A Proposal to My Family: Phone-Free Dinners

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1. 01A Proposal: Phone-Free Dinners

   Good evening, everyone. Yes, I know this is our living room, not a conference hall, but I have a proposal for our family, and I've prepared slides. I'd like us to try phone-free dinners.

2. 02What I've Noticed

   Here's what I've noticed lately. At most dinners, at least one of us is looking at a phone. Our meals have become shorter and quieter, and we rarely hear about each other's day.

3. 03The Proposal

   My proposal is simple. Before dinner, we put our phones in a basket in the kitchen. They stay there until everyone has finished eating. To keep it realistic, it's only on weekdays.

4. 04Why It's Worth Trying

   I believe it's worth trying for three reasons. We'd have real conversations, we'd actually taste the food that took time to cook, and we'd all get a short break from our screens.

5. 05"But What If It's Urgent?"

   I can already hear the first objection: what if something urgent happens? That's a fair concern. The basket is only a few steps away, so if a phone rings for something important, of course we can answer it.

6. 06"Won't It Feel Awkward?"

   Another worry is that dinner might feel awkward at first. To help, I've made a small box of question cards, like "What was the best part of your day?" We can pick one if the table gets too quiet.

7. 07A Fair Trial

   I'm not asking for a forever rule. Let's try it for two weeks, and then vote as a family. If most of us don't like it, we'll stop. That seems fair, doesn't it?

8. 08Conclusion

   To sum up, all I'm asking for is one basket and two weeks. Our phones will still be there after dinner, but these family dinners won't last forever. Thank you, and let's eat.