more important now than ever.

[guest2]

You do what you feel is right for your family and don't let that other Mom make you feel bad. Our lives all are so busy today and our children are grown and gone before we know it. I too cherish the time that I have with my family and I try to guard it as much as possible. As the kids get older, that is getting harder and harder to do.

[Darlene]

Mommy2many, I too was the "strange" one who had dinner every night with her family.Coaches & others looked at me like I was loony. It was & is to some extent now a priority.(I miss it,but kids grow & have to do their thing)
My kids are young adults now(18&19). Nicole is in her 2nd year of college & lives at home, she has as many dinners as possible with us. Same for our 18 yr.old hs. senior. This is the time we touch base, talk about our day & talk about the future & life in general.
There have been times they thought we were wackos for insisting on dinner time but as they have gotten older they think about how sad so & so's life is that they don't have a closeness with their family.
I for one encourage you to keep dinner time. To me it keeps families together.(married 20 years) It's so important.

[simplemom]

I agree with you Mommy2many....family time is so important...family dinners, quiet time together, fun times times together...are so precious. Every stages of a child's life only happens once...

[Early Bird]

I agree. We homeschool too -- and I have to limit our activities, projects, and volunteer commitments so taht they don't suck all our time away.