This current prompt brings heartwarming memories of my childhood days and how I have also passed the same tradition subconsciously to my current nuclear family. Though breakfast and lunch don't always have us sitting together as a family to eat as Dad rushes to work and us to school where we also have our lunch break. Having dinner together as a family was kind of a tradition, to me I felt it was normal to eat that way as a family, it wasn't until I got to stay with other families especially when I had to move to another state for schooling purposes.
It wasn't even the normal dining table setting, most times, my mum would serve our meal on a large stainless tray, and everyone, both young and old would dig in and have their fill, although some people, the flash eaters like my immediate younger sister who is a pro at rushing her meals and always tend to have the largest portion, while a picky eater like myself takes the smaller ration, which also gets topped by my mum because she knew our capabilities, sometimes I don't that she eats more than me and most times I don't.
I think having family meals not only brings us together to get that family time but irrespective of the hustle and bustle, we know that dinner would be served together, it also helps us understand and bond with each other better. Having a dad who left early for work even before we were awake, but he made sure to be back right on time around when dinner would be served, even though talking while eating is considered a bad table manner, my dad still tries to initiate conversation about knowing how my day went, especially in school and little me would be always happy to have my dad with me for those little hours while as I share my encounters, troubles, successes, and of course billings follows as well, daddy buy me this or school fee reminder happens during this moments.
What about being a couple, eating together as a family makes reconciliation easy, no, you can't get your separate plate, remember everyone eats together unless you decide to sleep with a hungry stomach because you don't want to say sorry during dinner time. This very reason is also a huge part of why I sometimes introduce the stainless tray method during dinner or sometimes lunch at home, my husband won't say no to his food no matter how upset he is, so you see why most families who have lost themselves to the stress of the current situation needs to try. To create that family moment over meal, as it can be relieving just being around those you live with and live,, your blood for a couple of minutes a day, busy parents, no matter how many staffs they've gotten shouldn't neglect to have the meal time family bond.
It's not just about the food you eat, but the lasting memories you create over the years.
