Cookerati

I was at my Sister-in-Law’s on Sunday and she asked how the deck was, are we still using it.  I thought it was an odd question and told her that we use it every day, and we never eat a meal inside.  She was impressed.  It took me aback, then I realized, that not everyone eats meals together, never mind eats outside.  We try our best to eat dinner together, the other meals, not so much, though Sunday breakfast is a once a week family ritual.  We eat breakfast outside, and lunch outside also, though not all together. So I told her about growing up in my family.  From late spring until early fall we ate outside as often as possible.  My sister wrote an article called Dining Alfresco in the Summers of My Youth – that summed it up well, so I won’t go over it.  Deb wants neighbors to wave to, she’s a very social person.  I like to sequester myself with my kids and hear what’s going on with them. 

Oprah Winfrey did an experiment with a family who was too connected to electronics.  They took away the phones, the iPods, the TVs and computers to help the family see if they could reconnect and they did.  Once the week was up, they asked them to try a second week.  For my family, it wouldn’t be so bad.  We’ve gone camping for 3 weeks – in tents and no electricity, but for some they don’t have the desire to escape. 

Here’s my challenge to you.  Reconnect with your family over the dinner table.  Summer is a great time to do it and outside is even better.  Leave all the electronics inside, unplug the phone and get away from the screens (TV, computer, iPod).  Slow down and don’t rush anyone away from the table.  Encourage conversation, though limit the video game talk.  That’s the one my son has problems with sometimes. I like to hear my kids opinions on things, and let them know how I feel.  I’ve read that kids don’t always know what their parents think about drugs, sex, violence, so I tell mine over and over (and over they say).   We also discuss food, work, activities, friends, and life in general. 

Sometimes I still wish for those days when my son was going to build a bat cave under the house, but mostly I enjoy the almost grown up kid he’s become.  My daughter is in college, but she still likes our company and joins in.  Sometimes the kids have left the table and my husband and I sit in our chairs enjoying the shade and the breeze, and  the nice deck  we have to sit out on.  I hope my kids remember eating outside on the deck as fondly as we did at that old picnic table in Queens.