During one rough season of my childhood, my mom was married to a man who did not like table conversation during meals. This was difficult for me for two reasons: (1) Prior to him our family gatherings had always involved laughter and talk of daily life and (2) I was a "chatty-patty." While living in Scotland, my step-father worked a 30-days-on/off schedule in the North Sea as First Mate on a tugboat taking men and supplies back and forth from the oil rigs. It was while he was away, Momma, my little brother and I would have fun meal-time exchanges, once again. After we returned stateside and the marriage dissolved, laughter and conversation were welcomed back to the family dinner table!
It is my opinion food does not digest well, when you are nervous, sad or feel intimidated. Your appetite is better when life is happy and relaxed. It is for this very reason, our family started "High-Low" at dinner time when Dane was in elementary school.
High-Low is when each member of the family shares a high experience and a low experience for that day. The rules are simple: Everyone participates, poop-talk is not banned (unless someone has a weak stomach) and family members are not to interrupt -- except for laughter. It's a way for family members to engage.
During our summers as Tennessee Youth/Student Directors at Camp Jackson, our staff, known as the Crunk Crew, would participate in High-Low after "Devo" (devotion) usually after the campers had gone to bed and the facility prepared for the next day. Twelve staffers would pile into our bedroom located in the lower level directly under the wooden dining hall floor. Sometimes, they found it easy to come up with a low, but many times they would substitute it with two highs! If I would forget to do High-Low, they would remind me or wait until after the Thursday evening S'mores Bonfire when the campers were in the cabins. It was always a favorite and intimate time for each of us.
Create memories. Start a tradition. All ages can participate. It can happen around a table, at bedtime devo, in a car, or anywhere the "family" gathers to get conversation going!
~"Sam"
High-Low is when each member of the family shares a high experience and a low experience for that day. The rules are simple: Everyone participates, poop-talk is not banned (unless someone has a weak stomach) and family members are not to interrupt -- except for laughter. It's a way for family members to engage.
During our summers as Tennessee Youth/Student Directors at Camp Jackson, our staff, known as the Crunk Crew, would participate in High-Low after "Devo" (devotion) usually after the campers had gone to bed and the facility prepared for the next day. Twelve staffers would pile into our bedroom located in the lower level directly under the wooden dining hall floor. Sometimes, they found it easy to come up with a low, but many times they would substitute it with two highs! If I would forget to do High-Low, they would remind me or wait until after the Thursday evening S'mores Bonfire when the campers were in the cabins. It was always a favorite and intimate time for each of us.
Create memories. Start a tradition. All ages can participate. It can happen around a table, at bedtime devo, in a car, or anywhere the "family" gathers to get conversation going!
~"Sam"
