One of the best things you can do to keep your teen out of trouble is to have a regular dinner time where the whole family is together. I find this important in keeping up with my teens and what they are doing in their lives. It creates a great place to communicate with no pressures.
Do you have family dinners every night?

We don't have family dinners every night as we don't all get home at the same time. But we make sure the family has all the meals together on the weekend and breakfast during the week even though it is quite hectic in the morning.

Growing up, I've never had the typical 'dinner time' where you sit down with the family. I was always making food for myself and in the rare case that food was made for us, we would all eat in different places of the home and at different times. I always wished I had dinner with my family consistently.. I think we would have been a lot closer.

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-Brittany Brydahl

We do have family dinners every day, when everyone sits down at the table together. It was the same in my home growing up, and I can see how not having it can make people distant and disconnected.

We ate all of our dinners together. Even if my dad had to go to work, we ate before he left. We ate some meals in the car and some in front of the TV, but we ate them together. I had no idea that something as simple as eating together could be so important.

Sometimes schedules don't allow us to eat every meal together. When the chance is there take advantage of it. Even ordering a pizza and eating it as a family allows you the time to connect.

Think of another meal that you all can share together. Maybe breakfast time is better. If not, then at least try to eat all your meals together on the weekends. I know it can be hard, but you really have to make an effort.