One of the tougher things about learning how to be at home all day is eating alone.

While I enjoy a meal on my own once in a while—I experiment with something I’m not sure John will like, turn on Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, and eat on the couch in yoga pants—a dinner every now and then and breakfast and lunch every single day are two very different things.

When I was abroad, I learned the difference between being alone when you want to be and being lonely when you just can’t help it.  When I was pregnant and imagining how my life would change with a little one, I really worried about being lonely. Thankfully, in this last year in Brooklyn, not only have I made great mommy friends, but I’ve also learned to better enjoy quiet time by myself.  (For the record, Jacob woke up to eat as I finished typing that line, right on cue!)  My days get very busy very quickly, and an hour of quiet and stillness is sometimes just what I need to recharge and jump back in again.

As character-building as all that can be, it’s still really nice to have someone to eat with every day.  Luckily, I now have a standing lunch date with one of the coolest guys I know.  Sometimes we even share food—turkey and avocado sandwiches are our recent favorites.

His table manners leave something to be desired, but he’s got one heck of a smile, so I think I can manage to let the rest slide.