The Family Table
Playlist: Set The Fire to The Third Bar- Snow Patrol
This past Friday at work, one of my first grade students asked me to help her build a puzzle. While we were building, she asked me what movie I was going to watch that night for movie night. I asked her what she meant, and she said that every Friday night, she and her parents and siblings would gather in the living room to watch a movie and spend time together. She said they were going to watch The Wizard of Oz that night, and that she’d never seen it before. I suddenly got to thinking about my own Friday nights.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve never been one of those girls who goes out and gets “crunk” on Friday nights. No, to be honest, I have always enjoyed staying in and relaxing on Friday nights. After a long week of work and school, going out to celebrate a week’s work seems like even more work. I usually save that type of enjoyment for Saturdays and Sundays.
However, I realized that I, too, participate in Family Fridays. It had never really occurred to me before. And it’s become even more of a tradition ever since my brother moved back home in October. During the week, he works the night shift at his tv station to prepare for the morning news. However, he has Friday and Saturday nights off. And Friday nights, we all (me, my brother, and my parents) gather at the dinner table for a delicious dinner and lively discussion, while Judge Judy plays on the tv in the background. Sometimes my brother treats us to Chinese food or pizza; other times, we just throw a frozen pizza in the oven and bake cookies or muffins later. Then, as we eat, we talk about the ups and downs of the past week, our plans for the weekend, and our goals for the following week. After supper, my brother usually retreats upstairs to his room (he has an odd sleep schedule due to his job), and my parents and I will gather in the living room to watch tv or a movie.
I had never really given this routine much thought until my precocious first grader enlightened me. That’s when I had the inspiration to make this weekend especially great. Instead of the usual frozen pizza, I convinced my mom to order pizza, as well as some chicken wings. Once again, we gathered around the table eating, conversing, and just enjoying each others’ company.
Afterward, my mom and I baked blueberry muffins. While baking the muffins, my mom had mentioned how much she doesn’t want to watch the Super Bowl, and I expressed the same sentiment. That’s when I had an idea: On Sunday, we would take a day trip up to Prescott, a small country town 1 1/2 to 2 hours north of where we live. We would spend the day there shopping, walking around, and eating lunch. My mom seemed thrilled by the idea, as did my stepdad. It was settled- this is what we would do instead of watching the Super Bowl.
I figured this would be a wonderful trip for my parents. They haven’t be anywhere further than 20 miles from our house in almost 2 years. I understand money is tight right now, and we have no money for a vacation, but I don’t see how a simple day trip up north would be such an inconvenience. I’ve been trying to get them to go to Prescott for months now, and each time they’ve turned down my idea, which is why I was thrilled when they finally agreed.
This evening, I was delivered a blow. My mom abruptly told me that we aren’t going tomorrow. When I pressed her for an explanation, she said that she and my stepdad simply did not want to go. Later, when I asked my stepdad, he said that my mom wanted to sleep in. Sleep in?!? Well fine, let’s leave later then. I don’t see any reason to cancel the whole trip. Then my mom piped in with another excuse, saying it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. Okay, so it’ll rain. Which will actually mean snow up in Prescott. We’ve been meaning to take a trip up to the snow for many winters now, so why not take this opportunity? I don’t quite know what is going on, but I feel there is a deeper meaning as to why they don’t want to go. However, it is not my place to pry, so I won’t. I just wish they could understand how important this trip was to me, and how sometimes, I’d like to spend more time with them than just at our Family Table eating pizza and talking about the news.
To end this blog, I’d like to provide you with this link: The Family Table. Now, I know my readers come from all walks of life, and many different family circumstances. Some of you have intact families, some of you have broken families, whether it be from divorce, a deceased parent, a single parent, whatever. But I do encourage you to appreciate whatever kind of family you may have. And if you are from one of those families that doesn’t eat together or doesn’t communicate much, try suggesting eating together for once. You’ll be amazed at how comforting and rewarding it can be sometimes.
I wish you all a happy and healthy week :)
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Hey!
Thanks a lot! I am really glad that you like the campaign and everything that I do/did for it. :) You can of course join us too. You just have to post a comment with the asked details and you’re in. :)
Oh wow.. We don’t really have “traditions” like that, but I guess it’s because we’re all still at home. We see each other around and can talk then. But I hope that when me and my siblings move out one day we can get together like that with our parents too. It would be great.
I think it’s really sad that your parents/your mum decided not to go on that trip so shorty before. I bet it would’ve been a lot of fun! Maybe you can convince them to go another weekend? Or at least you could try to do that. :)
It always interests me reading blogs written by American teens.
It’s like, my life – in the UK, is far different from any other American life; my family don’t eat breakfast, dinner or supper together. I find it so admiring to read your blog posts.
Haha, have a nice day! <3
Meh, it’s alright. :/
I agree, I don’t understand how people go out on friday night, all i want to do is just eat dinner and go to bed…
We basically have the same tradition! We cook something junk foodie, either frozen or ordered, and we eat. Then a few of us watch television, my parents sit in the kitchen arguing about something in the paper, and my brother comes home from work at midnight.
It’s weird how I’ve never really noticed the routine either…
I’m sorry to hear the trip was canceled, i hope you still had a lovely weekend.
:)
Aww, thanks. I don’t like courts too, it freaks me out!
