Getting Around Your Table When: Life is Busy

Each season of life brings a newness to it, a freshness.  My current season is a season of being so busy sometimes I think I should just carry a paper bag to breathe into when all the plates are spinning around and I'm not sure how to make it all happen.  My boys now eleven, six and four are not only in school, church and sports activities but also like to stay busy (I don't know where they get that from?). If you've followed me long, you know that I feel like gathering your tribe around your table is priceless.  I'm also realistic and understand busy seasons mean eating meals in shifts and in between activities in the car.  I still believe we intentionally break bread with our people even when we are busy. Here's a few tips to make this happen, because we know our tribes thrive when we commit to face to face time.1.Have a planMenu planning and planning ahead of time (this is something I constantly have to force myself to do, it does not come naturally to me) is the first way to successfully gather your people.  On Sundays look at your week ahead. First plug your activities into a family calendar for better planning. We use Cozi family calendar app)  It's so easy to use and goes on each of our devices, even my big boy! Once your activities are in, schedule family meals. Maybe it's Sunday after church, brunch on Saturday or Wednesday night.  Put it on the calendar and plan the meal around it.2. Make it a priorityIt's not easy to get your people around the table, but I am bold enough and knowledgeable enough to say its worth it. WORTH IT!  The statistics on families that eat together are incredible. Adults and children thrive across the board when they are consistently gathering around the table with their people, breaking bread together. You can read about this in one of my earlier posts here. Making something a priority means putting it on the calendar, make sure everyone knows ahead of time (if this is something new you are implementing) and then follow through.  Your calendar reflects what's important to you, put gathering on there!3. Be PreparedMake sure you have your ingredients so you are stressing about the meal.  Have someone else set the table so you can just get the meal done. Have your family (tribe) sit at the table electronics free (maybe an electronics check in station would be good here?). Serve the meal. Once you have finally sat down, pray. Thank God for bringing you all together!!! It may even feel like a miracle at this point! Also, be prepared to rally your troops after the meal to help clean up. Even the little ones can help clear the table or bring in silverware etc. Tribe time and connection time can also come from cleaning up together (and who wants to cook AND do the dishes! Delegate momma!)4. Talk and ListenOnce everyone is settled in around your table begin a conversation. Be ready for this.  In our family we do high low, tell a high from your day and a low from your day. No interrupting.  Children even as young as two can say if they had a good day or not and maybe even why. Be prepared to have a conversation going, especially if you have teens at your table! Engage your people, this is the time for connection, everyone has an innate longing and need to belong (read Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown to learn more about this).  Make sure your people know they belong with you, in your tribe, having conversation around the table helps with this.5. Don't Give up!Don't stop gathering around your table with your people just because it's hard or just because you get busy. I get it sister! It's not easy but again I say it's worth it.  I've learned if something is really hard then it's probably really worth it. If it's too much at first commit to at least one meal a week and then add on as you can and as your family gets used to gathering together at meal time.  You will find the more you do it, the better you will all get at it.We see gathering and breaking bread all over the Bible!  I will leave you with the encouragement of Hebrews 10:25"Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near"Even if it's two of you or ten of you, do not neglect to gather together with your tribe, it's part of our mission!