by Miranda Montgomery

Created on: October 15, 2009   Last Updated: October 17, 2009

My house is filled with backpacks, shoes, jackets, papers and children. It must be the end of the school day! Questions of TV programs, computer time, snacks and homework start to whirl around my head, begging for answers. The two spaghetti pies I made last night are currently in the oven, and the smell of bubbly cheese and spiced sauce permeate my senses. I feel warm and good, despite the ever-growing chaos around me. The sound of my knife cracking against the cutting board while it dices carrots, celery, radishes and green onions, reminds us that dinner is not far away. I always save the salad making for last.

My two little ones love to help me. I give them jobs like setting the forks and plates, bringing glasses to the table and smaller side dishes. If their teenage sister is upstairs, they relish the job of yelling up to her that dinner is done. The stampede to the table is thunderous and my dining room is now filled with the clanking of silverware against dishes, talking, and six people who are all ready to share their day. There is no order because I want my family to learn about conversation and how it ebbs and flows. I must cut my 7-year-old's stories short every night because it literally is a rundown of every single thing she did in school. She is told that we will come back to her after her other sisters are done sharing their day. Bless her little heart if she doesn't pick right up where she left off to finish her day. We all contribute something and when there are no more stories from the day, we just naturally fall into conversations about anything that comes to mind.

My teenager finishes her dinner well in advance of us and even though Olivia won't eat anything more, she stays until we are all done. I always know when she is grumpy or having an off day because she will ask to be excused from the table before we have finished. I let her go on those days because I believe keeping her at the table would leave her with negative feelings. Since family is really all we have in this world that is true, I want Olivia to know she can leave our side whenever she needs time to readjust herself. We will always be here when she returns for the next meal.

My husband can unwind and just let his girls talk away. His job is very stressful and the hours are harsh. He's tired and grumpy most of the time but when dinner hits the table he forgets his cantankerous ways and becomes involved with our conversation. My food is always comforting to him and I swear his

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