I used to think family dinners were just a nice tradition, but after we lost my father-in-law last year, those 30 minutes around the table became our anchor. We share actual stories, not just updates, and my teenager started talking about school without me asking. Still, I wonder if we're romanticizing something that doesn't work for every family with shift work and activities. Maybe the ritual matters more than the meal itself, and I'm not sure we can force it without making everyone miserable. Does the pressure to have regular family dinners actually help or hurt modern families?