Have you noticed that this generation of families doesn’t sit down to dinner every night like we did when we were kids? They’re going through the drive-thru, eating in the car on the way to soccer or dance.  When we started a family we used to always eat dinner at the table and talk about our day.  On Sunday we’d have  dinner with our parents and we’d talk about the week, what the kid was doing in school, work stuff, whatever came to mind. We’d have dessert and coffee and linger over the dishes because it was so nice to connect.

Now it seems we only do this at holiday or birthday meals or celebrations. And there is often so many people, so much going on that conversation is interrupted and you really don’t get the change to just “talk.”  Hubby and I enjoy visiting over meals now. We can talk about anything or sit in companionable silence.  It’s nice.  I love to go have a latte with a friend and catch up on what’s going on in their lives, but it doesn’t happen as often as I’d like.

Have you noticed that many of our most meaningful conversations occur over the dining room table? In the restaurant? Over coffee?  In our family when there is food, we congregate.  And I remember when I was working in the office, if someone brought food that was a sure way to get every talking, sharing stories, ideas and having fun.  It’s a recurring scene in Feisty Family Values and Patchwork Family, the characters discover a lot about each other over food or drink. A little bit of art imitating life, don’t you think?

Slow down long enough to share a story with your family, friends or co-workers. It’s hard to do in this fast paced world, but it’s worth the effort. And kids – texting doesn’t count!