I didnt really do a lot of family dinners growing up as a sprightly-eyed jumping bean, just beginning to find my ways and means in this great world of ours. For me that meant great things.
For one, I was able to get in the me-time, that is so important to a developing young man, when all my friends needed to go in for dinner. Another thing that was rained down upon me like gifts from the heavens was my ability to be in charge of creating my own menus each day; the self empowerment I gained could not be overestimated. Finally, I really was able to take full advantage of not having to get involved with any direct conversations with irritating family members. This also was great, as it gave me an opportunity to develop my avoidance skills, such as: indirect statements and comments and solidly rooted passive aggressiveness.
This last unintended gift from a vacuum of family dinners has served me well, although at times it seems to me to be something like knowing Latin. Its an amazing and enviable talent, but, remains virtually useless without a counterpart with which to engage. For example, if my girlfriend wants to use her run-of-the-mill direct conversation...