The Family Dinner
Growing up we were obligated to have dinner as a family at the table. No TV, no books, no phone. This was before DVR and cell phones, so it might sound "worse" today than it actually was, but looking back I think my dad had the right idea. It was really his rule and made no sense to me whatsoever. It definitely did later in life. In college (at the first one I went to) I took a Health and Humanities class that discussed the family dynamic for a period. In it I learned that, statistically, kids are less likely to become addicted to drugs, lie to their parents, get pregnant, etc., and in turn can develop a strong bond with their folks and/or family. Two years before when my parents would ask about my day during dinner and they turned into actual conversations (just not when I was sparring with my dad). Because of those dinners a line of communication and trust was formed. It was in that class that I realized how powerful a meatloaf can bec...