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The Hour That Matters Most

September 14, 2011 by Lolli

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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When was the last time you had a sit-down dinner with every member of your family present? Are you like most families these days, running around to different activities every afternoon and grabbing dinner whenever you have a few spare minutes?

When our parents were growing up, family meal time was a ritual that would not be compromised. Parents, kids, and teens gathered around the dinner table to eat, relax, and discuss their days together.

I’m one of the lucky ones – dinner time was sacred when I was a kid, and even if we were eating left-overs, we ate at the same time, sitting down at the table together. My mother instilled the importance of family dinners in me.

When I got married and had kids of my own, it didn’t even occur to me that there was any other way to eat dinner. Although I may not cook fabulous meals every night, I make it a point to gather everyone to the kitchen to spend that hour together.

The family dinner table is not really about the food – it’s about the time spent together.

Les and Leslie Parrot have written a book called The Hour that Matters Most: The Surprising Power of the Family Meal and I couldn’t agree more with their premise.

The Hour that Matters Most Synopsis:


The facts are on the table. Dinnertime is truly the most important hour in a day that a family can spend together. Focusing on the family meal, this book will help strengthen families by showing them how to reclaim this important time in order to build relationships, draw closer to one another, and restore a sense of peace in their homes. Millions of parents in America can picture the kind of home life they want but don’t know how to make it a reality. The Hour That Matters Most will help readers strengthen and transform their own families—specifically around the dinner table.

You can find out more about The Hour that Matters Most and its authors, Les and Leslie Parrot with Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna at the book’s website, or you can purchase a copy or download the kindle version at Amazon.com.

Check out these 3 book reviews with 3 different perspectives:

  • Jennifer reviews it at 5 Minutes for Mom
  • Barbie weighed in at 5 Minutes for Faith.
  • Lauren applied it at 5 Minutes for Books.

We’re giving away The Hour That Matters Most

We are giving away 12 (twelve!) copies of The Hour That Matters Most. To enter to win this giveaway, let us know in the comment section what you love about eating meals together.

This giveaway will run through October 14, 2011 at midnight and 12 winners will be chosen at random shortly after the end date. Please see our site’s terms and conditions for more information.

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom managing editor Lolli. You can find Lolli blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.

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80 Comments

  1. essay example says

    April 17, 2012 at 3:17 am

    The moments you are with your family is priceless, no matter how simple the meal on table it will turn into a happy feast if the family member is complete. I suddenly missed my family I am separated to them, because I have to work here abroad.

    Reply
  2. Laura Lane says

    October 11, 2011 at 10:57 am

    We had fried chicken on china last night. It changed the whole tone of the evening.

    Reply
  3. Anita Yancey says

    October 11, 2011 at 10:50 am

    I love it when I have meals with my husband. It is when we get to do most of our talking, because he works so much. Loved the reviews on this book.

    Reply
  4. Marci J says

    October 10, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    It’s a time to reconnect on the daily happenings of our lives – it brings us together physically and emotionally, what better way to bond with everyone than over a meal?

    Reply
  5. riTa says

    October 10, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    We love to be together as a family, so even though all three children are grown and have their own families, we still gather for a meal of choice for each member’s birthday. Food is wonderful, fellowship is even more nourishing!

    Reply
  6. Sidni H. says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:14 am

    It’s not just about sitting together & sharing a meal, our quality time begins as we prepare the meal also. Just taking the time, after a busy week to reconnect & catch up with everyone. We try to share at least 4 dinners a week together which is hard with teenagers nowadays!

    Reply
  7. Christina says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    What I love about eating meals together is finding out things about individual family members that you wouldn’t ordinarily, in conversation, as they’re sated with the happiness of eating food!

    Reply
  8. Michelle says

    October 7, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    I loe this post and the idea behind the book. We eat together whenever we can, which fortunately is most of the time (sans my husband, as he’s usually coaching). I love talking to the wee ones and seeing what they’re up to. They come up with the most entertaining observations. This is when I get the real scoop on what’s going on with them – and I can only hope it stays that way!

    Reply
  9. stacie says

    October 7, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    Its family time the one time everyone sits and talks and can have a good time.

    Reply
  10. Annie~Savor This Moment says

    October 7, 2011 at 11:29 am

    Actually, it seems like dinner time is pretty stressful. I’m trying to remind the kids of their manners, there’s a fight over the last roll, you know, stuff like that. But I think it’s so important to have us all around the table at once, kind of a captive audience and being able to look in one anothers eyes at least once that day!

    Reply
  11. Shonda says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:29 am

    I have little ones, but I know this is the time to develop the dinner time routine. I like that it brings the family together and my son is starting to answer questions about his day.

