JOIN USIt’s said that the dining table is the heart of the home and a family who dines together, stays together. But with the busy lifestyles we lead, it’s either impossible to come together for a meal or many chose to ignore that they can.
With one’s current lifestyle, there are chances that many don’t get to dine together at all. However, there are still a few families who ensure that they meet at home at least once a day, mostly for dinner and talk about their day.
Alice, a beautician, and her family ensure that they get together for dinner. She says, “We all have our respective jobs during the day time, so evenings are the only time we get to be together. Around 8.30 pm when mom announces that dinner is ready, we come together for supper. We usually don’t talk much as dad believes that one must concentrate on the food. Very often, this rule isn’t followed and we go on with our conversations.”
Alice and her family hail from China, and she claims that many Chinese families even today maintain togetherness for their meals.
“It’s part of our culture and we have grown up with that mentality. I’m glad we get together at least once a day, even if it is just for a little bit; we go on about our individual lives before and after that,” she adds.
There are also other families like Alice’s that follow these traditions. Aditi Umeshmhatre, a search marketer, says that no matter how late it is for dinner, everyone eats together. “For dinner we sit together and talk about everything under the sun. Although it usually revolves around my mother — pulling her leg on what she has cooked or for watching soap operas.”
She also says it is these light moments that make her open up to them. “I’ve heard of many families who don’t come together for even one meal, so their relationship isn’t strong. I don’t find it a burden or annoying to sit with them and enjoy a meal,” says Aditi.
As many youngsters have come into the city to find jobs, it becomes physically impossible to be together. But those who share apartments try to build a relationship with their flatmates so that they can call them their family.
Alex Thomas, an interactive designer, lives with 5 other flatmates who he calls family. He says, “We all have our own professions and our timings don’t always match. But we make sure we sit down for a meal together and watch an episode of a show after that. ”
He adds, “We are all individuals with different thought processes. If we get a chance to sit down and talk to the people we live with, it helps improve our lifestyle and know the person better. It’s all about living in harmony after all!”