Yogurt Goatee
To eat well is to live well. Each family defines eating well differently. For some, the menu is all organic; others serve Kraft mac-n-cheese and Mott’s applesauce, happy that everyone is together. Some use their best dishes; others set the table with well-loved chipped plates.
While there are many differences, one thing is similar: Families who eat well together are thoughtful about mealtime. Eating is a time to pause during the day and appreciate family and friends. For children, it’s a time to learn manners and the art of civil conversation. It’s a time for parents to show respect for their children, to nurture their body, mind, and soul.
Of course, wanting to orchestrate a gracious meal and actually creating one are two different things. The learning curve is steep. I have often felt frustrated and depressed over too many haphazard meals of clumsy prepping , survival snacking, and never finishing a healthy meal due to the constant getting up for a paper towel, for Jack’s spoon flung to the floor for the tenth time, for my water glass, and for . . . why am I standing again? Then there’s the endless sweeping of crumbs, wiping down sticky fingers, and scrubbing mushy bananas off the high chair tray. It’s easy to give in to constant chaos, claiming it the new norm for a stay-at-home mom with a toddler underfoot and a new baby on the way.
Dwelling Divine 