Haha, glad that you’re just going to see Alice in Wonderland instead of having a party. So I hope you have fun with your best friend. :D
Oh and thanks again :)
Ah, I wish my family were like your family though. Our family was always eerily apart even when my parents were together. At the dinner table we would just eat and talk about the day. My mum would complain about her day at work, my dad would just sit there and talk about his day (watching TV, etc.) and my sister and I would just sit there. Listening.
There were no “Friday Nights”. I’ve heard my friends having a fun night on Friday while my sister and I watched TV upstairs and my parents would just watch downstairs. No talking whatsoever.
When my parents were slowing splitting up, my dad talked to me more. My mum wouldn’t talk. Which was sad since she’s still upset with everything that happened. We would have no holidays. Except visits to China which my mum would go to another city to visit her parents. And my sister Emily and I would stay with dad at his parent’s place.
Anyway I don’t know why your mum wouldn’t want to go to Prescott. Maybe there’s something she’s not telling….
That’s true! No one should be telling me off for returning comments late. :)
I never really looked at my family situation but it’s always been sort of broken with so many fights. We’ve not had many family moments together and we don’t really spend time together each week. Sometimes we have good days when we’re all watching a movie together or something, but it’s pretty rare, also because my dad works night shift and is usually gone by the time the rest of us have dinner.
I’m 18 and I don’t think I’ll ever be partying on Friday nights – nor weekends. I’m just no party girl and I don’t drink.
I think it’s lovely that you tried to plan a trip for your family but it’s a shame it fell through. I guess you won’t find out the real reason they might not want to go. It just seems like excuses, excuses. I really hope you get another opportunity; perhaps they were a little afraid or hesitant when it got closer to the day.
I am so appreciative of my family, especially how much my parents care about me. I try and look past the fact that our family is sort of broken up. :(
Hi Christine, I do remember you (honest!) and gosh your website has changed quite a bit since I last visited it. It’s so clean and the colours are wonderfull (not that your colour choices in your past layouts werent lol)
Blueberry muffins? please please post a recipe! I would love to learn how to make some. I beg you please!!!
I think the reason why your mother and stepdad didnt want to go is probably because of the reaosn you mentioned – money – it seems to be such an issue in so many families including mine. We havent been out on a proper day trip for maybe 6 months? the most we do together is similar to yours, just deliver a pizza and watch TV. And even that is rare (maybe once a month) since my dad works late nights (he is a chef) and he sleeps during the day! I’m not too bothered though, I like living my own little life in my own little world. My mum and me dont get along at all.
Whenever my parents cook, we always eat together, but on the days dinner isn’t cooked we’ll just eat a sandwich or something and sit in the living room instead. I do appreciate my family. Sometimes they get on your nerves, but overall, I can’t imagine life any other way. :)
I was at my friend’s house for the super bowl, she threw a huge party. I’m not that into sports either, I just go for the free food & entertainment, haha.
Eh, I wouldn’t want to intern at a website. Well, not for designing, maybe for blogging though. It might be fun, but I don’t know if I’m the person to ‘meet peoples needs’ and sometimes with clients you’ve got to do things you don’t like to do. I dunno, I may check it out sometime, thanks :)
Family nights sound like fun. Unfortuantely, I have one of the most dysfunctional families known to man lately, so that’s never happened for me. I’ve always thought of what’d it’d be like to even eat dinner together, but it never happens. I try not to be sad though because 1) Some people have no family at all and 2) I plan on changing that when I have my own little family.
Hm, as far as your mom not wanting to go on the trip, that sucks :( But at least you know that you tried and that you can say that you did. Maybe she will next time :)
Good luck with it, I hope it becomes great! :) It sounds like a great idea, I’m sure it’ll come out great! Tell me when you have it written so I can check it out!
Haha well most people in the little “blogging world” we have are in high school or college…I don’t think your old! :P
Haha, okay, I’ll do that wisdom-picture-thing! :)
This may sound bad, but, to be honest, we only eat together once a month or on holidays usually, we just kinda…eat when we feel like it. Well actually we DO eat together…just not talk or anything, so I don’t really consider it “eating together”.
I appreciate my family though, for sure, I mean sometimes theres fights or things like that, but you know, gotta love em, right? :)
Safari does have it’s flaws. It always slows and freezes after a while. FF has no flaws for me and I am so happy. :D
You have never seen snow??? Check my photo blog. So I guess you guys never have snows says or hot days? lol.
My report card is going really bad right now, i seriously need to step up my game.
We so do not have family nights at my house. IDK why but we just don’t. My family is not that close because there are lots of fights and it’s just difficult to explain but it will be totally awkward lol.
Dang, it sucks you didn’t receive an art kit for free, ):
Maybe you should try getting back into being artsy, or maybe offering it to a friend or family member who enjoys art?
Possibly even selling it online?
:]
@Kristina: I might put the color pallet up for sale, since that was like $300, but everything else I’ll just give away. If you want any of it, let me know, I’ll seriously send you whatever you want. I’ll probably make a list of stuff I have in my next blog :)
As bad as this sounds, I’m not sure I want to sit at a table and have dinner with my family :/. I love them dearly, but it would just be chaotic. Perhaps when my siblings are older, I would definitely be down for the cause, but right now… I can see it being nothing but a headache lol.
Yeah, from reading this blog I got the sense that there may be something deeper to her excuses not to go. Just let her know you’re there if she wants to talk. Pestering or prying may make a person upset, but if you let them know you’ll be there when you need them, chances are they’ll take you up on that offer :).