Comments on: Avoiding Chaotic Meals http://discoveringdad.net/avoiding-chaotic-meals/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=avoiding-chaotic-meals Learning what it means to be a good Dad Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:15:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: B.Wilde http://discoveringdad.net/avoiding-chaotic-meals/comment-page-1/#comment-9483 B.Wilde Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:21:31 +0000 http://discoveringdad.net/?p=948#comment-9483 We have five kids and meal times can be out-of-control sometimes. We have a job chart on the fridge that rotates every day. Every kid has an assignment for dinner, that they hate, but keeps them busy and involved. I can relate to, "if you can't beat-em, join-em." We do this frequently and it makes for a fun dinner. Sometimes it gets tense though and everything falls apart. I guess the joys of family dinner are the good and the bad moments--like when the two year old spills her milk for the 40th time. We have five kids and meal times can be out-of-control sometimes. We have a job chart on the fridge that rotates every day. Every kid has an assignment for dinner, that they hate, but keeps them busy and involved. I can relate to, “if you can’t beat-em, join-em.” We do this frequently and it makes for a fun dinner. Sometimes it gets tense though and everything falls apart. I guess the joys of family dinner are the good and the bad moments–like when the two year old spills her milk for the 40th time.

]]> By: Clint http://discoveringdad.net/avoiding-chaotic-meals/comment-page-1/#comment-8712 Clint Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:50:48 +0000 http://discoveringdad.net/?p=948#comment-8712 Duct tape and a solid chair do the job :) The besta parta day - great idea. We do something similar. We do a round table and ask everyone to say something they are grateful for. My 2 year old, of course, has no idea what gratitude is, but he happily plays along. For the past 2 weeks we ask him "Graeme, what are you grateful for?" and his reply is always the same - "tigers". One other thing we do is try to have as much meal prep done ahead of time. We often spend weekends cooking pots of soup and stews that are easy to freeze and reheat. Still home cooked, but quick and easy. Duct tape and a solid chair do the job :)

The besta parta day – great idea. We do something similar. We do a round table and ask everyone to say something they are grateful for. My 2 year old, of course, has no idea what gratitude is, but he happily plays along. For the past 2 weeks we ask him “Graeme, what are you grateful for?” and his reply is always the same – “tigers”.

One other thing we do is try to have as much meal prep done ahead of time. We often spend weekends cooking pots of soup and stews that are easy to freeze and reheat. Still home cooked, but quick and easy.

]]> By: Treemama http://discoveringdad.net/avoiding-chaotic-meals/comment-page-1/#comment-7731 Treemama Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:19:16 +0000 http://discoveringdad.net/?p=948#comment-7731 We have question of the night and mine is always the same, "what was the best part of your day and what was the worst part of your day?", the girls roll their eyes, but they always can't wait to tell me. Some nights we groove, others it's quiet. Depends on the overall mood in the house. The most important part is there though. All of you eating together. We have question of the night and mine is always the same, “what was the best part of your day and what was the worst part of your day?”, the girls roll their eyes, but they always can’t wait to tell me.

Some nights we groove, others it’s quiet. Depends on the overall mood in the house.

The most important part is there though. All of you eating together.

]]> By: Nicole http://discoveringdad.net/avoiding-chaotic-meals/comment-page-1/#comment-7168 Nicole Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:11:18 +0000 http://discoveringdad.net/?p=948#comment-7168 Great tips! We have our 3 year old help "cook" if possible and that helps, too. I was thinking this gets easier, but maybe it doesn't! LOL We go around and ask each other how our days were, but I like the "besta parta day" idea. Makes us all focus on the positive. Thanks! Great tips! We have our 3 year old help “cook” if possible and that helps, too. I was thinking this gets easier, but maybe it doesn’t! LOL We go around and ask each other how our days were, but I like the “besta parta day” idea. Makes us all focus on the positive. Thanks!

]]> By: 1sttimedad http://discoveringdad.net/avoiding-chaotic-meals/comment-page-1/#comment-6835 1sttimedad Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:50:45 +0000 http://discoveringdad.net/?p=948#comment-6835 They say yelling really loud works too ... I'm just kidding of course. My daughter is just 16 month old, so we do more chasing and rolling around on the floor than actual talking (although she has a better vocabulary than me on many a Saturday nights - in my younger days), but I like your ideas for generating conversation and teaching responsibility for housework, etc. Cheers! They say yelling really loud works too …

I’m just kidding of course.

My daughter is just 16 month old, so we do more chasing and rolling around on the floor than actual talking (although she has a better vocabulary than me on many a Saturday nights – in my younger days), but I like your ideas for generating conversation and teaching responsibility for housework, etc.

Cheers!

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