Once Were Kids

Now all teens (or close enough)

For years we have invited friends around for food and, of course, they have brought their children with them. We eat, we drink, we talk, the kids get bored, they disappear to some other part of the house to do kid stuff. We talk some more, we drink some more, the kids reappear briefly when dessert calls, but are soon out of sight again.

These arrangements have served all parties well for the last decade or so - the kids can gorge themselves on screen time and sugar with parental controls temporarily suspended, and the adults have plenty of time to sit around the table and catch up.

But our visitors who today arrived from Spain and Kosovo brought with them three teenagers. Since Mrs Cogs and I also supplied two teens, the maths meant that 'Adults Proper' were outnumbered by 'Adults In Training'... and when the meal was eaten these creatures didn't leave the table, they stretched out their legs and looked around and talked. And, man, could they talk!

And they were entertaining and amusing, they were provocative and daft, they were opinionated and sure. And we really enjoyed having them stay and spend the apres meal time with us.

Only later when they had left did we realise that, because there were 5 more voices around the table, we actually got to chat with our friends far less than we normally would.