In our household, family dinners don’t always happen, but on the evenings we do gather, my partner and I make it a point to check in with our three kids about their day. We typically start with the routine question: “How was your day?” Unsurprisingly, our two older children, aged 10 and 8, often respond with a shrug, while our 3-year-old merely stares into space. Their reaction to the dinner we’ve prepared resembles a look of disdain, as they plead for Mac and Cheese instead.
This scenario is entirely relatable. I maintain a solid relationship with my children, yet I often find it challenging to encourage meaningful conversations at the dinner table. It leads me to question whether I might be missing something vital in our interactions.
Recently, I stumbled upon the inspiring story of two brothers, Mike and David Thompson, who founded the successful T-shirt brand, Life Is Good. Their journey made me reflect on whether I am simply not asking the right question. In their book, also entitled Life Is Good, the brothers recount their childhood experiences following a traumatic car accident that left their father with a disability. Their mother, however, adopted a positive outlook during this challenging time.
Each evening, she posed a simple yet profound question to her six children: “What was something good that happened today?” This daily ritual transformed their perspectives. As Mike Thompson shared in an interview, it prevented them from adopting a victim mentality. Instead of focusing on the negatives, they would share laughs over minor mishaps, like a silly haircut or an interesting project at school.
Reading about their experiences, I can’t help but feel that this approach contrasts sharply with the responses I receive from my kids. The question, “What was a good thing that happened today?” seems so straightforward, yet it might have a significant impact at my dinner table as well.
The Thompsons believe that the question posed by their mother played a crucial role in shaping their futures and inspired the mission behind their T-shirt brand, promoting optimism with the tagline, “Life is not perfect. Life is not easy. Life is good.”
I recognize that some may find this perspective overly simplistic, especially those grappling with mental health challenges—something I can relate to, having faced my own struggles with depression and anxiety. Some days, simply getting out of bed feels like an insurmountable task, let alone adopting a cheery disposition. However, I can’t help but wonder if this small change could serve as a valuable tool for my children as they navigate life’s ups and downs.
Tonight, I plan to try this new approach. When my three kids gather around the table, I’ll ask them to share something positive that occurred during their day. I’ll also share a good moment from my own day to encourage engagement. My hope is that this shift in questioning might offer them a slightly altered perspective on life, similar to what Mike and David Thompson experienced.
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In summary, incorporating a daily question about positive experiences could foster a healthier mindset in children, helping them navigate the complexities of life with a more optimistic outlook.