I’ll be the braver outlier to say that my son and I don’t typically have great car conversations. Sometimes he chats with me, but more frequently, not at all.

We have family dinners as often as possible, but sports aren’t the only commitment that gives rise to an odd schedule- other school activities, tutoring, teen and parent jobs, etc. all can get in the way of family dinners. If one of my kids has to eat at an odd time, one of the parents will sit with them to talk and provide company.

A thermos is great not only for soup but also for pasta

Anonymous wrote:Car conversations are way better than the family meal. We do those too but the conversations flow a lot better in the car. Also, sports is so essential for my teens that I am most certainly not giving that up so we can eat together. What a joke!!' Probably spoken by someone whose kids don't truly love sports.

Or has preschoolers.

I agree that family dinners are important, and we get those several nights a week. But I was not expecting to find the time in the car equally important.

Teens eat 2 dinners. 4-5p (right when they get home from school before practice) and then again around 10p after they get home from practice/shower.

Anonymous wrote:No one prepared me for how hungry kids are when they get home from school. In the beginning I was focusing on snacks, healthier snacks etc before I realized it was easier to just have dinner planned for them by 5pm on the go or at home before the nightly routine of running to activities. If they are hungry when they get home the choices are yogurt and fruit, apple with peanut butter, banana etc…Sometimes my tween will have a fried egg and toast.

Mine will just eat a meal when they come home from school.

Anonymous wrote:Nothing should come before family dinners IMO. It's the only time we have together. No sport or activity is more important.

When you have preteens and teens that's not realistic or reasonable.