My daughter asked why I always set the table with napkins but everyone just uses paper towels from the roll

I told her the napkins are aspirational.

They represent the family we could be—the ones who dab politely and fold linen triangles like swans.

But we're the family who reaches for Brawny mid-chew because someone knocked over the milk.

Punchline

The napkins stay. They're not for using—they're for looking like we tried.