<p>NSM: You are pretty much right on that it depends on how the kids were raised. My brother and I have been raised to stay out of the way and not ask too many questions, etc. But as we got older and we used to beg to join the “adults” table and be part of the festivities at a dessert party that my mom used to host annually (because that’s when our mom would cook the best/fanciest meals). To start off, she would “hire” us to be her helpers so that way we could move in and out easily if things got awkward (“You know… I think there are dishes piling up… I need to check on the champagne…”). Once we got used to be part of the crowd and their friends got used to seeing us around, we just put on our clothes and joined in the fun as adults, even when we were 15 or 16. Also it paid A LOT to get compliments since we didn’t always get to hear it from our parents (or even if they did, they were just OUR parents, you know?) so we were happy to be “in center of attention.” Even if we didn’t really know much about them.</p>
<p>But look, since you’ve experienced quite bit of life, you can certainly share a LOT with your students, even if they’re just visiting for a holiday dinner. Even though I’m only 23, I LOVE talking with people in their 60s, 70s, and 80s because they’ve seen so much and have lots to share. You can certainly spin any conversation by mentioning some things from the “old days.” My dad and my advisor were certainly the most notorious storytellers who could compare and contrast the present and the past. My dad would talk of all the technology (or the lack thereof). My advisor worked in the Soviet Union and had many Russian friends and saw the country in transition. Even though we care about our iPods and laptops, we’re still really interested in the past because it’s just so unknown to us. You don’t have to talk about the present all the time- it gets a little old. My brother, who isn’t really much of a history person and is generally an apathetic person, was fascinated by old stories of anyone he bothered listening to. Every now and then I’d learn something from him about one of our family friends, like, really???</p>
<p>Try to volunteer a little information as you prep the meal, their curiosity will get the best of their upright manners.</p>