Ken and I have different expectations around what should happen at supper. One of our differences is around staying at the table from start to finish of the meal. For the most part, I can see that he is right but in my family getting up in the middle of a meal was commonplace and it’s proving to be a very hard habit to break. Before Reid was born and even for months afterward, we ate in the living room most nights. It sounds awful to admit this but the admission explains why we’re having this conflict 10 years after we were married. Now that we are a family with a daddy, mama and child, we’re facing a clash of family of origin expectations.
Another of of the behaviours that seems akin to fingernails on a chalkboard for Ken is singing at the table. Grandma Joyce has a song or part thereof for every occasion and I have inherited many of them. Reid is also a singer. Still, I try to remember that it bothers Ken.
On Saturday at supper, Grandma Barb served Jello for dessert. Reid turned down the pies and apple crumble and focussed only on the Jello. At some point, I was overcome with the desire to sing “J-e-l-l-o” and I did. Immediately, Grandma Barb said, “You’ll cry before bedtime.” Apparently there is a saying, “Sing at the table and you will cry before bed.” Ken said, “That explains things” since Reid both sings at the supper and sometimes at bedtime as well.