Tommy the Tortoise Learns to Turn Off the Tablet at Dinner
By Bill Conley – America’s Favorite
Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Family dinners are not just about
food, but about sharing time, stories, and love together around the table. When a child insists on having a tablet or television during dinner, they miss the chance to connect with their family and learn the joy of
conversation. A meal should not be about getting a special dish made just for one person but
about eating together, appreciating what is provided, and learning gratitude. When children complain or throw fits because they cannot watch or play during
dinner, they lose the chance to build lasting memories with the people who care
for them most.
Dinner is a sacred time where distractions should be set aside so that
attention can be given to one another. Food fills the stomach, but love and conversation fill the heart, and these
cannot happen when screens are in the way. Eating together teaches respect, gratitude, patience, and the value of family, lessons that are more important than any game or show. The gift of dinner is not just the meal—it is the family gathered together, and
that is worth more than any tablet or television.
In the quiet meadow of Sunnyvale,
where daisies swayed in the breeze and little fireflies blinked like lanterns
at night, lived a young tortoise named Tommy. Tommy had a shiny green shell, a
curious nose, and a love for his shiny red tablet.
Tommy loved playing games, watching
videos, and clicking buttons on his tablet. He carried it everywhere—on the
grass, by the pond, even under his blanket at night. But there was one time of
day when his parents insisted, “No tablet, Tommy. It’s family dinner time.”
Tommy didn’t like that rule.
One evening, as Mama Tortoise laid
out steaming plates of fresh vegetables, roasted carrots, and warm bread, Tommy
plopped into his chair with his tablet clutched tightly in his claws. “I’ll
just play while I eat,” he muttered.
Papa Tortoise shook his head gently.
“Tommy, dinner is a time for family, not screens. Please put it away.”
Tommy frowned. “But I like eating
with my tablet. It makes food more fun. If I can’t have it, I don’t want to
eat!”
Mama sighed, but she didn’t give in.
“Tommy, you must learn. Dinner is not just about eating food. It’s about being
together, listening, and sharing. The tablet will always be there later. We
will not make you a special meal, and we will not allow distractions at this
table.”
Tommy huffed and pushed at his
plate. “But what if I don’t like what’s on it? Why can’t you just make me
something else?”
Papa’s voice grew firm. “Because
family dinner is not about getting everything your way. It is about being
grateful, respectful, and connected. Throwing fits won’t change that.”
Tommy sulked through the meal that
night, barely nibbling his food, his mind still on the games he was missing. He
thought his parents were unfair.
The next day, Mama decided to teach
him a lesson. She invited Tommy to watch her prepare dinner. She chopped
vegetables slowly, stirred soup in a pot, and baked warm rolls. “Do you see,
Tommy?” she said gently. “This meal takes time and love. When we eat together,
it isn’t just to fill our bellies. It is to show gratitude for what is given
and to give thanks for one another.”
That evening, when dinner was
served, Mama asked Tommy to try again. “This time,” she said, “no tablet. Just
us.”
Tommy hesitated. But then Papa began
telling a funny story about his day at work. Mama shared a memory from her own
childhood. Soon, Tommy was laughing so hard he almost dropped a carrot on the
floor.
For the first time, he noticed how
warm the bread tasted when eaten together. He noticed how nice it was to tell
his own story and be listened to. He noticed that dinner wasn’t boring at
all—it was actually fun.
After the meal, Tommy smiled. “Mama,
Papa… I think I understand. Dinner isn’t just food. It’s time with you.”
Papa nodded. “That’s right, son.
Food feeds your stomach, but family feeds your soul.”
From then on, Tommy left his tablet
on the shelf whenever dinner was called. He still played games after, but he
knew nothing on a screen could ever replace laughter and stories around the
table.
Dinner time had become family time,
and Tommy never wanted to miss it again.
Moral
of the Story Poem:
A screen can wait, a game can pause,
But family comes with greater cause.
No need for shows or tablets near,
The best of times are gathered here.
Food will fill your hungry heart,
But love and laughter play their part.
So put screens down, let bonding start,
For family meals are love’s true art.
Discussion
Questions
1.
Why did Tommy want to use his tablet
at dinner, and what did his parents teach him instead?
2.
What made Tommy realize that family
dinners were actually fun?
3.
How can you make your own family
dinners special without screens or distractions?
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