Supper Table Tales

I've incorporated some things at the supper table this week. I read somewhere about how this family that sits down to eat at night has this thing they do. Each person has to tell two fun/funny things they saw/did that day. It helps teach conversation skills to the younger ones. With The Boy's issues, I need to do all I can to help him learn social skills- how to take turns, how not to interrupt, etc. etc.

This gives The Boy something to think about and he was ready with his two things tonight. I threw him off when I told him that Makenna got to go first. Again, another lesson to learn. Even The Man and I take part.

Tonight, Paige went last because I knew she had had the best day of all. She made a good rank with NJROTC today and she was thrilled to pieces. Oh, how it tortured The Boy to sit there until all were finished.

A while back, I started some rules. I add one at a time, usually a few weeks apart.

1. You must wear a shirt to eat at my table. Girls have to wear pants (if not wearing a skirt-long story, but Makenna needed this one).

2. You have to try something new one time (or one bite). I won't make you eat it if you gag, but you gotta give it a try.

3. *New rule established tonight* You have to wait until everyone has said their two fun things before being excused from the table.

I try not to make the rules hard, but order must be in effect at Miss Hope's table. My nerves require it.

So, we made it through another night of fun/funny things. If you need ideas, feel free to try this. It makes for some good conversations as you question each other for more details and it puts everyone in the spotlight for a few minutes. I want my kids to get to the point that they go through their days looking for that perfect thing to tell that night when we sit down to eat.

Tonight, Paige, The Man, and myself were chatting at the end of the meal and I was smiling over how she was talking about NJROTC. She was throwing out military lingo left and right without even thinking. It was like talking to a Mini Man. I made the comment that I hoped that she would give me grandchildren one day and not be too completely focused on her career. She didn't make any promises on that score. I told her I needed for her to have kids so that they could go to her and say, "My Grandma (meaning me) said if you don't treat me better, she's coming to get me!" (Yes, I've had this used against me-just insert "Nana" in there)

My child had the audacity to say...with a straight face......

"Then I would tell them to tell her to come on and get them because that's where they want to be and I would let them go."

You know I started hooting over that one!

I looked up towards the heavens and said, "Lord? Please let my child remember she said that one day when she has her own kids."

I paused....looked back up ...and said...

"Never mind, Lord, I'll just blog about it!!!"