I don’t know how many readers I have that are moms of many youngsters, but this tip can also be a help to you anytime you have extra kids in your home for meals.

For several years I struggles with trying to serve food when our table was primarily occupied by young children, toddlers, and babies. I’d get the table set (pretending we were a civilized bunch!) and then struggle to go around the table serving food, cutting meat, and constantly being interrupted by requests for leftovers, etc. It was tricky to reach all around the table when I’m not an octopus!

One evening we had some friends visiting. The husband was born and raised in Belgium and was one of six siblings. (or possibly more–I’m not entirely sure any more) As I struggled to serve the food I asked him what his mother did when she served food to so many little children. His simple response changed our meal times!

He said that she put all the plates in a pile in front of her, along with silverware, etc. and had the food all within her reach. She then made up each plate right in front of her and passed it along to the children.

Isn’t it funny how the simplest ideas can revolutionize our life?

Tonite I remembered this because I realized that now my children are old enough that we could probably just set the table and pass things. Wow. You think you’re never going to get out of a stage, and then time goes by, and you do. Amazing!