Letter to Young Dinner Party Guests

You were invited to join us for dinner because you are smart, young, funny and bring a new perspective to our lives. We are grateful to know you and for the chance to see the world through your eyes. Likewise, I hope you are open to learning some things from the grown ups at the party. For example, letting the cook know you are in fact coming to dinner an hour before dinner is like not responding at all. The shopping is done, the cooking is underway and the table is set. The intent of the RSVP is to allow the hosts to have enough food and a table setting for you and your guests. Texting during dinner is beyond rude. Is our conversation that boring and prosaic that you can't be present? We want to be included in your conversation and share in the jokes (even when they are about us). I know your generation communicates differently- I know you prefer texting to writing real letters and that verbalizing your feelings, expectations and intent is really hard. We are willing to be patient and encourage you to be gracious, attentive, and articulate. You have to see the value in those qualities and want to possess them. If you are unwilling, you might want to stick to texting at Starbucks with your friends and save dinner parties for adults.