| is talking When the family is watching something on TV together When I’m talking to my kids When we are listening to a song (There are many rules for this one. You really aren’t allowed to talk at all, and should barely even breathe, if someone is playing a song. Is that too much? I don’t think so. After I realize you’ve been on your phone too long When someone is trying to show everyone something on TV When someone is telling a story (more about this in a minute) Conversation is definitely a LOST art. We have another strict rule in our family: NO SIDE-TALKING. You know those people who turn to the person next to them and start side-talking while someone is telling a story? What is that? I want you to ask yourself right now if you do that. If you do, never do it again. Or if you’re that person who starts talking to a dog while someone is trying to tell a story, STOP! Don’t you know how rude this is? It brings the conversation to a halt. Some people are oblivious to how they are. Parents, don’t let your kids be oblivious to how they are, and also, don’t let them do things that annoy you. I may be wrong, but I believe that a lot of kids will try to do and say things that are dorky or nerdy, and as parents it’s our job to say, “Hey, baby, don’t do that. It’s |
some point, we’d get the call to come eat. Sufficiently worn-out and with stomachs growling, we’d head upstairs and get welcomed by the smell of Granny’s delicious comfort food. Sunday dinners went through a rough patch during that difficult season when Mom and Dad got divorced. Later, when my grandparents grew older, the tradition moved to our farmhouse, with my mom cooking for the family. Anyone could show up for Sunday dinner, and there was always enough food. The house simmered with the smell of good ole country cooking: brisket, turkey, fried chicken, baked chicken, homemade chicken and dumplings, peach pie, pecan pie, Missouri dirt cake. Even today, if I were to show up on a Sunday afternoon at Mom’s house in Missouri, she’d be setting out food and there’d be enough for everyone. As much as I love to work and be in the studio, or writing, or on stage, I also love the days when I am home with my family and there is a fire going in the fireplace and I’m cooking a huge meal for everyone. I absolutely love to sit down at our big wooden dining room table with a glass of wine and enjoy a big dinner. I adore watching people I love eat food that I’ve prepared for them. My three kids are huge talkers. They love to sit with me for hours and talk and talk and talk about everything under the sun. They are deep thinkers, too, and love to exhaust |