    Reply
  12. JamericanSpice says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:23 am

    I love hearing about the day from my kids. Sometimes they aren’t really talking to me, but I love the narration, I get more that way 🙂

    I wish we had a dining table though.

    Reply
  13. Tami says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:19 am

    Dinner truly is the ONLY TIME we have together as a family. And I don’t really know how to cook. I am excellent at boxed mac & cheese and boxed pasta & sauce. I would love to put something special on the table for my family.

    Reply
  14. MusingsfromMe/Jill says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:00 am

    Even if we are quietly eating, spending time together is a key part of our day. We don’t manage dinner together every night due to afterschool sports, but when we eat together it is special.

    Reply
  15. One Frugal Girl says

    October 7, 2011 at 9:44 am

    With so much going on in the day it’s the one time we have to pause and just enjoy being with one another. We get to catch up on the events of the day and talk about the things that really matter.

    Reply
  16. chana says

    October 7, 2011 at 8:14 am

    it’s family time we can count on. a chance to unwind and talk about our days

    Reply
  17. Courtney says

    October 5, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    When I was a little girl, the only time that my crazy childhood felt secure and warm was at our family dinners. It was like all the hustle and bustle came to a halt and we just enjoyed each others company. I want that so much for my own family.

    Reply
  18. Michelle says

    October 5, 2011 at 10:16 am

    I enjoy the together time that having my family around the dinner table provides and while I would love to say it happens everyday or is easy to do is not currently the case in our house. With 4 girls 7 and under including a set of 20 mth old twins and my husband who owns his own business it is not easy to bring us all together but I when we do it really is so wonderful. I am very intrigued about this book and the tips that Les and Leslie can offer to me so I can further improve on this most important hour in my family’s day.

    Reply
  19. Mary says

    October 4, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    We ate dinner at the table while my daughter was growing up and every third night we shared dinner at the fire hall with the family of my husband’s shift partner. Those were special times and I miss them now that our daughter is grown. We still have our fire family every third night.

    Reply
  20. Carolyn says

    October 4, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    I’d love to win. With a rush to be home and everyone tired, I feel it is really hard to have a pleasant dinner. I keep hoping it’ll get easier when they are out of the throwing food stage…

    Reply
  21. Mary Preston says

    October 4, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    Eating meals together is a wonderful way to stay connected. To share your day & plan as a family.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    Reply
  22. gwendolyn b. says

    October 4, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    We’ve learned that meals together can be so much fun. We keep stressful issues “off the table” and just talk about fun and interesting things. If the conversation lags, we have some conversations starters that always help — i.e. What was the silliest thing you saw or heard today? Or if you could travel to any place on the planet, where would you like to go and how would you get there? What if cars had never been invented? Meals together are really popular at our house. Sometimes there are complaints about turning off the TV, but everyone gets over it really fast. This sounds like a wonderful book and I’d be thrilled to add it to our family library. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

    Reply
  23. Samantha R says

    October 4, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    I love talking with my family. and I love just sitting with them after a busy day…we all take time to relax and enjoy eachother!

    Reply
  24. Paige says

    October 4, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    I love the laughter, the discussions, and the time together around the table. It is where nothing intrudes on our being together.

    Reply
  25. Joy says

    October 4, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    It’s just nice to stop and catch up on each other’s day.

    Reply
  26. Jen Steed says

    October 4, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    I love that everyone is together & I have a buttle help :).

    Reply
  27. Margaret says

    October 4, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Okay I think my first entry didn’t work so here it goes again…..

    I love eating together because it allows my family to really connect. Unfortunately my husband works long hours and doesn’t always have meals with us but when we do it is all the more special.

    Margaret
    [email protected]

    Reply
  28. Margaret says

    October 4, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    I love eating together because it’s a chance for the family to really connect. Unfortunately My husband works long hours so we don’t always get the chance so when we do it makes it that much more special regardless of it being breakfast,lunch or dinner.

    Margaret
    [email protected]

    Reply
  29. nancy says

    October 1, 2011 at 12:37 am

    eating togther is a bonus, we can talk and relax and enjoy our time and food together

    Reply
  30. semi-crunchy momma says

    September 29, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    I love family dinners as a way to connect with my kids after a busy day! We are together all day long but often busy and distracted by all of the “to-do’s” so I love a time when we can get together, I can find out more about their day and just enjoy their company.

    Reply
  31. Graco Playpen says

    September 27, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    This is so true! I find it nearly impossible to have the same family time as we once did. Between sports, homework and jobs it is so hard to get everyone together…I’ll check this book out.

