Does your family still gather around the table? In this Kitchen Table episode, Carol shares memories from her own childhood table, from the English peas she refused to eat to the dishwashing races and “I Will Survive” duets she had with her sister. She also shares how she carried the tradition into her own marriage and family.
Carol also explains the research behind it. Emory University researchers Marshall Duke and Robyn Fivush found that children who know their family history have a stronger sense of control, higher self-esteem, lower anxiety, and better emotional health. Carol shares the first five of their 20 questions, explains why it’s the sharing of stories, not the facts themselves, that matters, and offers practical ideas for busy families, including a goal of sharing dinner three to four times a week, even if it’s fast food at the ballpark.
If you’re a mom juggling sports and activities, a grandmother hoping to pass down family stories, or you just want to build a stronger, more connected family, this episode will encourage you to make the table a priority.
You’ll hear about:
- Why the family dinner table is a safe place for sharing stories and building belonging
- The Emory University research on family stories and children’s emotional health
- The first five of the 20 “Do You Know?” questions to ask your family
- Practical ways to keep dinner a priority when life gets busy
- A reminder that dinner doesn’t have to be a home-cooked meal
Listen to Fast Food Counts: Why You Should Make Family Dinner a Priority Even When You’re Busy
Watch on YouTube Fast Food Counts: Why You Should Make Family Dinner a Priority Even When You’re Busy
Sign up for The Keeping Room Newsletter
Get on the waitlist to find out details about Flourish 2027
To contact me with Kitchen Table episode ideas email me at buildingstronghomes@gmail.com
Here are the 20 questions mentioned in this episode. Please keep in mind that it is not the knowledge of these specific facts that is important – it is the process of families sharing stories about their lives that is important. So these questions are a way to begin to ask and to tell, and to begin a family tradition of sharing the stories of our lives.
Do you know how your parents met?
Do you know where your mother grew up?
Do you know where your father grew up?
Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?
Do you know where some of your grandparents met?
Do you know where your parents were married?
Do you know what went on when you were being born?
Do you know the source of your name?
Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?
Do you know which person in your family you look most like?
Do you know which person in the family you act most like?
Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger?
Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences?
Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?
Do you know the national background of your family (such as English, German, Russian, etc.)?
Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?
Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?
Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to?
Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to?
Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?