The Dinner Table

[Dr. Shane]

A recent study showed that girls growing up in families that eat together are less likely to use drugs. The same study showed there was no difference with boys.

[Amelia]

In addition to living alone, I don't have a dining table.

From what I can remember growing up, we always ate dinner at the table together when possible. Even when it came down to just my poppy and me.

[Woody]

During the past 10 years I haven't had a dining table. We did just get one this spring though.

[Dr. Shane]

I hear the Japanese eat off the floor.

[Woody]

Not all have the same physical abilities as others Shane.

[Dr. Shane]

From what I understand, Japanese men and women that grow up eating at the table actually grow taller. Aparently the way they sit on the floor impacts the circulation in their legs and causes them not to grow as tall. At least that is what a Japanese student I went to college with told me.

[Liz]

I think he was pulling your leg.

[Dr. Shane]

I think he was pulling your leg.

I am sure he was not. He was a very good friend.

[Jeannieb43]

When my husband and I were traveling in Japan, we were invited to have dinner in the home of a Japanese family. We all ate at a very low table in the center of their house, but our legs were suspended into an opening beneath the table where there was a heater, in order to keep our feet warm. So we actually sat on the floor, but the floor had a large square opening in it below the dinner table, so we didn't have to sit on our feet.

[Woody]

How interesting Jeannie. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[Neil D]

Originally Posted By: Liz

I think he was pulling your leg.

I am sure he was not. He was a very good friend.

Either he was pulling your leg, [thus making you taller] or he was ignorant as to what causes one to grow taller...

....try- Japanese are growing taller with better nutrition...

[Dr. Shane]

He may have been mistaken, that is quite possible but I have no doubt he was sincere.

[LynnDel]

It is my understanding that when persons in traditionally shorter people groups start a diet that includes milk (contains properties to promote rapid bone growth in calves), they grow taller.

I have no doubt that your friend was sincere, Shane, but I think he was only making a sincere guess.

Guessing sincerely,

LD

[Dr. Shane]

Well, my legs would go to sleep quickly if I sat on them to eat. Fortunately for us we have a dinner table. I remember when I first bought it and brought it home to my young bride. She was so excited and exclaimed she couldn't believe it that she finely had a dinner table. Now, some years later, she has been after me to buy a new one and get rid of the old one. I am just too sentimental I guess.

[cricket]

Is there a link to the study about girls and boys using drugs (as indicated in the first post of this thread)? I'd like to read it, if there is one.

[Dr. Shane]

I heard that on the radio. I am sure the information is on the web some place but who know how long it would take to find.

[LynnDel]

I am on my mobile right now so can't respond as completely as I'd like. I did a search for "family eat table drugs" and the first among many possible links was one from USA Today on this topic. I don't know if this link is still viable, but there are others. www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-09-23-dinner-study_N.htm

[cricket]

Thanks for the link, LynnDel. Interesting to note that the study was done over the telephone. I have to wonder...of the phone calls they made, how many teens were interviewed within their parent's ear-shot? And how many of them would have been completely honest about their drug use KNOWING full well that their parents were listening?

If for no other reason, simply having dinner each day with your teen son or daughter will help to limit the time they could otherwise spend doing drugs. They won't be as likely to get up from the table to go take a hit if mom and dad are talking to them.

[Jeannieb43]

Or, it could possibly be that the families who are organized enough, and "together" enough so that they regularly sit down to dinner together every night, are the same families who have instilled in their children the goals and ambitions which tend to eliminate the susceptibility to drugs.

[carolaa]

I've always been of the opinion that there are other things besides just eating together that factor into these studies about families eating together. I believe it's a correlation and not a cause/effect. My personal opinion is that the main thing is quality time. For families on the go, maybe dinnertime is the only time they can have quality time together. As long as families spend quality time together, I'm not convinced it matters when it happens to be.

[Peace]

I know of families that eat together but no one talks! I mean, when it's time to eat, it's time to eat. All you can hear is chomp chomp chomp. Hey,at least they're together.