day 26 of 100 Days of Hope
The Hope Found in Family Dinner Time
I love traditions. Daily ones. Weekly ones. Big and small. At first, you might think, Wow, that sounds like a lot of work! But in reality, it’s not about adding more to your schedule—it’s about being intentional with the time you already have. When we do this, we create an environment that matters deeply, one that shapes and supports our children’s lives.
One of the most powerful daily traditions is family dinner time.
Why Dinner Time Brings Hope
There’s something sacred about gathering around the table. Dinner is predictable, grounding, and nourishing. It helps family members feel safe and loved. And let’s be honest—who doesn’t enjoy good food and good conversation with the people they love most?
When I was completing my master’s degree at BYU, one of the books we studied was The Intentional Family by William Doherty. His message struck me: family life doesn’t just “happen.” If we aren’t intentional, it drifts into routines that disconnect rather than connect. But by creating rituals, we anchor our families in meaning, connection, and trust.
And family dinner is one of the simplest, most powerful rituals of all.
What Doherty Teaches About Rituals
In his book, Doherty explains the difference between routines and rituals:
Routine is functional—like brushing teeth or grabbing a snack.
Ritual is meaningful—it carries identity, connection, and shared values.
Rituals, he says, provide predictability, help family members feel safe, and offer opportunities for children to open up about their struggles. They are “connection rituals,” everyday anchors like family meals, bedtime routines, or morning check-ins.
And the good news? These rituals don’t require more time. You already have to feed your family—so why not make that mealtime more meaningful?
How to Make Dinner Time a True Family Ritual
Here are a few ways to shift dinner from routine to ritual:
🍽️ Start small. You don’t need to overhaul everything. Light a candle, turn off the TV, or agree on a simple conversation boundary.
🕰️ Be realistic. Ritualizing doesn’t mean adding pressure—it means reframing what you already do.
👨👩👧👦 Adapt with seasons. As kids grow or schedules change, mealtime might look different. Even if not everyone can be there every night, the ritual still matters.
📵 Guard against drift. Phones and distractions can creep in quietly. Protect this time so connection stays at the center.
💡 Use dinner to anchor values. The way we eat, share, and talk reflects what matters to us as a family.
The Magic of the Table
Family dinner is fertile ground for connection. We get to eat good food, support one another in setting the table and cleaning up, and teach skills like cooking, planning, and working together. These small acts become powerful memories.
Now that my kids are older, it’s rare to have everyone around the table at once. That’s why I treasure those moments even more. They remind me that hope, love, and trust are built not in grand gestures, but in simple, intentional moments.
Your Turn
So I want to ask you:
✨ What daily traditions are important to you?
✨ How do you connect with your family?
Family dinner might look different in every home, but the principle is the same: when we’re intentional, even the simplest meals can become sacred ground.
Here is a short video about it.
With hope,
Julie Burningham
The Hope Coach