Created: 09/18/2009 9:56 AM KSTP.com | Print |  Email By: Vineeta Sawkar

SAWKAR: Goodbye Family Dinners

I jog with my friend JoAnn many evenings as our boys practice on the football field and our conversations turn to family dinners. JoAnn and her husband Tom are venturing into new territory with their oldest son Ian signing up for tackle football. This is their first foray into multiple day organized sports. For the first time, the Karp family isn't having a family dinner every night together.

My family already knows about that. Before hockey, before baseball, before football, there were family dinners in our house but we said goodbye to them a long time ago. It is a sad thing because every bit of research in the world seems to point to a direct connection between family dinners and successful kids.

How do you say no to children who are eager to develop skills and who have interests? I want children who are engaged in the world. Too many times I see children waste time and never have a passion for anything. I love the fact that my 9-year old son now wants to add drums and chess club to his sports-filled fall. My 6-year old daughter doesn't want to stop with dance. She is also joining the chess club and venturing out into the world of acrobatics.

Yes, I feel like a taxi driver. Yes, I have mastered the art of the walking taco. Yes, we miss dad at the dinner table because he usually can't meet us until later. The trade-off though is children who are excited about the world around them. They eagerly get their homework done so they can get to their next big event.

My co-anchor Rebekah has younger children and she doesn't want to let go of family dinners. She told me she might just limit her children when it comes to the activities they do. I wish her the best. These are the choices we make and I certainly support any parent as they try to balance it all. For our family, though, it is a week filled with quick dinners and children who are not content to stay home. I think it is a good thing...at least for us.