Family Dinner #20: Mamma Mia Moments, Mac & Cheese Traditions, and Why Summer Camp Matters

Allison Lloyd
Aug 5
3 min read

Updated: Aug 16

This week was a blur of family moments that reminded me why I started this 100 Family Dinners journey. Spoiler alert: we only managed ONE family dinner and it was glorious chaos.

🎉 Experiences Over Stuff: Christmas Gift Well-Spent

On Wednesday, I piled the kids into the car for a trip to Phoenix to see Mamma Mia, part of their Christmas present from me this year. Instead of a pile of things, I focused on gifting experiences. And you know what? It paid off!

Did you know that research shows experiences create more lasting happiness than material gifts? A study from Cornell University found that people get more enduring joy from experiential purchases because they’re more closely connected to identity and relationships. (Cornell University, 2014)

Our Mamma Mia night had it all: car stress (thanks to an accident on the highway), a thrown-together ravioli dinner at home, and the wild rush of making it to the theater just in time. But once we were in our seats, all that melted away. We sang, we laughed, and we finished the night with a Dutch Bros treat and a full-blown car concert on the way home.

These are the kinds of moments that become family lore.

🏕️ Summer Camp: The Best Gift You Can’t Wrap

By Sunday, it was time for another beloved family tradition: the drive to summer camp. My daughter and I have a ritual: Panera bacon mac & cheese, Starbucks, and a drive through the mountains to camp drop-off. We’ve been doing this for six years, and she loves it just as much now as she did at 8 years old.

Dropping her off is always bittersweet, but I believe deeply in the power of unplugged, immersive camp experiences. Summer camp teaches resilience, independence, and problem-solving in a way no parent can replicate at home.

According to the American Camp Association, 92% of campers say that camp helped them feel good about themselves, and 74% say they did things they were afraid to try at first. (ACA Youth Outcomes Study, 2023)

Beyond the s’mores and canoeing, camp teaches kids to navigate the uncomfortable:

They decide what to eat without mom as a short-order cook.
They work through bunkmate squabbles without instant parental intervention.
They face homesickness and learn they can survive it.

As a mom, I want my kids to know I’ll always be there for them, but I also want them to trust they can handle tough situations without me. Summer camp is the perfect proving ground.

🍽️ The One Family Dinner We Made Happen

With all the running around this week, we only managed to sit down for one family dinner. On Wednesday night we had a last-minute ravioli dinner before the show. It wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t planned, but it mattered. It reminded me that family dinner doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect to count. It’s about the time, not the table setting or the menu.

As I write this, my daughter is off at camp, and my son and I are about to embark on two weeks of one-on-one time. Family dinners might look different, but the goal remains the same: intentional connection.

💡 Mom Takeaways:

Experiences > Stuff: Science backs it. Experiences create lasting joy and family bonds. Give the gift of shared memories.
Summer Camp Builds Resilient Kids: Accredited camps! (ACA certified only) offer kids a safe space to learn independence.
Family Dinners Don’t Have to be Fancy: That frozen ravioli you throw together counts just as much as a Sunday roast. Presence over perfection.