Everyone went through the line and then went and found a seat. Every one sat in a different place than they did last night.  Mary wanted to sit with Lisa and James. The chatter proceeded on.

Alice: Bette, you sure know how to throw a party. Good food, wonderful accommodations and a promise of more in the future.

Bette: All of this was planned by Tina and Angie. Daniel and I are just the support staff in these events.

Lynn:  Well, this is a wonderful break from our girls. Alice and I are thinking about doing this more often. At least once a quarter, we are going to get a sitter for the weekend and go someplace and just be together and recharge our batteries.

Tina:  You need to do that religiously. A night or two every three months or so will make a world of difference in your relationship. And, you two should spend an hour or so with each other after you put the kids to bed. That is the time you talk about what’s going on with your jobs and with the children. That is your day-to-day time together. That’s the time you solve problems and make plans for your family and for your life. It’s the time to build intimacy and keep your finger on the pulse of your kids and your spouse. And spend time with your girls – both of you, some alone time with each of them. Bette and I would rotate the kids – one evening with one then the next with the other. Read to them, talk to them about their day, their friends or whatever they want to talk about. Then spend a day on the weekend with both of them going to the beach, or go to the zoo or an art gallery. When they get to their teenage years, they will start to make their own plans with friends. But always include some family time in their schedule. And you don’t have to do anything expensive.  Just be together and doing something fun.

Alice: Actually Tina, that sounds like a really good plan.  Is that how Angie and Daniel turned out to have such wonderful manners?

Tina: Well, I don’t know about that. Both of us did not have very good relationships with our parents during our childhood.  And we were determined that the kids would know us and we would know our children. Of course, they are forever changing as they grow and mature, but we knew who their friends were, who they liked and disliked and why they disliked them. We knew the music they loved and the subjects they loved and those they didn’t love so much. Our job was to set the boundaries and then guide them through life. We are determined they are going to determine their own future.