1950 - When nightly dinner time with the family was almost as big as a Broadway theater production

For some people these days, the only time they have a family dinner around the table is on Thanksgiving, and possibly Christmas. Some people eat at the dinner table with the family one day a week or a few days a week. Some people do still eat at the dinner table with their family every night, but rarely does anyone today go through a whole production like this. Mother and Daughter change their clothes to look more presentable to the family. I think it's sweet the way the daughter takes the mother's hand. There's a definite sweetness to this video. At the same time, I can't help wonder why Daughter's education wasn't valuable too like Son's. Son studies while Daughter makes dinner and prepares the table and goes out into the garden to cut flowers to make a fresh arrangement that is too big to even fit on the table. Son does seem respectful though, and helps to clean up Junior. There aren't many teenage boys these days who would clean Junior up for dinner every night. There aren't many teenage boys these days who would show up for dinner at all. 

This video is chock full of moments that range from, "My! How lovely!" to "Isn't that sweet and respectful" to "Ouch! That's sexist!". Maybe we can take the good from it and combine it with our modern ways. Such as, Daughter and Son could take turns every night with dinner. And let's teach Junior some things too so Daughter and Son can get a break every now and then. 

We always had dinner at the family table when I was growing up, and I am grateful for that. My mom and I didn't change our clothes before dinner, nor was it a very formal event in the dining room (the dining room and formal dinners were saved for holidays and special occassions). But, we did always sit together with a meal my mom lovingly prepared, and our glasses of milk. And we talked as a family. I wonder what I could have possibly added to the conversation as a young girl. It was probably my interest in a new Barbie I saw advertised on TV, or perhaps stories of our games of "Red Light, Green Light" and "Hide and Seek" that we played before dinner. 

Although today's family dinners might be more likely to involve something that came out of the freezer in a box, the point is, family time should still be valued. That's one thing we can all take from this video. That, and Sister's apron. I likey!

Thank youto 2thepast for posting this 50's family dinner video on YouTube.