Gather `Round: Reclaiming The Lost Art Of Family Dinner

This prompt brought back a lot of memories especially the times when my siblings and I had to live with family relatives while dad was away. I've lived in a large and small family homes, the difference with how the dinner was served is different. The larger the family size, the more unlikely dinner is served together.

Even though I was very little then, I can still remember eating most of my meals with my dad and siblings at the same table. Observing table manners very poorly as dad is very likely to give some advice while we eat. This culture did not change in the many years of my life until I left for school and we got too busy with life worries.

I remember how our family dinner is like, like it is still going on. My siblings and I setting the table or the floor (we did eat sitting on the floor before we got a table), making sure the meals are well covered so we could have everyone on the table before we start eating. Dad's prayer was a tradition we appreciated and we greet in unison.

We were just four most of the times we ate as family in the house but we could be as loud as a larger house when we eat on some days that we feel was good. Maybe dad sharing a good news or plans for his children in the future or my siblings sharing what had happened during school time so dad could give an advice or correct us.

The most beautiful part of our eating together was that, we get to spend time with each other before the day starts and before we retire for the day. I remember the times we had visitors stay at our place long enough to understand that we always want to eat together and they find it admirable as they don't get to do such in their own place.

Thanks to those times we ate together, my family and I learnt more about ourselves more than we could have if not for those meals. It actually made me understand why people tend to have dinner dates when they want to make their interest known, there is a beautiful form of bond in eating together. It is an art my family is beginning to lose.

Now, whoever is ready to eat go serve themselves in the kitchen almost not minding if the others have eaten or not. Although sometimes or should I say, once in a while, we all eat together but only some kind of meals that forces us to. My siblings still eat together when we are all at home but dad leaves for work too early to join us.

I've seen families have it worse with how their dinner is served but I'm hoping it will not get to that for my own family. I appreciate the times I spend eating, talking and laughing with my family growing up. It helped our bonds, my morals and idea about what a family should be. It's a culture I want to carry on to my own future family.