When we went dining room table shopping back in early 2017, I knew what I wanted. Visions of a rustic, elegant round table with a farmhouse look danced in my mind. I was imagining off-white, cottage-farmhouse, with a vase of beautiful pink roses perfectly placed mid-table. Maybe a bowl of lemons too, just to give it a pop of color and fun. Something as we say today, “Instagram worthy!” Then reality set in. At the time, Gianna was three and Adalind was a few months old. The table we purchased was on sale at Costco. It is a long rectangular table with room for eight. We usually do not use the extra two chairs unless we have guests. The table is real wood, and it is quite dark. A complete opposite of my dream table.
Gianna lives her life aloud, through coloring. Gianna makes “cards” for everyone she meets. She makes cards for Disney princesses, for the neighbors, for the bag boy at Publix. Drawing and coloring with whatever is available is her favorite pastime. Pens, markers, crayons, plain pencils- nothing stops her when she wants to color or write special notes. She has a Minnie Mouse table that is perfect for such projects, but that is not where she loves to create her artwork. Gianna wants to create her artwork at the dining room table. She loves the space, the size and that she can have her favorite toys nearby as she “works.” Whereas I may want my phone or a drink nearby, Gianna wants her precious plush monster or another coveted toy close by to watch her work. Adalind does not fall too far behind. She has been coloring for over a year, and she loves it more each day. She grabs the chunky crayons, perfect for toddler hands and scrolls the purple across the page like Picasso. She says, “Mama, see!” Both girls sometimes use extra-large drawing pads while they color. These drawing pads sometimes keep the colors and marks off the table. Most often, they do not.
Gianna also loves to bake, but her favorite part is decorating cookies. Like most children, she anxiously waits to get her hands on the icing, pouring an extra thick layer outside the lines of the cookie. Next, she’ll grab the sprinkles and have a field day. Adalind is learning from her big sister, but she usually goes for a taste test first.
When we sit down to have a meal, there is a specific order. Adalind sits at the head of the table with her booster attached to the chair. She requests to be head of the table every single time. Daddy usually sits to her left, mommy to her right. Gianna likes to sit next to daddy on his left and diagonally across from me. “Right next daddy but where she can see mama’s beautiful face” (her words, not mine). I love sitting across from my husband. I have been sitting across from him for 20 years now. From the time I started dating him at 16, we sat across from one another, rarely sitting right next to each other while eating. It is just how we have always done it.
When we eat, we talk about our day. Gianna may sing her latest favorite song in the middle of dinner. Daddy and mommy may speak a little about essential things, and Adalind will share her giggles and yay or nay if she likes or does not like the food. We mostly talk about the good parts of everyone’s day, the not so good parts and what Gianna is learning in school. We talk about God, the upcoming weekend, family and friends. We always talk about the holidays, especially if one is approaching. Gianna may also throw in a cool fact about dinosaurs, sharks or jungle animals. Adalind when feeling mischievous may throw out her evil Zurg laugh.
When we purchased this table, I told my husband, “This isn’t the table of my dreams, but it’s the table we need. The girls are going to make a mess of whatever table we buy so we shouldn’t spend too much. We need a table that we don’t care too much about.” Those words ring untrue now.
I love this table. This table has seen so many firsts and has so many memories attached to it that it makes me smile each time I see it. This is the first table we sat to have dinner together has a family of four. Before this table, Adalind was in her “rocket” high chair. It had a tray attached to it. She sat close to us but was not actually at the table. When she transitioned to the booster seat attached to the chair, she then sat with us. Instantly, we were a family of four eating at the same table each night.
We had the table for 3 days when I was painting Gianna’s nails, and she spilled the acetone all over the table. I said, “Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I followed up with, “Well, I’m glad we didn’t spend too much on a dining room table!” Now, when I look at that acetone stain, I remember that I painted her nails purple, pink and red that day.
We do not have dessert every day. If it is a day that we are having dessert, we will share that dessert much to the girl’s delight. This table saw the girl’s first time making chocolate fondue. We made a mess and had way too much chocolate but the girl’s giggles that day is something I will never forget.
This is the table where we discuss our days, where we pray, where my daughter breaks out into a spontaneous song or dance. Where I tell my husband, “Oh Adalind said this new word today!” This is the table where they try new foods, open presents, and do homework. This is the table where they make a mess with whatever baking adventure we are undertaking. Where they consistently color outside the lines and where they make cards and notes for loved ones.
This is the table where long after the girls have gone to bed, I sit across from my husband, and we discuss important issues. Where we make decisions about our future, how we will save for their college years and how we will deal with whatever problems we are facing. This is the table where we share a glass of wine or steal a kiss. Where we wrap Christmas presents for the girls and eat the cookies they left for Santa.
This is the table where we have hosted family and friends. Shared stories and laughter. Made more messes and more clean-ups than I can count. Where friends have come to experience their first time at Disney World and blow out birthday candles for their child. Where we have sat around after a long day at the parks to share our favorite memories from the day.
This table celebrates birthdays, holidays, triumphs and disappointments. Board games are played, art projects are done, and stories are shared. It’s full of scuff marks, permanent marker and let’s not forget the acetone stain.
This was not the table I originally wanted, but it is just the table I needed. This table did not make my dining room “Instagram worthy,” but that does not matter. It has made memories where they matter most, in our hearts. It also happens to look quite lovely with a vase of pink roses.
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