Comment from Jessica Wheeler

Exceptional

Jim, this was an absolute joy to read. Your humor and expert storytelling abilities are truly unmatched! My two are 10 and 7 now, and our dinner conversations are very similar to this. I think I might have to throw your cheese topic out on the table tonight and see where it lands!
Xo
Jess

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2023

Thanks so much, Jess, and for the 6 stars too. Let me know how that goes. Probably in a million directions like ours used to.

Comment from patcelaw

Excellent

This is a delightful story. I've heard of cheese being the magic word we say to get somebody to smile when they're getting the photograph taken, but this is the first time I've heard of cheese being a line to help open up conversation with a family at a dinner meal. This is a delightful story, and I wish you the very best with all of your writing.

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2023

Thanks so much, Pat.

I'll bet you're a talk-to-text type person, right? Reread your review and see why it amused me so.

reply by patcelaw on 15-Dec-2023

Yes, indeed I am a voice to text user. And I see why you were rather amused. There were a couple spots that need to be changed and I changed them.

reply by the author on 15-Dec-2023

:)

Comment from Jacob1395

Excellent

It is fascinating to see what a simple conversation can lead to. I really enjoyed reading this piece, and it made me laugh. It's such a shame that families don't talk to each other like they once did.

 Comment Written 15-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 15-Dec-2023

Thanks very much, Jacob. I think people are too busy with their phones now to talk to each other, if they even sit down to a meal together.

Comment from Ulla

Excellent

Hehe, yeah, getting a conversation out of your kids can be be like pulling.teeth. ,No pun intended. I found this family meal rather entertaining. I remember how it was in my day.
After a couple minutes = After a couple of minutes.
Ulla:))?

 Comment Written 13-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 13-Dec-2023

And never the twain shall meet. ))?

Thanks for your punny review, Ulla. (pun intended)

reply by Ulla on 13-Dec-2023

Smile,!!

Comment from Julie Lau

Excellent

Thanks for this cute ramble - no, almost ramble, held together by skilful writing. You have given us a pleasant glimpse of your family, and how you have managed to educate the offspring with several facts without them even noticing!
Julie

 Comment Written 13-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 13-Dec-2023

Yeah, I think "ramble" describes it pretty well. That's the way our discussions usually went. We had some fun dinners, even though the food didn't always go over that well. I cook pretty much the same way today, and they love it now. Kids!

Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

I was one of those kids who pushed their food around the plate too. This was a great family conversation around the dinner table Jim, and it does show that start to talk about any subject and you nevver know where it could lead. I'm sorry I've just used my last six, this one gave me a good chuckle and some memories.
cheers,
valda

 Comment Written 13-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 13-Dec-2023

Thanks for your great review, Valda. No worries about the 6.

Comment from evilynne

Exceptional

I couldn't help giggling at this tale of dad's attempt to bring about a dinner conversation. The results are certainly delightfully funny. And it all started with cheese. Evi

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 12-Dec-2023

Thank you so much, Evi, for that wonderful review and for the 6 stars.

Comment from jmdg1954

Excellent

Yup. I recall those days. My wife or I would ask that foolish question- "How was school today?" And you gotta love the answer ... "fine." Next question... "Whst did you learn in math today?" Answer.. "Oh, you know."

And many nights something sparked a conversation like your cheese did...

Great post, Jim. Now our kids can go through this with there kids! Payback!!

John

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 12-Dec-2023

Yep, you just have to ask 'em the right question, and it never is "How was your day at school?" I'm sure you've got many memories of amusing dinnertime conversations, John.

Comment from Liz O'Neill

Exceptional

This is an interesting routine which many readers will quickly identify with: " I was the cook, and after the usual complaints about the food in front of them, we all lapsed into silence." I guess would have been disappointed if this didn't happen: ""My feet don't smell! Not like your breath does, Egg-breath," this being one of her nicknames for him along with Geg-head, Toast-boy, and a few others."
There is so much more I could note, this is hilarious. A+ work.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 12-Dec-2023

Glad you could identify with it, Liz, and thanks so much for the 6 stars!

reply by Liz O'Neill on 12-Dec-2023

Just so hilarious!

Comment from Terry Broxson

Excellent

LOL, Jim, it is a good thing my wife never had kids. But in your case, it sounds like you had material for a sitcom if you wanted it. This is very well done. Terry.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 12-Dec-2023

Thanks so much, Terry. It felt like a sitcom at times. They provided an endless source of joy and humor to our household.