Directly above the spoon is where you will place the water glass. Many families have grown away from serving water with meals and include soft drinks with the meal instead. Personally, I believe that water needs to make a comeback. Not only do Americans not drink nearly enough fresh, clean water, but the simple act of having water with a meal can help us to fill up faster and eat just a bit less which is a good thing for most American families these days. If you don’t serve water with meals, you might consider the benefits of washing down a healthy meal with a tall glass of water rather than allowing your children to fill up on the sugary, sweetness of soft drinks. (If wine will be served with the meal, a wine glass should be placed above each fork.)
In the event that you will be serving coffee and dessert, remember to clear away all of the dirty dinner plates and utensils prior to bringing out the coffee cups and dessert plates. This is, however, a custom from a bygone era. Gone are the days when the children are dismissed from the table after dinner to enable mother and father to enjoy a cup of coffee together and discuss their day.
Have you been wondering why your family isn’t closer than it is? Perhaps you are missing a special element to your family life like a shared meal. Family dinners can give your family so much more than a simple meal. They provide you with opportunities to teach your children important social skills, touch base with your entire family through civilized dinner conversation and build a close family unit by spending time together each day. With all of those benefits, can your family really afford to skip dinner at home?