Eating Rituals

Dishes clanking, a woman bustling around in a hurried, yet relaxed manner serving food and taking orders for drinks ( although we always drink water), a party of ten filling in around the colossal sized table, finding their spots and asking what there is to eat.  This may sound like a scene from a busy restaurant.  However, it is actually just an ordinary dinner at the Satkowski house. There is rarely a meal where there isn't a spill of some sort of at least one comment of, "Do I have to eat my....(you fill in the blank)?  Despite the barrage of negative comments and the chaotic mayhem that ensues at the beginning of dinner, dinner in the Satkowski house is not only a time at the wonderful food that mom has prepared, but also a time to unwind, make memories, have a good laugh and be united as a family.  After everyone gains composure, Dad begins with a prayer, reminding us of how blessed we are, and how there are those less fortunate whom we must remember in prayer. Then Peter prays that the food mom made doesn't kill us. After that mom will put the delicious dinner she made that night along with a big salad on all of our plates; then we will talk about how all of our days went and what happened at school, work and home. There are usually some funny jokes said or some good natured ribbing to go with the ribs, not to mention the puns.  Some of the greatest childhood memories I have are around the dinner table.  For example, there's the time that Peter at the wise old age of four stated, "I don't mean to be mean or anything Mom (after she had just spent fifteen minutes serving while everyone else ate), but you are the logical person since you are up.  Could you please get me some more water?"  Everyone burst out laughing.  With eight kids all having activities after school, it has not always been easy to find time to spend as a family. However, having dinner as a family every night ensures that we stay united.  It is important that we stay cohesive in our goals and dreams and faith. It is important to feed the stomach, but it is just as important to feed the soul.  United around the dinner table, we stay connected to each other and even the community at large.  When one of the children mentions that someone needs prayers or is struggling, the whole family can join together to figure out how we can help besides praying. It is not just a time for problem solving, but it is a time for getting to know what is going on in each of our lives. This is where we find out that John Paul is frustrated with his lack of time to read now that he has so much school work, Caitlin is having a great time with her new friends at swim team, Teresa is loving piano and wants to be in the school play, Peter does not like not having everyone not having as much time as they used to, to play as a family, and that Sophia likes Princess Sophia and can't wait until her friend comes over again.  Most of all, we find out that there is always a place to go where people will laugh with us, (even if sometimes it is at us), cry with us, sometimes be frustrated and disagree with us, and most importantly love us unconditionally for who we are and what we bring to this crazy, gregarious, uproarious and dedicated family.  So... next time I am tempted to skip dinner because I have too much AP homework, I need to remember that time with family is precious and one of the most valuable things we can do as a family.