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Raise your hand if your mealtimes look a little something like this: Just as everyone sits down, it starts. Your kindergartner wants to tell you all about a new game he played after Show and Tell, your second grader is bursting to tell you about how she won the class Spelling Bee, and your husband would like to get a word in edgewise about his day. And where does that leave you? Without even a 15 second slot to tell anyone about what you got accomplished, or any accolades you got at work.

Whew! Scenarios like this are not uncommon in today’s busy households. With everyone doing so much during the day, sharing these experiences during dinner is a great way to swap news and bond.

Structuring the conversation, especially with children at the table, can be a bit tricky sometimes, and that’s where the idea of the Round-Robin Mealtime comes in. Prepare to be amazed at the simplicity of it all.

Instead of everyone clamoring to be heard, introduce the concept of ‘the baton’. The baton could be anything – a salt-shaker, a wooden spoon or, if you’re feeling especially whimsical, a magic wand. The rule is that whoever is in possession of the baton has the floor. Equally important is the idea that while someone is speaking everyone else has to listen. No exceptions.

Imagine your 5-year old’s glee at getting his turn with the baton. He can enthrall everyone about his day constructing Play-Doh dinosaurs and learning his numbers. He’ll be telling the entire family about his day and feel that inner glow that everyone is listening to what he has to say.

There’s just one more rule, and that is to set a time limit for holding the baton. Pass the baton to your 13-year old daughter and you’ll be sitting at the table all night as she regales the family with every detail of her best friend Tanya’s new boyfriend’s leather jacket.

Yikes! Conversely, your 6-year old, who is as shy as a bunny when all eyes are on him, might be hard pressed to make it 30 seconds before passing the baton off to someone else. Encourage him to speak up! By setting limits, no one talks too long, or too little. Five minutes should be enough to get all the important stuff in, and a few trivial things too.

You can also try setting a topic for discussion. Asking everyone where the family should go on the next vacation is guaranteed to get a conversation started. Using the Round-Robin technique is a great way to discuss important issues and get everyone’s opinion weighed in. You could also talk about what is on the planner for this weekend, or do something fun like playing ‘Getting To Know You’. This is a great game for dinnertime, and works well with the Round-Robin format.

It’s not hard to figure out. Someone picks a question, such as “What is your favorite movie, and why?”, and everyone goes around answering the question. You can also spice things up by asking about embarrassing moments, what their biggest challenge has been, etc. It’s a great way to get everyone talking and laughing during dinner, and using the Round-Robin format will ensure everyone gets to participate.

Round-Robin Mealtimes give everyone a chance to talk and be important, and also teaches the importance of active listening. It’s a great way for everyone to be involved in the dinnertime conversation!

Copyright (c) 2007 Pat Brill

Concrete counter tops are quickly becoming the favorite of many because of their unusual construction, the way they can conform to almost any shape, their durability and their actual beauty. Maintaining and preserving the beauty of these counter tops will take some special care, however.

Just like any other counter top out there, concrete is not beyond damage. With this in mind, it is very important to care for them as directed to ensure they look as great in year 10 as they do on day one.

Basic maintenance advice for these counter tops includes:

* Play it smart. Concrete is very durable, but it isn’t beyond damage. Considering this, it is a very good idea to try and avoid dropping heavy objects on them or even placing overly heavy items on their tops. Harsh hits can cause cracking, which can lead to other problems.

* Don’t play with knives. While concrete generally won’t be damaged by cutting directly on its surface, the sealer used to protect the counters might be. It’s not a good idea to cut directly on these counters because of this. Use a cutting board to protect the sealer, and even the knives used for cutting!

* Keep it cool. Again, concrete doesn’t easily damage due to heat, but the sealer might. It is always very smart, no matter the kind of counter top purchased, to go ahead and use hotplates or pads to protect the surface from damage. If something very hot does come in contact with the countertops, check for worn spots in the sealer.

* Clean up staining spills right away. Concrete doesn’t stain, but its sealer can. To avoid permanent discoloration, try and clean up spills right away. Wipe them up with a basic sponge or clean cloth.

* Reseal as necessary. There is no hard and fast rule on how often these counter tops should be resealed. It is a good idea to do this every so often, however, or when worn spots appear. Counters with hairline cracks should be resealed immediately.

Keeping concrete counter tops clean can extend their lifespan greatly. With this in mind, here are the basic cleaning instructions:

* Basic cleaning. Make sure to clean up spills as quickly as possible and do routine cleaning as needed. Generally, soapy, warm water and a clean cloth is all that’s necessary to keep these counter looking good. Avoid using abrasive items to clean these counters. Instead, use a normal sponge or cloth.

* Heavy cleaning. If heavier cleaning is necessary, find a cleaner made for these counter tops or at least a neutral pH cleanser to protect the sealer. Anything that has bleach or ammonia in it should not be used. Heavy cleaning likely will not be necessary if spills are cleaned up right away and basic wash downs take place on a regular basis.

Concrete counter tops can be incredibly beautiful and amazingly durable. Caring for them correctly is very important for extending their potential lifespan. If improper use damages the sealer, problems can arise. Be certain to follow instructions for proper care of these counters to extend their life while maintaining their beauty.

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