Although we try to eat healthily, fast food, free delivery and frozen dinners are a mainstay—zero prep time, minimal cleanup and often served cafeteria-style as we rotate through the kitchen.[24] With Andrew’s hockey commitments,[25] Sarah’s evening activities and my husband’s work schedule, planning a family dinner is like trying to make a meal that everyone likes: impossible.
It wasn’t until recently, when we celebrated a family birthday with my parents at a fancy restaurant, that the raw truth hit me.[26] Thanks to my Dad. He pointed out things about my kids that I had conveniently ignored all these years, like the fisted grip Andrew uses to hold his fork, the elbows that comfortably rest on the table, and the napkins that can’t seem to find their proper place.[27] Surprisingly, Dad refrained from commenting when the cellphones appeared for some friendly texting between siblings.[28] Perhaps the dirty look Mom gave him curbed his appetite for constructive criticism.[29]
I was reminded of the chant I learned long ago at summer camp: “Elbows, elbows off the table, this is not a horse’s stable, but a first-class dining table.”[30] I’d let our kitchen become a horse’s stable and it was time for a change. It was time to bring back family dinners, like in the good old days.
Gradual exposure to a new routine was paramount so that it wouldn’t backfire, especially with my younger diners.[31] I began by clearing the papers and dusting off the dining-room table so we could eat there. I decided to retain kitchen duties to avoid culture shock,[32] and didn’t tell anyone about the change of scenery until it was time to eat.
【我家的餐厅“革命”】相关文章:
★ 六级快速阅读理解练习—— The Dvelopment of Civilization
★ Analysis and Interpretation of the News阅读练习与解析
最新
2016-10-18
2016-10-11
2016-10-11
2016-10-08
2016-09-30
2016-09-30