Sitting at the Kids Table

As we approach the Christmas holiday I can  not help but remember back to not so long ago and even now about how often I sat at the kid's table or whatever it was called depending on where I was.  My clearest memory is with my mother's family.  My grandparents house has been described before and their kitchen sat 8 people who were very cozy.  Right off the kitchen was a bedroom that strangely was where the kid's table usually was.  Often a strange metal folding table was placed in front of the bed and the door to the kitchen was opened so we sat on the bed and almost felt like we were in the kitchen.  Thinking back on it, that was very strange and funny!  Sometimes we ate in the living room but I honestly never got to sit at the adult table in that house during family gatherings.  I did get the privilege when I was in college and would eat with them one to two times a week just me and my grandparents.  I so appreciate that time now that they are gone but even then I knew that it was wonderful to have that time with them.  

In my father's family, we had family gatherings in different locations and very often we were at the "big" table because there were less people but also because it seemed to be the thing to have everyone around one table when possible even the kids.  

At my husband's family during Thanksgiving we followed the usual rotation and it was exciting to get to be at the adult table.  It also holds 8 and is right off the living room where a kid's table is set up.  This year there were 5 grandchildren that were all old enough to sit and eat together and it was strange to see that and know that now Scott and I along with his brother and sister in law do not have to sit there and watch the children.  It is getting surreal!  The adult table at the Rose's is a rotation with people filling in as others leave.  

Overall, it is becoming an interesting experience to now be an adult at the age of 42.  What that means I guess is that we were lucky for a long time to have wonderful people who were older than us taking up those seats.  Honestly, give me the kid's table as long as we can keep those people "with more summers" around to tell us their stories and take up those seats at the adult table.