Except Mr M is working, one kid is at practice and I'm volunteering. Sorry, but today's families don't have the traditional M-F 9-5 days. How about the goobernuts doing what I hired them to do and keep their noses out of my family.
It is difficult to have family meals these days, no question about it.
That does not mean that it is a bad idea. Certainly a daily gathering of a family around the table is a very good idea. That's how I grew up, back in the 1950s, and both of my parents worked, too.
It was a rule in my parent's house. Everyone showed up at the dinner table, unless there was a very, very good reason. Events were not scheduled to conflict with that time. Practises and other such things did not take place between 5 and 7 PM. Nothing at school or church was scheduled for those hours.
So, at 5:30 PM every day, we all sat down to dinner, prepared by my mother. Along with eating, everyone participated in conversation around the table, generally about the day's events. I learned what my brother and sister were doing. I heard stories about my father's work, and my mother told us about her day.
It was the time when we discussed a weekend trip or plans for the Summer vacation. There were jokes, gentle teasing, and lots of smiles. There was no TV on in the background, or any other interruption. If the phone rang, it rang, but was not answered. Whoever it was would call back.
After dinner, my little brother cleared the table and my sister and I washed the dishes. After that, if there was some choir practice or a visit to a friend's house, that was fine.
But mealtime was sacrosanct. We all benefitted from it, in ways that are hard to measure.
Yes, it may be harder today than it used to be, but it's still possible. It's a good idea, and one that will definitely benefit every member of the family.
Sorry that you don't have those priorities.
I always thought it was
God
family
Country
job
Then ---- all the other stuff.