Meredith, I love that you were pushed and stretched as a kid at the dinner table. Especially that your opinion was asked—and you were the littlest! I can only imagine all the ways that involvement has impacted your life. Sometimes I really worry that many kids will grow up not knowing how to converse, you know? What will our society be like?

Trina, I'm just happy that my kids are interested in being a part of such conversations. I love watching the wheels turning furiously in their minds, and I love that it gets my wheels turning, too!

Wendy, that whole concept of "presumed sophistication" is really fascinating. Thanks for bringing it up! The information tweens and teens gather on the internet, the clothes they wear, the attitudes they try on—they're all just disguises to mask naivety and innocence. As parents, we shouldn't let ourselves get sucked into the charade.