Two Peas in a Pod

Formal family dinners. Table set with the finest china, sterling flatware and Grandmothers Bohemia Crystal. Sitting erect, poised in your chair and napkin gracefully placed in your lap. Years of etiquette training at work. Knowing the small fork is for salad, the water glass is just off to the right at the top of your plate and elbows, never on the table.

Being refined in this manner is regal, set aside for those of royalty status. Ones who sit great distances when at the table, speak formally and with curt tones. Unable to enjoy the wonderful experience of dining with laughter, easy conversation even the occasional spill.

Take pleasure in knowing that it's not that way in this house. Dinners are fun, easy, loud and enormously entertaining. Not much is beyond this family when gathered at the table. Michael and Mina have insatiable appetites for fun and laughter. True, the table is not the ideal place for those type appetites to be satisfied, but it does happen. I believe, when things get to the level of hysteria, fall back on the old "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" proverb. So instead of scolding, reprimanding even threatening their young little lives, I run get my camera....lol!

After all, exactly how many times do you think they will have the opportunity to put a pea in the gaping hole left behind by a tooth? Or have their Mother put a pea up their nose for the photo -op? Sure, it's unreasonable to think that every dinner will or should be this way, but when the time lends itself.....ENJOY!



Continually stifling the moment at the first signs of "outta control" isn't healthy for anyone. I personally spend enough time in the ring of discipline and welcome the occasional pea up the nose trick.

Look at his face and explain to me how you could have wanted to quiet the laughter.

"Parents are often so busy with the physical rearing of children that they miss the glory of parenthood, just as the grandeur of the trees is lost when raking leaves."

- Marcelene Cox