There’s nothing greater than creating a story for your family, a story that can be passed down from generation to generation.
For me, that story started in a place of silence.
When I was a child, I didn’t feel listened to, heard, or truly known. At the dinner table, it was no different. I’d try to speak, to share something meaningful, but it often felt like I wasn’t allowed to go deep, like I wasn’t being taken seriously. My dinner table experience could be summed up in five words: sit down, shut up, and eat your vegetables. And truth be told, I didn’t even like vegetables that much.
Those experiences shaped how I see the power of family stories today.
The Stories We’re Writing Without Knowing It
Every family tells a story, not always through words, but through habits, routines, and priorities.
For some families, that story might be one of busyness.
Parents working full time, children running to sport, part-time jobs, study, social lives. Meals are eaten on the run or in front of the TV. The family calendar is full, but hearts are running on empty.
It’s easy for this to become the story we tell without even noticing, one where everyone’s doing their own thing, disconnected and distracted.
But there’s another kind of story.
The one where you value conversation and connection. You sit down together for dinner, not because it’s perfect or peaceful every night, but because it matters. You talk about the highs and lows of the day. You laugh. You listen. You make space for everyone to feel seen and heard.
That’s the kind of story that lasts.
The Story They’ll Tell One Day
One day, your children will look back and tell the story of your family.
They might say, “We didn’t have much, but we always had dinner together.”
Or maybe they’ll say, “We were always busy, I don’t remember us sitting down much.”
The question is, what do you want that story to be?
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being intentional.
Every meal, every question, every moment of listening is a line in the story you’re writing together.
It’s Never Too Late to Begin
Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, It’s too late for us. We’ve drifted too far apart.
But I want to tell you, it’s never too late to reconnect.
The Table Talk Project exists for exactly this reason.
Our web app, Back at the Table, helps families build meaningful conversations, one meal at a time. It’s designed to spark stories, laughter, reflection, and memories that bring everyone closer.
Because when you start talking, you start writing a story worth remembering.
So, What’s Your Story?
What story do you want your family to tell?
Will it be one of disconnection, or one of love, laughter, and listening?
You don’t need to wait for a perfect moment to begin. You just need a table, a few minutes, and a willingness to talk.
Maybe tonight’s the night to start writing.
Table Talk Prompt:
Ask your family tonight: “What’s one story from our family that you want to remember forever?”
