skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

How to connect with your kids.....teens

15 years ago

Mush's post on jigsaw puzzles reminded me of what we did when my kids were little, or not so little.

I would start a jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table, and sure enough kids would start stopping by the table and putting in a piece or two. When they were small we used 500 piece puzzles (a favorite was a Disney character one), but as they grew the puzzles got larger.

The best part of it was while anyone was working on the puzzle it was a good time to talk to them. Especially the teens, even their friends joined in to the puzzle. Just walk in the door and sit down and find a few pieces that fit, all were welcome.

It was on the dining room table and for dinner I would just throw a cloth over it to protect it.

It made for a lot of fun togetherness time and time to talk out their problems too.

I sure miss that puzzle on the table these days.

And, of course, there was all ways a missing piece or two that "just happened" to be in someone's pocket so they could "put in the LAST piece"!

Kathy G in MI

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
We did puzzles growing up too...my mom, brother and I. My great grandmother always had a puzzle going on a card table in the sitting room.

My middle son..HATES puzzles...they drive him up the wall. He's a very literal mind. LOL
donna_oh
15 years ago
I used to (before the 3 stray cat days) have a puzzle going on the dinning room table, & as you said, kids would come in & work on it. We had lots of fun--

Donna (^_^)
Related Discussions
Christmas connections.....how far can we go?
Q
Comments (42)
BIRD IN SANTA'S BEARD ( BIG BELLY ) by Jeffery L Schatz * remember, you can't have the word Christmas in the title. That's too easy !!
...See More
Can I connect 3 strand Romex to a 2 strand wire? How to ground?
Q
Comments (6)
We looked at wiremold and called the company. They say that their raceways are "listed" only if you splice THHN wires to the Romex before the wires enter the raceway. I did look at flexible conduit but it really looks awful. I talked with the contractor this morning. He is satisfied with my solution - using either the 2 strand or 3 strand, but we both prefer the 3 strand for better grounding. So I think we're on our way. Thanks for your comments.
...See More
Naperville Home - Pre-wired for ceiling fan but how to connect wires
Q
Comments (13)
I've attempted wiring with both alternatives attempted; one time capped yellow wire, the other time purple was capped. It looks like I'm on positive side this time but not sure to see it as complete. Better than previous experience - that circuit breaker did not trip so power to the room remain intact. I did not finish my entire work of fixing fan yet but attempting only to see if wiring works. So, the best test I see is to see if the light will turn on and next step is if possible to see if fan motor turns with out blades fixed. Every time I turn on the switch I see lights flash and go off irrespective of what I'm doing with remote (yes, each time). Reference Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5s...piZ2ZEclE/view Quick internet read relates mentioning: I've attempted 1 and then 2 CFL bulbs each of 13 watts, each light holder on fan indicates max 14 w can be attempted. I've to attempt 9W LED bulbs that came along, may be that can indicate something to me. In general what I expected is lights will stay on and relate to remote actions. And so fan motor may turn if I do so on remote. I think all remaining work is mechanical (like fix blades and give it a final shape). I'm also sure remote battery is as new as fan came along fan package and so far not yet clicked more than 10 times. This is making me to think to think if I can move ahead finish all of it and then attempt. Any one sensing problem with that flashing or that flashing light indicate everything is going to be good when done? Thank you all and any insights is very much appreciated.
...See More
Your favorite hose Quick Connect fittings?
Q
Comments (10)
Walmart bought an online shopping/shipping company several months ago, so they are defs getting into shipping. I like their option to ship to the local Walmart store. Living in the country that is usually faster than shipping 60 miles away from the nearest store. I can pick it up on the weekend when I go to town. But back on the hose stuff, I'm sure you'll get plenty of tips about quick connect, but here's what I do. I hate dripping hose fittings. I only buy hoses with a solid brass fitting, not stamped brass or the stamped brass look. Brass has a nasty feature that it will erode away when pressurized water leaks through. Once it leaks, you can't stop that leak by tightening the fitting. So what I do is at the first sign of leakage I replace the brass fitting with a plastic one. The plastic lasts a good long time unless you drive over it with the car. I also put a plastic on/off valve at the end of every hose. The last thing I do is install a #15 O-ring inside all my sprinklers and hand held hose devices. The O-ring replaces the flat washer that comes with the sprinklers. Once I do that I have a leak free system with easy to find parts.
...See More
juellie1962
15 years ago
I sure wish I would've thought of that while my kids were teens; I REALLY wish I had those years to do over!
sleeperblues
15 years ago
I hate jigsaw puzzles, I find them boring and frustrating. But my family loves them. The dining room table was always the gathering place during the holidays with the puzzle, and even if you weren't doing the puzzle you'd hang out there.
joyfulguy
15 years ago
When Sue and I used to do puzzles (45 years ago) ...

