Family Dinners

Let me tell you how important family dinners are…

The last couple of weeks we’ve had a lot of things going on:
*We’ve all had the cold from hell, especially the kids. They have had to endure multiple breathing treatments, antibiotics, and Mucinex, with trips to the doctor and days home with Mom and Dad from work.

*Football, practices, games, and the start of the NFL season…Go Bears!

*Major projects at work for me and lots of training at work for Jon.

*Planning for our BIG Halloween party coming up.

*There have been Birthday Parties, Scrapbook Clubs, and Pee Wee Play Classes.

*The kids, while home sick, have learned how to appreciate their DSI and PSPs so much more now and are getting good at playing some of the games.

*Homework, homework, homework.


We have been busy, and tired, and cranky, and not connected to each other, which has made us more tired and cranky.

Wednesday night I decided that we were going to eat dinner together and re-connect. We all got home after 6:30, so making a dinner was not going to happen. We decided to go to Applebee’s for a quick bite.

It worked. Jon and I were able to talk about our days and things going on at work. We were able to chat with the kids about school and daycare.

Joe had his favorite, mozzarella sticks and a corndog. Joci had her favorite, soup, although she didn’t eat much of it and hasn’t been eating great since feeling sick. Jon and I ordered the 2 for $20 meals and I even have a huge salad to eat for lunch yesterday. Then we shared a trio of desserts and decided that the strawberry cheesecake dessert was definitely the best.

We did this together while looking into each other’s eyes, not over the blackberry, or via email.

Bonus for me…when my 5 ½ year old son pulled out his sister’s chair for her and pushed it in, then did the same for me. I almost cried it was so sweet.

We needed this time together because it brought us back together to the center. We are four pieces of one puzzle. Without a piece or two you can still tell what the puzzle picture should be, but it’s never as complete and beautiful as when all the pieces come together.