Or so, Mary says.

As part of our family’s intention to lead a healthier lifestyle, I had consciously made a few changes to our family’s eating habits, which began New Year’s Day.

And one of them is that food will only be eaten in the kitchen, at the table, nowhere else in the house.  All meals, including snacks.

Throughout our 6 1/2 years of marriage, with differing work schedules, one or the other or both being in the same or different diet at any one time, mealtimes had not been on any regular schedule or even remotely to a routine.  I grew up with breakfast being ready at the table from 6-8 am, lunch at exactly 12 noon, supper at 6:00 pm.  Except during parties (which was always a buffet affair), everybody sits down at the table at the same time for lunch and supper.  Jack’s childhood was not as rigid with mealtimes.  And then, when I lived on my own, in New York, Vancouver, etc, when I was single, I mostly ate in front of the television.

So, no major effort was made to have a family sit-down everyday or at least, when everyone was home.

Not, anymore.  I am laying down the law.  All meals will be eaten at the table, whether it’s one of us or all of us.  Dinner, especially will be a sitdown affair “family-style.”

So far, Mary is not taking it well.  Lunchtime, she was telling me that it was a boring, stupid rule.  She had so gotten used to watching TV and having food whenever she wanted.

Any ideas on how to better effect this rule?