I didn’t find that at all preachy! Great post.

We had dinner together growing up nightly. I continue the tradition MOST nights (sans triangle). Our worn kitchen table anchors our family together, even if our quick dinner lasts twenty minutes. We pray, eat, laugh, tease each other, sometimes argue, and listen to my husband’s songs with invented lyrics (sshhhhh, never tell I told. Do all husbands do that for their kids? Change the lyrics of songs?)

Alison, I can tell your dinners are somewhat…okay…a LOT more tasty than the Stewart dinners. I DO cook. I have no creativity for it…between writing and music, all my creativity in the kitchen is zapped. I do follow recipes well though.

…And you didn’t save one for me?

The fireplace memory sounds neat. What did y’all watch? If I remember correctly, Friday was “Dukes of Hazzard” night. Scary what one remembers, huh?

For me, an early family meal memory was that on Fridays, my Dad let us eat in front of the TV. We’d line our plates up on the fireplace and gobble it down. I realize that is the opposite of what you were promoting, but we ate EVERY meal as a family. In fact, I can’t imagine any other way. Of course, I’m not including the lunch we ate at school in the EVERY, but when we were at home, EVERY meal was a family event.

And a good memory.