But man would I love them to. Dinner has become a thing we set a ten minute timer for with the expectation that we are all going to sit here and go through what are supposed to be the motions of dinner until the timer goes off. But that is just the time. What about the food? Did you cook for an hour to have it not touched or better yet thrown on the ground? We play a huge role in the relationship our kids develop with food. Do you listen to your body or do you channel Joey Chestnut when your favorite food is around?

Try this: One day I went to my kids daycare to see what they are up to, read a story and take part in lunch. What I saw changed kids and dinner for me. I saw 2,3, and 4 year olds eating family style. Asking to pass items by using the person’s name and taking a scoop of pasta or peas and putting it on their plates (not the floor). The key is put 4-5 items on the table with serving spoons. Make sure 2 out of the 4 are things you KNOW your kids will eat and then rotate the rest. Let them decide what and how much they eat. That’s it. Resist your one more bite nonsense or nagging that I can’t seem to control. The truth is they are not hungry at dinner anyways because of all the damn snacks.

Take away: Try family style for a week or a month and see what happens. The main thing is you control what is on the table and they do the rest.

Don’t be on your phone around your kids this week. Put it away. Ask them a question and stop checking your email. I remind myself constantly that one thing I do not my kids to remember me as someone who was always on their phone. I am not an agent and I have very little to offer in the form of help if you call me. Do your email later.

Cook This: Coconut Rice

This is an easy dish with a lot of flavor that goes well with everything. To make it easier get a rice cooker at Home Goods. Check @minalistbaker for delicious everything.

Why aren’t you on the ground when you are watching TV?

Try this: Foam roll, stretch, sit criss-cross applesauce, roll around - whatever but don’t sit on the couch for an hour watching Landman. But please do watch Landman but get on the ground and move your body. Where else can you sit on the ground?

Pick a song any song and sing it. Singing brings up all spirits and you don’t have to be Sinatra. Sing Raffi or a song about farts or a song that includes animal noises. But sing. Try “Down by the Bay” by Raffi

Check this out: 14 Songs to sing with your kids

This newsletter is not professional in nature but intended to be real things to try. They won’t all work but this is a process and I’d love for you to join me on the way. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you next week.

Send me a note or your best dad joke @ [email protected]