    Reply
  32. Kerrie Mayans says

    September 27, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    I love hearing about my kids day and finding out what my husband did at work and sharing what I and the baby did with them each evening when we eat dinner. We also talk about what we will be doing the next day and add things to the schedule for the weekend

    [email protected]

    Reply
  33. LaVonne says

    September 27, 2011 at 10:32 am

    This book sounds like a great gift book with some kitchen towels as a housewarming party. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  34. Tia says

    September 26, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    I just enjoy sitting and listening to my kids, we love to chat about everything and nothing.
    [email protected]

    Reply
  35. JUNE says

    September 26, 2011 at 7:58 am

    Some how I entered this on a different page. Was wondering why there was no other comments posted. Looks to be very good reading for the entire family.

    Reply
  36. Mary Caldwell says

    September 25, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    Amen! Cherished time of the day!

    Reply
  37. Angelique Lorence says

    September 23, 2011 at 8:12 am

    This is my FAVORITE time of day and I actually have it listed as a title for one of my upcoming Blog Posts. It was something I did with my family growing up and now that I have a family of my own, I want to continue the tradition. Its so very important to me. I want our children to connect with us and I’m thankful that this is a time that brings us together, forces us to talk, look at each other, pray together, laugh. Its the best! I like to cook and LOVE watching my family enjoy the healthy meal I prepared for them. We usually have Contemporary Christian Music playing in the background and I just really enjoy this hour! 😉

    Reply
  38. April says

    September 21, 2011 at 11:15 am

    Because of our busy schedules, my son and I often eat out, but we are trying to set at lest 2 nights a week where we sit at the table and eat together. I like doing this because it gives me a chance to hear more about him and his thoughts and feelings on things.

    Reply
  39. Lisa K. says

    September 21, 2011 at 10:37 am

    I love eating with my family because we get to have an hour of calmness and time to talk about our day or things going on in our life! We can reconnect!

    Reply
  40. Tracey says

    September 21, 2011 at 7:03 am

    We do a great job in our family at eating together. We taught them from the time they were still infants basically that it is time to sit together and eat. Of course, they are still fairly young (7 & 4) so I’m sure we will have a more difficult time once the activities really begin. I have friends that struggle in this area completely and would love to share this book with them. I also would love to check it out and get more tips on conversation starters too!

    Reply
  41. Wendy says

    September 21, 2011 at 2:25 am

    The laughter is my favorite part of family meals together! Usually my youngest does something funny or my oldest says “Remember when…” Moments I cherish!

    Reply
  42. Amy says

    September 20, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    We just moved and have a big kitchen. we love having friends and family over to eat and talk. we usually sit for hours at the kitchen table.

    Reply
  43. Stacey says

    September 20, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    Love eating family meals. I love it when the whole immediate family can get together and eat and talk.

    Reply
  44. Alison says

    September 20, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    we always eat meals together. I love having this special time to talk and eat.

    Reply
  45. Grandma D says

    September 20, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    I think meals together is the only way to eat! It is family time, and that is the most important.

    Reply
  46. Staci A says

    September 20, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    I love the conversation at the dinner table! It’s always so nice to hear everyone talking and laughing together!

    Reply
  47. Amy P says

    September 19, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    My husband and I always eat at the table, and my son now is learning how special this time is!

    Reply
  48. Stacey L says

    September 19, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    It is one special thing that I request, eat together every night at the table. So far, so good!

    Reply
  49. Bean says

    September 19, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    My family eats every meal at the table together. That is our special time when we can talk without interruptions.

    Reply
  50. Grandma D says

    September 19, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    I love my family eating together. They have all left home so now we only have meals together at special occasions. Their families eat together every night, lesson learned!

    Reply
  51. Mercedes Yardley says

    September 18, 2011 at 11:24 pm

    We have little ones, so it’s a time to learn table manners, please-and-thank yous, and that broccoli is called something besides “little trees”. It’s a very sweet time for us. 🙂

    Reply
  52. Angela Maa s says

    September 18, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    My favorite thing about eating meals together is….the eating. 🙂 I love to see my family eating healthy meals and growing stronger. 🙂

    Reply
  53. Erin says

    September 18, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Eating together has always been a priority for our family. Now that my oldest is in school, I love being able to hear details about her day.

    Reply
  54. tennille says

    September 18, 2011 at 9:55 am

    Hubby is a firefighter so we don’t always get to eat together but we love to prepare a meal together. Our 3 year loves to help out with prep too! And then to sit down and enjoy what we have created and be able to share our day is very important to us.

