Pizza *STORY* Night!
In early 2023 we got rid of our TV. I’d been reading books about how entertainment has changed in our modern times and the devastating impact it’s had on society. Entertainment used to look like stories and games with the multigenerational families that all lived together. Entertainment existed within relationships. It fostered knowing others and being known, encouraged learning from our elders, bonding with our community, etc. Cut to today, most of our entertainment is digital and doesn’t require any interaction with other people. This can lead to disconnection in families and between generations. It encourages isolation and lack of accountability. It can stunt a person’s interpersonal skills. So, we tossed the tube.
Which brings us to today’s screen free prompt. What used to be a non engaging pizza movie night (before our TV throw out) has become a family ritual of a pizza story night. It’s still exciting to the kids to get to eat dinner in the living room, but now my husband and I switch back and forth reading for an hour or two of whatever we’re going through in our current family read aloud. It’s true that it’s more work than popping on a movie, but I’d rather do more work and build lasting connections, memories, and interpersonal skills with my family. Not to mention, it’s actually a lot more fun! We end the night with a sense of engagement and investment rather than the grogginess that can come after watching movies.
