The Family Dinner

A Dad’s Point-of-View, by Bruce Sallan

The Family Dinner

I had a discussion with some other dads the other day about “the family dinner.”  To my surprise, many of these men described their family eating adventures as just that, an adventure.  Or, more specifically: a circus, trial, ordeal, and other pejoratives.

My immediate thought was about the classic image of Norman Rockwell’s painting, “Freedom From Want” with the image of “mom” or “grandma” presenting the turkey at what is likely a Thanksgiving dinner, with the whole family eager, excited, and present.  “Dad” or “grandpa” is looking on, with the expectation that he will carve the bird.  How quaint; how lovely; how sadly antiquated, I fear.
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