Most parents already know that family mealtimes are great for children. But what may come as ________ news to parents is that these shared meals are also good for ________.

When kids are present at ________, parents may eat more ________, perhaps to ________ good behavior and provide the best food they can to their kids. Parents who dine with their kids also tend to report less ________ and overeating. Parents may avoid some of these destructive behaviors when they know their ________ are watching and ready to ________.

Researchers have also found that having frequent family meals is associated with better ________ health for both mothers and fathers, despite mothers’ carrying more of the ________ of meal preparation. Compared with parents who ________ ate family meals, parents who regularly ________ with their kids reported higher levels of family functioning, greater self-esteem and lower levels of ________ symptoms and stress. Since it’s the atmosphere at the dinner table that ________ most considerably to emotional well-being, takeout or prepared food eaten at home will ________ nicely too.

Just as for children, family dinner is the most reliable time of the day for adults to ________ and talk to others. It’s a time to step away from video calls, emails and to-do lists, and ________ connect face to face. Dinnertime often ________ for a few laughs, a time to decrease the ________ and also to talk about the day’s events and what tomorrow ________.

Music to My Ears

Robby was 10 for his first piano lesson in my class. Much as he tried, he____even the basic rhythm(节奏）. However, he dutifully reviewed the pieces that I required.

Over the months he tried and tried while I____and encouraged him. At the end of each lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day."____it seemed hopeless.

I only knew his mother from a __ as she waited in her aged car to pick him up. Then one day Robby stopped coming. I was secretly____that he stopped because of his lack of ability. Weeks later I informed the students, including Robby, of the coming recital（独奏）. To my____, Robby asked me if he could be included. I told him he really did not qualify because he had____out. He said his mom had been sick and unable to take him to lessons but he was still____.

"I've just got to play!" he____. Something inside me let me allow him to.

Then came the recital night. The gym was____with parents. I put Robby up____, thinking that I could save his poor performance through my "curtain closer（谢幕）."

The recital went off smoothly. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was ___. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?" I thought.

Robby pulled out the piano bench and began. I was not____for what I heard next. His fingers were___ on the keys. Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people of his age. After he ended, everyone rose___ their feet in wild applause.

In ___I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby. "I've never heard you play like that, Robby! How did you__it?"

Robby explained, "Well, Miss Hondorf…remember I told you my mom was sick? …___she had cancer and passed away yesterday. She was born deaf, so tonight she could hear me play in heaven. I wanted to make it special."

There wasn’t a__eye in the house. That night I felt he was the teacher and I was the pupil, for it was he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and__.