Week 32: August 17-23 Dinner Number 0

No Dinners But Lots of Fun

Family dinners have been my big goal this year: 100 family dinners in 2025. There was a moment early on when I thought this wouldn’t be a big deal. Then summer rolled in, and between camps and travel, we went three whole weeks with just one dinner together.

Now that school has started, things haven’t exactly slowed down; they've just shifted. My son has football five nights a week, and my daughter spent this week performing with Missoula Children’s Theatre. Every year, they come to our town to put on a play in just one week. The kids audition on Monday and perform by Friday: which means rehearsals every evening from 4-8 p.m. after a full school day. It’s an exciting, creative whirlwind, but it doesn’t leave much time for sitting around the dinner table.

Friends from Kickoff On

This week was also the kickoff to football season, which meant it was my turn to feed the varsity team: forty hungry teenage boys. This was my first team dinner post-divorce, and to be honest, it brought up a lot of emotions. My ex was out of town, and for a moment, the weight of doing it all on my own felt heavy. But then my friends showed up and jumped in with extra hands. I was reminded of something powerful: I can do hard things. I can do big things. I can do all the things that need to get done, even when I’m doing them alone.

Before the divorce, I often felt like I had to hide how hard things were, as if pretending made it easier. Now, I just face it. I get it done and in the process, I keep proving to myself how capable I am and that moving forward is possible.

Theater and Feelings all take Practice

Addie didn’t get the role she was hoping for in the play this year, but she handled it with such grace. Most of her friends were trees alongside her, and she was the best tree ever. She shared her feelings about it openly, and I was so proud of her for processing her disappointment and still giving it her all. Watching her perform, I couldn’t help but think how much she’s grown; how much we’ve all grown.

Friday started with an early performance of the play and then straight to the first football game of the season. We won! The stands were full of energy, and my heart was full of gratitude. My friends waved me over: the same amazing women who’ve supported me through this past year. Sitting with her and her family in the stands, surrounded by laughter and community, I felt deeply cared for. This path after divorce hasn’t been easy, but these friendships have been proof that there’s life, joy, and connection on the other side of hard things.

Not a Family Dinner but Family Time

By Saturday, things finally slowed down. Addie had her last performance, and we enjoyed a rare calm day at home. Even though we didn’t have a family dinner this week, it was still a week full of love and laughter and theater and touchdowns, hard work and heart.

Sometimes, connection doesn’t happen at the dinner table. Sometimes it’s in the bleachers, or backstage, or in the kitchen making pizza for forty football players. And sometimes, it’s in the quiet realization that we’re okay and that life keeps moving forward, and so do we.