I don't get home from work until at least 6.30 three days a week and my little girl (nearly 18 mo) goes to bed about 6.30-7 so there's no way we could eat together, but I was wondering when I can look forward to all eating together in the evenings.
2007-07-30 23:26:06 · 11 answers · asked by Skidoo 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Hey WI Mom - my baby gets quality time with her father on the days I have to work - when do your kids spend time with their father? Oh, I guess he's out working so you can stay home...
2007-07-31 01:06:55 · update #1
I'd love to adjust my daughter's schedule as she also gets up horribly early (5 this morning!), but if we try to keep her up she just gets cranky and then wakes up even earlier! I guess she's a natural early bird; it's a shame her dad and I are night owls - or were at any rate ;o)
I asked the question because I do think it's very important to eat together as a family and I'm looking forward to the day we can all sit down together in the evenings (that's me, my partner, his two and our one!)
2007-07-31 04:51:25 · update #2
I started eating meals together when my son was old enough to sit in the highchair, the same with my daughter. I wouldn't worry about people making rude comments because according to them, the mothers shouldn't work! You only miss out on 3 nights a week, so I wouldn't worry or stress over it. You will be able to enjoy this time together when she's a little older to stay up until 7.30-8.00.
2007-07-31 02:28:22 · answer #1 · answered by jaytei 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is 2 1/2 and my daughter 5, and they go to bed a 7-7.30pm. So in order to eat together we have to eat a 6-6.30 otherwise they have no time to digest their food.
Unless you keep her up till 7.30 then you may not be eating together for a while. Probably by the time she is 2 1/2 she will be able to handle a 7.30 bedtime and then you can eat together.
2007-07-30 23:32:56 · answer #2 · answered by Cindy; mum to 3 monkeys! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our 19 month old doesn't go to bed until 8-8:30 (we have never been successful at an earlier bedtime, even when he was tiny, so finally just scheduled it around his internal clock) so we have had him at the table for meals since he was old enough to sit in a high chair about 7 mos old (booster seat now).
You probably won't be able to have meals together until she starts staying up later, but you can have her at the table with whichever parent is home every night.
2007-07-31 02:01:54 · answer #3 · answered by ladybmw1218 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With our first son, our family started eating together as soon as he could sit in the highchair--about 6 months, maybe? I can't remember exactly. Second son currently sits in the bouncy seat next to the table as we eat.
p.s. WI Mom: How rude. You know nothing about this person's life other than the time she gets home--how dare you judge?
2007-07-31 03:01:33 · answer #4 · answered by Ryan H 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you don't necessarily have to all "eat" together.... in my household its unrealistic, as my husband travels and works late, and my kids eat on the earlier side (5pm). But I make sure while they eat their dinner, I sit down with them and we all talk together while they have their dinner.
On the days you don't work, I'd try to sit with her while she eats.... and don't stress about teh days you do. When she gets a little older and stays up a little later, you can do the same then.
Good luck!
2007-07-30 23:33:26 · answer #5 · answered by Mom 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My family have all eaten together every night since I was born. I think it is best that way as it developes social skills among adults and siblings in the child, and they have someone they can offload to every evening instead of confiding in an untrustworthy friend.
2007-07-30 23:30:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
We've always eaten together as a family -- it's been very important to me and my wife that we always meet together as a family at the dinner table, unless it's absolutely impossible (out of town on business, for example).
Would it be possible to adjust your daughter's schedule somewhat, to accomodate family dinners? I think starting that tradition will pay off for you immensely in the long run...
2007-07-31 01:25:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
How rude some people are with their comments!!
(A)as another working parent
(B)husband who gets home too late to eat with my daughter
(C) daughter needs to eat earlier han us :
I think that as long as you sit with them it really does not matter at this point in time. Weekends can make up for this time. You will all eat together she gets older
Just enjoy your time regardless.
2007-07-31 00:32:37 · answer #8 · answered by gaynoura 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As soon as they could sit up by themselves so they could sit in their high chair. Although they couldn't eat what we were eating most of the time there was something you could make into finger food such as noodles. If nothing else we gave them cherios or graham crackers.
2007-07-30 23:30:12 · answer #9 · answered by motherofthree 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When you start making time with your child a priority.
Children need quality time with their parents every day. A child of 18 months should already be eating dinner with her family.
2007-07-31 00:25:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