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Let’s Bring Back Potlucks and Those Casual Dinner Parties, Please
Not long ago, I found immense joy in hosting gatherings—be it lively parties, casual meet-ups, or intimate dinner soirées. My husband and I used to hold Sunday Night Dinners with friends, aiming to shake off the weekend blues. After welcoming our first child, we continued the tradition, inviting friends over for Saturday night feasts. After putting our little one down for bed, we would gather around our modest kitchen table, indulging in laughter, too much wine, and great conversations.
Fast forward ten years and two children later, and those spontaneous dinner parties have dwindled into distant memories. Our close-knit circle has changed, and despite forming new friendships, the challenge of coordinating dinner invites—especially with kids in tow—has become nearly impossible amid our busy lives and conflicting schedules.
Over time, the effort required to host gatherings started feeling overwhelming. Juggling daily chores left little room for extra tasks like grocery shopping, cleaning, and meal prep. So, we shifted our social life to restaurants, enjoyed solo date nights, and reserved entertaining for special occasions like birthdays or holidays.
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on those carefree dinner gatherings of yore. I genuinely miss them—miss my friends, miss the spontaneous conversations that flow around a table. A year ago, I stumbled upon the concept of “Friday Night Meatballs,” and I came across an article titled “5 Rules for Hosting a Crappy Dinner Party (and Seeing Your Friends More Often).” It made me question why I was complicating things. Why not simplify our get-togethers? Is there a way to enjoy time with friends without breaking the bank on babysitters?
It dawned on me: I was the one making this harder than it needed to be. I’d set unrealistic standards, conflating entertaining with hospitality. These gatherings were meant to be about connection, laughter, and joy—not about serving gourmet meals or having a spotless home. Whether I offered grilled cheese or filet mignon didn’t matter; what truly counted was the warmth of our welcome and the joy of shared moments.
Just last weekend, some friends from out of town popped in for a quick visit. I didn’t tidy up beforehand, nor did I prepare a lavish meal. Instead, we enjoyed mediocre delivery pizza and a few bottles of red wine. We dove into discussions about politics, reminisced about the past, and shared plenty of laughs. It was a delightful time, messy house and greasy pizza aside.
So let’s ditch the notion of “entertaining” and focus on genuine hospitality. Let’s revive the half-hearted dinner party and the hodgepodge potluck. Let’s invite friends over without worrying about the state of our homes or the grocery list. Let’s prioritize connection over perfection—ask our pals to bring dessert, order that greasy pizza, or whip up some simple grilled cheese. Let’s laugh until we snort cheap wine out of our noses.
Friendship isn’t about creating a Pinterest-perfect event; it’s about comfort, kindness, and togetherness. So here’s to embracing the chaos and celebrating our friendships in their most authentic form.
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In summary, let’s put aside the pressure of perfect gatherings and remember that it’s the people that make the moments special.