Do people still gather together around the table to eat? While growing up I've been eating with my family every single time we have a meal. Lunch and dinner, we eat together no matter what. On special occasions, we say grace. But later on, as I got older, I've noticed that this has changed. Not to me though. I eat with my family still. But I notice that not everybody can have that time anymore. Life has changed and thus, family dynamics have changed. Kids would rather eat out. Teens would rather be with friends. Parents eat together.
This is the reality of many people's lives. I'm not saying its a bad thing. I mean, I get that people would just prefer to do other things instead of being with the family every single night. But for me, and my family, eating at the dinner table together is like our time to bond and talk about what's going on in our lives. Outside of that, we are all going about our days, working and going to school. Sometimes we find time to just relax and watch TV together and whatnot, but mostly, we use dinner and lunch time as a way to stay close.
I agree with you on the fact that people don't eat dinner around the table anymore. My family used to when I was younger but I think it depends on the situtation. Our kitchen is tiny and our house is very old ( 200 years) so the heat and the air conditioning doesn't reach in that part of the house so we don't eat there because we would freeze or sweat to death.
I miss the stereotypical eating a home-cooked meal at the dining table experience. Things have changed, that's for sure, and it's not just in my home either.
I eat with my family as well, and I too have noticed many don't eat together anymore. I think people as a whole need to have family meals together again and bring families back together.
Growing up my family always ate dinner late and rarely at the table. I guess when I was really little we must have eaten at the table, but for as long as I can remember we've usually eaten dinner in the living room or family room while watching TV. While eating in front of the tube isn't really something to be proud of, we did eat together as a family.
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."
My family and I sometimes watch TV while we eat too. My mom always says to turn it off, but at least we are all together still enjoying each other's presence. We continue to talk and do things as a family when we are at the dinner table. I don't think that the TV really is a problem when we eat. In fact, sometimes whatever is on TV sparks something to talk about.
I can't remember the last time I ate with my parents. I'm an only child, and my family hasn't eaten together regularly maybe since first grade. We all eat different things, at different times, and in different places. My parents will only occasionally eat together. I think that our culture is moving away from the traditional nuclear family, which I think leads to weaker social ties.
our culture is moving away from the traditional nuclear family, which I think leads to weaker social ties.
I agree. It is scary to not stay close to our family. Especially since they are the ones who will always be there in your life. I mean friends come and go. Good friends will stay. But family.... they will always be your family.
Sometimes we can't help but just be different. Thus, making things like eating together, or just plain doing things together as a family, very difficult to do.
I totally agree and I think that it is very important for families to have that time together. How else can families stay close if they never set aside time for each other?
I'm pretty sure others find other ways to stay close to their families. I know of other families who plans vacations once a year for just their family. That's great, but I think they'd be missing out on so many days with family that can never be taken back.