... she'd put in 9 pieces while I was able to find about one!

ole joyful
moonie_57 (8 NC)
15 years ago
We are also a puzzle family. And use the dining room table. I always put a piece of cardboard on top, then the tablecloth.

When the kids were little we always glued them to poster board then hung them in their rooms.

Puzzles aren't made as nice as they once were.
kathi_mdgd
15 years ago
We also used to do puzzles,and 2 of my sisters in their late 70's still have one going all the time,as does my DIL.My Dil decoupages hers and my son makes frames so they can hang them.She recently finished one of the N.Y. skyline at night that she's going to give to me,and i gave her a 1000 pc patriotic one to do for my son.

Moonie i don't know where you shop,but there are a lot of beautiful puzzles out there and there are also puzzle catalogs available.

There is always one going on,on the table in my oncologist office as well.
Kathi
lunchlady1948
15 years ago
At my senior center there is always one going on, I have necer enjoyed them. I am like Joyfulguy~~~I would probable be able to add the last piece:(
mariend
15 years ago
When we traveled in our RV and stayed at different resorts (like Thousand Trails & Coast to Coast) there were always several set up on tables in the rec room and anyone could go and work on them. Excellent way to meet new people while traveling.
cwnev
15 years ago
I love doing them and always had one going on the table. Then we got cats.... need I say more? They always want to see what you are doing and even though they aren't allowed on the table they jump up to see what you are doing and scatter them.

I thought of getting a puzzle keeper this christmas so I could put the puzzle away when not actually working on it, but all the reviews said they weren't much good. Except for the 100.00 ones. I don't want to spend that much to keep a puzzle going. I have a closet full of them and we all enjoyed them when the kids were younger and lived here. Even Dad would join in in the evenings and we would spend WAY too many hours doing them. Look up and see it is midnight alot of nights.

Related Stories

LIFE Create a 'Forever House' Connection

By Laura Gaskill

Making beautiful memories and embracing your space can help you feel happy in your home — even if you know you'll move one day

DESIGN FOR GOOD At-Risk Teens Get a Well-Designed Home and Real Hope

By Annie Thornton

Designers and other volunteers create an apartment to keep older foster kids off the streets, off drugs and on a path to a better life

MORE ROOMS Design Ideas for a Teen Boy's Room

By Erika Ward - Erika Ward Interiors

Make room for your teen to shine with a space that reflects his personal style

BEDROOMS Room of the Day: A Teen’s Bedroom Branches Out

By Becky Harris

This room's global bohemian style includes a chandelier inspired by a trip to India, and comfy spots to play and listen to music

BEDROOMS Room of the Day: Bedroom Composed Around a Teen’s Passion for Music

By Becky Harris

A designer riffs off her young client’s love of the Beatles, classic rock and the Union Jack

MORE ROOMS Design Ideas From a Teen Crash Pad in Venice Beach

Colors abound without clashing in this resource center for homeless teens, created by a team of compassionate designers

CONTEMPORARY STYLE Houzz Tour: A Contemporary Addition Makes the Connections

By Grace Chamia

A Melbourne home expands out and up with rooms that emphasize indoor-outdoor and open-plan living

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: Fieldstone Divides and Connects a Wisconsin Home

Modern architecture looks right at home on its site, thanks in part to a bold north-south wall of local stone

SHOP HOUZZ Shop Houzz: Connect the Dots

Carefree and whimsical or understated and elegant, this quintessential motif always hits the spot

0

STAIRWAYS The Upstairs-Downstairs Connection: Picking the Right Stair Treatment

By Laura Gaskill

Carpeting, runner or bare wood? Check out these ideas for matching your staircase floor treatment to upstairs and downstairs flooring

Sponsored

High Point Cabinets

21 Reviews

Columbus' Experienced Custom Cabinet Builder | 4x Best of Houzz Winner

More Discussions

Grammar 'Rules' Have Changed

83

How Do you feel about Jason Arday?

76

Looking for input on possible early dementia (long)

46

Wednesday's Daily Quiz

10

Renting a manual wheelchair in Europe..Anyone?

1