    Reply
  55. double strollers for infant and toddler says

    September 18, 2011 at 6:54 am

    I couldn’t agree more. As a “traditional” family, Mom, Dad, three kids, it’s one of those rituals that has immense value in our household. It also provides a consistency to the kids, once a day no matter what, they get an hour with Mom and Dad and siblings.

    Reply
  56. Mia says

    September 18, 2011 at 2:06 am

    I love catching up with everyone…hearing about their day!

    Reply
  57. Kristin says

    September 17, 2011 at 10:07 am

    i like spending that time together

    Reply
  58. Idaho Jill says

    September 16, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    just talking, laughing, and finding out more about my daughter’s school day!

    Reply
  59. Kimberly says

    September 16, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Eating dinner is one of the things about our day that is most important to me. It’s our chance to sit down and talk about our day and re-connect after being apart all day. There’s just something about that I see as sacred family time.

    Reply
  60. Margot says

    September 16, 2011 at 10:06 am

    Dinner is one thing my family has always shared. Even as a child we would sit down every night and eat dinner together. It’s a time when we can all sync up. No matter where our days take us we touch base at dinner time and reestablish the connections that make us a family. Needless to say it is my favorite time of day.

    Reply
  61. Working Mommy says

    September 15, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    I LOVE eating dinner with my family – but especially larger holiday meals when the whole family can get together. It lets everyone relax and forget any troubles that may be around the corner and just enjoy each others’ company.

    wm

    Reply
  62. Mothers & More says

    September 15, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Our Renee Anderson has this to say, “Meals enjoyed together reinforce a host of family values and send messages to our children that they matter and that family matters.”

    Reply
  63. Jaime Lee says

    September 15, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    Amen!!!
    I also have an article on how important it is to have family dinners.
    Such a cherished time of our day as a family.

    classylilsassy.com

    Reply
  64. Sylvia says

    September 15, 2011 at 1:37 am

    I love catching up on the days events with the hubby and kids. In this hectic world, dinner time is sometime the only time we have to relax and catch up with each others’ lives.

    Reply
  65. Amy says

    September 14, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    My son is only one, but he eats at the table in his high chair while we eat our meal. Once he gets older, he will sit down with us . Love family time!

    Reply
  66. Stacey says

    September 14, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    I always have my family sit down at our table to eat. It is the one time that I request everybody to sit at the table and share their day with me.

    Reply
  67. Alison says

    September 14, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    Family meals are very important to me. It gives us a chance to slow down and listen to what my kids have done that day.

    Reply
  68. Debra says

    September 14, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    I love family meal time. It is the one time we can all sit and talk.

    Reply
  69. Natassia says

    September 14, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    I feel like it’s a great time to connect and hear about the day. We need that as a family

    Reply
  70. Heather S says

    September 14, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I love the connecting and communicating and laughing part most! Just spending quality time together!

    Reply
  71. Amy says

    September 14, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    We have twin 4 year olds and we make sure to turn off the tv, put away the laptop, and sit down to eat dinner together every night. We think it’s vital to our family life!

    Reply
  72. Elizabeth says

    September 14, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    With four kids from preschool through jr high, I love that we can all reconnect at the end of our days. I think the shared prayer time we have before the meal helps with that connection. Everyone gets a turn to contribute and it really binds us together as a family.

    Reply
  73. P Fawcett says

    September 14, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    I love sharing our stories of the day. And pulling my husband out of his workday fog. LOL. Recently we have been cutting small articles from the paper for our 9- and 11-year old to read and discuss. It’s been a real joy to see them get involved. Especially listening to my son debate the merits of Sponge Bob after learning that watching can make children less intelligent. 🙂

    Reply
  74. Jasmine Mitchell says

    September 14, 2011 at 11:56 am

    What I love most about eating meals together is watching the way my daughter’s face lights up when every stops to hear what she has to say about something that happened during her day. It gives me such joy to give her that positive attention that every child deserves!

    Reply
  75. Angela W. says

    September 14, 2011 at 11:33 am

    I love that it is a connection point where we pray together and are all able to share our highs and lows from the day.

    Reply
  76. Jill says

    September 14, 2011 at 11:24 am

    I love that we established dinner with our son right from the beginning. I recently vacationed with some family where everyone went in different directions with their plates. My three year old was confused and upset at that event. Needless to say, things were a little tense at dinner that night but the rest of the week went much with some terrific conversations that would never have happened otherwise.

    Reply
  77. Mom24 says

    September 14, 2011 at 10:36 am

    I love the coming together and connecting, we usually laugh, we share, we take the time to touch base with each other and share our joys and our burdens. I love our family dinner times.

    Reply

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