Dining with my family often feels like an exercise in extreme patience and emotional resilience. By the end of our meal, I sometimes wonder if I’ve even eaten at all. Did I actually have food on my plate, or did the kids gradually swipe everything while I was up and down attending to their endless needs?
Don’t get me wrong; dinner isn’t a total nightmare. I genuinely enjoy hearing about my kids’ adventures at school or their latest escapades. And while I’ve become adept at pretending to be fascinated by their newest video game creations, I can’t help but find joy in their messy little faces as they dig into spaghetti. Plus, those moments when we all burst into laughter because my 5-year-old let out a monumental fart are truly special.
Yet, as delightful as these moments can be, they don’t erase the frustration of trying to enjoy my meal. Enter the concept of “Second Dinner”:
Before we gather around the table, I prepare a plate for myself and cleverly hide it in the microwave. Then I create a “dummy plate,” which consists of just a few nibbles for show. I sit down with my family, pretending to eat while they make a ruckus. The dummy plate? That’s just for the dog!
Once the kids are tucked in bed and my partner has passed out on the couch watching another alien documentary, it’s time for my real meal. My Second Dinner.
I heat it to the perfect temperature and savor it in blissful solitude, free from the chaos of open-mouth chewing, spills, and tantrums. The only sounds I hear are my own bites, and I can truly relish each moment of silence. Sure, I have to wait a bit longer to eat, but that wait enhances the flavors tremendously!
Some might think Second Dinner is a bit selfish, but it’s a win-win for everyone. Knowing I have a delicious meal waiting for me allows me to endure the noisy antics of our first dinner without losing my cool.
Before I embraced this idea, I’d often bite my tongue through meals or let my frustration spill over, wondering how my family could be so uncouth. My partner, a noisy chewer thanks to allergies, often sounded like a creature from the swamp, and my kids, like many little ones, could be downright messy and rambunctious.
Every evening, I find myself repeating reminders about table manners, hoping to instill some decorum before they have in-laws of their own. But it became exhausting! I longed for the simple pleasure of enjoying my food.
Now, with Second Dinner, I can relax during the first meal, feigning interest while delighting in the chaos around me. I love my family, and I love food, but I certainly don’t need them together at the dinner table.
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Summary
Navigating family dinners can be a challenge, especially with little ones who bring both joy and chaos. Embracing the idea of a “Second Dinner” allows parents to enjoy a peaceful meal after the kids are in bed, making the experience of dining much more enjoyable and stress-free.