One simple rule we always followed at dinner: no phones. We were alone and away from the noise of the world during that time. My husband’s phone lit up in the middle of dinner last night.
He looked at it briefly but didn’t pick it up because that’s what we ask. After a few minutes, it started buzzing over and over again. Even though he tried to avoid it, the constant alerts made it clear that something was wrong.
He finally picked up the phone and read the screen while his face changed. “Oh no!” “Mom!” he yelled. He quickly got up and quickly called a number.
I watched as he told the cops what happened and gave them the address of his mother. He ran out the door without stopping. I couldn’t figure out what had happened as I sat at the table with my heart pounding.
Later that night, he came back with a smile on his face. The neighbor had seen smoke in his mom’s kitchen and had been trying to get in touch with him. Thank goodness they moved quickly, because things were under control before any harm could happen.
That night, our rule of “no phone” took on a whole new meaning. When it comes to care for others, we learned that breaking the rules is sometimes the right thing to do. It made us remember that habits are not as important as family, love, and being present.
Things may have been cut short at dinner, but our hearts were closer than ever.
