1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to put some thought into sparking better 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: dinner table conversations. You may have been eating dinner with 5 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: the same people every night for the past five months now, 6 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: and that's after spending all day with those same people, 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: but that doesn't mean the conversation has to be dull. 8 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: Put a little thought into it and it just might 9 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 1: not be I know that many of us sit down 10 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: to eat with good intentions of connecting, and then we 11 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: wind up asking some version of what did you do today? Unfortunately, 12 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: if you're like a lot of households, nobody had that 13 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: much different happened today versus the day before, so we 14 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: wind up talking about who is eating their broccoli and 15 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: who isn't. So you might try brainstorming some questions that 16 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: will unearth something different, something you may not have talked 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: about so much. For instance, here's this question, how do 18 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: you think you'll be different a year from now? A 19 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 1: smart alec child might remark that she will be eleven 20 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: instead of ten. But this can lead to a discussion 21 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: of the privileges and responsibilities that come with age, and 22 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 1: maybe you can talk about the character traits you hope 23 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: to gain or the bad habits you'd like to lose. 24 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: By the time your next birthday rolls around, your children 25 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: might have ideas for you in this category interesting to know? 26 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: Or how about what's the skill you'd like to learn? 27 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: A lot of kids activities have been disrupted these days, 28 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: but as you think about what to add back in, 29 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: it's good to know what people actually value, and you 30 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 1: and your spouse might come up with some skills or 31 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: hobbies you'd enjoy too. What's your favorite thing to do 32 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: on a Saturday afternoon? This question can reveal some interesting 33 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: differences in a family between those who like to be 34 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: out and about and those whose idea of a good 35 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: time is lazing on the cow much It's a good 36 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: reminder that family members do not inherit the same personalities. 37 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: What's something you haven't done in a long time that 38 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: you really miss This can help you plan your vacation 39 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: schedule for or what you'll prioritize as your neighborhood opens 40 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: back up. If you could spend the day with anyone 41 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: in the world, who would you choose? Or there's this 42 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: question when was your proudest moment. This sparks some interesting 43 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: discussion in my extended family when my mother in law 44 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: talked about earning her m b A when she went 45 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: back to school after having four kids. You might be 46 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: surprised at what your family members mentioned. If you're looking 47 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: for more questions, check out story corps Great Questions List, 48 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: or order a set of question cards like those produced 49 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: by Table Topics. You can ask one when there's a 50 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: lull in the conversation, or you can create some more 51 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: structure by making this a ritual. Write interesting questions on 52 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: slips of paper and put them in a jar. Then 53 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: every night pull out a question or two for everyone 54 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: at the table to answer. Or you could put a 55 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: different question at each person's place. Once everyone gets used 56 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: to the routine, others can contribute questions, including kids of 57 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: all ages. You might be surprised about what the kids ask. 58 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: Memories of childhood pets, for instance, or of school experiences. 59 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: All this can deepen relationships and give you something better 60 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: to talk about than who ate how much of the broccoli? 61 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: If you ask a question that sparks a great dinner 62 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: table conversation, I'd love to hear how it goes. You 63 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: can tell me about it at Before Breakfast podcast at 64 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: I heart media dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. 65 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening and here's to making the most of 66 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 67 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 68 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at 69 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast pod that's B the number four, then Breakfast 70 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: p o D. You can also shoot me an email 71 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart media dot com. 72 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. 73 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in touch. 74 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For 75 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i heart 76 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 77 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: favorite shows.