'It got rocky when my grown daughter moved back home — but TV brought us together. '
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I paused. Then, instead of snapping, I held out the container, looked at her deadpan, and in a deliberate monotone asked: “What am I supposed to do with this?”with a quote from “Dinner Party,” our favorite episode. And with those words, the tension between us dissolved. She laughed, apologized for the unwashed container, and took it to the sink to clean it.
My daughter was used to coming and going as she pleased, and while she was respectful about checking in if she’d be out late or wasn’t coming home, her living habits were bumping against mine. Sammie’s sleep schedule was inversely aligned with my husband’s and mine, and she thought nothing of starting a load of laundry at 10:00 at night.
At least two nights a week, when our schedules meshed, my husband, Sammie, and I began meeting in the den to stream. That we’d seen each episode multiple times only added to our enjoyment — we eagerly anticipated our favorite lines. Laughing and relaxed, our family was finally in sync. Our late-night fun also provided us new ways to communicate, as familiar lines from our favorite TV shows began to infiltrate our daily conversations.
With my daughter, what started as an excuse to spend more time together quickly morphed into more than entertainment. TV comedies became a bridge across our differences, a way to connect more meaningfully. Belly laughs smoothed the way for more difficult conversations. One night, after turning off the television, Sammie turned to me before we headed upstairs.
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