Family are the closest set of people we've around us, and they're not just close by blood but also dear to us. There are several things that create strong bonds between families, and one of such is eating together at the same table. Growing up, that was how we ate, and even though things change with time, I can't help but say how much I think highly of the act, and in this article I'll be writing extensively on what I think about family eating together and how it impacts the family.
When it comes to family, a lot of things make us stay together and increase the bond, such as love and affection, shared experience, communication, trust, reliability, respect, empathy, shared values and traditions, support, encouragement, forgiveness, understanding, commitment, and several others. Amongst the above shared experiences is the category of dining together, and it's an essential part of the family that can go on to impact the family's love.
Dining together contributes greatly to building and maintaining a strong, loving relationship in the family. Like they say, we all need each other, and for there to be a cordial bond between family, we must find ways for us to be together now that we can.
Imagine the father goes to work at the early hour of the morning, the mother does the same, and the children also go to school or their respective place of learning. Each one won't have enough time to relate with their family as they'll be busy and need to give their all to what they're doing at work or school, so when home rather than everyone eating together, they'll do it separately in their own room or at their desired time.
The dining table is the best place, as you can easily utilize that opportunity to relate with everyone. I understand they use to say table manners; don't eat while talking, but then after the meal everyone can still remain at the table and converse, talking about their day and everything that revolves around their life. That way the family bond will increase.
I've seen some family members who hardly see one another due to the nature of their work and how tired they all claim to be after work and are not bothered to relate to one another physically; instead, you'll see them. Dropping notes for each other to communicate—that's a bad thing and not ideal for the bond of the relationship, because with time such a family will lose its substance, and family who don't find ways to bond are on the blink of breaking apart because other people will definitely give your partner the attention you're not giving them.
In my family, while growing up, we usually eat together, even though we don't have a dining table then, yet everyone sits around on the sofa and eats; no one is allowed to eat later or take their food elsewhere, such as my grandparents, whom I grew up with, and that's their way of creating a unique bond and sense of belonging between us. We also use the opportunity to talk, share our needs, jokes, and even make fun of one another when we're done eating, although sometimes even the adults are allowed to talk while we eat, but we the young ones aren't, and I understand why.
Presently, since everyone stays on their own, I can't necessarily say I know how that feels again since I stay by myself and do it at my own pace, but then each time I go home to my family during the holidays, I make sure to revive that tradition, and it's been awesome because I get to interact with everyone again before they get busy with their daily activities.
I won't entirely say not eating together would affect the family dynamics; if there are other ways the family interacts, then it won't be a problem, but in a situation where no other means is utilized, then I'm afraid such a family will be affected, so we must give it all it takes to make our family work, and ways to do that are bonding via every possible means.
All photos are taken and edited on canva.