AND THE FAMILY

The contemporary American family is "fractured"; it is “coming apart at the seams”. The glue that holds it together is rapidly disappearing. The individual members of a family have little or nothing in common with one another as a basis for mutual interest and concern.

Dad plays golf, Mom plays “Bridge", Tommy, the oldest, plays soccer, Jane, the middle one, plays the piano and the youngest, Danny, age eight, plays video games.

When the family meets at the dinner table, what is the subject that invites conversation? Could it be the weather? Or, could it be school and homework? If not, what is the subject of the conversation this family enjoys around the dinner table? Or, is there any conversation over dinner at all? Silence can be deafening!! HELP!! Somebody please help!

At this point, is introduced into the life of this "splintered" family and in a short time some significant changes take place at the dinner table. Just listen in this evening; eaves drop a little and you will get it.

"Hey Dad, you missed your last shot," chides Tommy, "and you set me up just right for the "eight" in the side pocket! I WON! I WON!!"

"Well yes, son, I did miss. And I should have made that shot. Then I would have put the "eight" in the side pocket, and you would have lost, young man."

Jane chimes in with, "Well, Mom and I almost beat you two playing Rotation. The "fifteen" is really hard to get when it is on the court all by itself."

"Hey Mom," Danny calls out. "I got two pieces in the hole all by myself. Did you see me, Mom? Did you?"

Mom responds, "Yes, Danny, I saw you and you did really well.

Jane just cannot resist the temptation. "But the pieces are called "discs", Silly Boy, and the holes are called "pockets". Get it right next time, OK?"

"Oh, all right, Sis. Dad, are you going to teach us how to play that new game called "One Pocket" next time?"

CONVERSATION, and at the dinner table, involving the entire family, now that is an investment worth the effort.