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Family Dinner

Family Dinner

Eating meals together is the ultimate parenting cheat code, and that’s because in just one hour you can improve your kids’ academic performance, self-esteem, and cardiovascular health while simultaneously reducing their risks of substance misuse, depression, and obesity.

On today’s show: author Annette Thurmon on making the kitchen the heart of the home once again.

 

Here’s a preview:

[7:30] A laundry list of the nutritional benefits of regular family dinners, plus the developmental and mental health benefits for kids and teens

[10:00] We parents should be including our children in the cooking process, and here’s why (plus: easy lift how-tos)

[20:00] Remember: It’s not about the food! It’s about the face-t0-face, tech-free time

[23:00] Practical dinnertime prompts

Resource mentioned:

 

Creative alternatives to “How was your day?”

  • What’s one thing you learned today?
  • What’s one thing that made you smile today?
  • If you could change something about your day, what would it be?
  • What’s one thing you liked most about your day?
  • What has made you feel loved recently?
  • How did you help someone today? How did someone help you?
  • What’s it like to be a kid? To be a parent?
  • What was your last thought before falling asleep last night?

 

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We've come a long way. But not necessarily in the right direction.

From the the nostalgic days of AOL Instant Messenger to 2026's high-stakes, algorithmic landscape, constant connectivity has fundamentally shifted our attention spans, our peace of mind, and the way we show up for our families.

Worse, the desire to show up online often takes us directly out of real life. It's no surprise, then, that we're feeling the mental and emotional weight of the "scroll".

We don't have to throw our phones in a lake to find the reprieve we desperately need. On today's show author Emily Feldpausch argues that it isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about reclaiming the intentionality that the algorithms try to take away.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Reflections on the shift from the early days of AIM and MySpace to the current user experience that often feels designed against us

[8:45] How being always on has eroded our collective sense of peace and altered the dynamics of modern family life

[18:00] How to stop checking in and start being present

[23:00] A candid look at 2026 internet culture, from shopping hauls to harmful beauty standards. Can we still find corners of the web that align with our true values?

[27:00] Emily's personal strategies for maintaining phone boundaries to protect her mental space

 

Resources mentioned:


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Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

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