As time passes, the structure of family dinnertime in many families has changed drastically. Family members gathering around the dinner table to enjoy a meal and chat has changed from being a highly valued tradition to a more casual and personalized experience.
Family members frequently have completely different schedules these days because of employment requirements, extracurricular activities, or personal interests. As a result, dinnertime has changed into something and hectic activity. Many families let each member eat at their own pace, at their own time, and in separate places, even if some still want to have a regular, sit-down dinner together.
Dinnertime is something we obeyed when we were young and no one dared not to be at the dining table for dinner but now we have a different obligation that takes us apart and everyone finds their way.
I do not remember the last time I had dinner with my family, I am always busy with work and most times I must have sorted myself out before getting home to avoid eating late and not to delay other members who are hungry and willing to eat, I detest eating late and my family members will always love to wait for me so that everyone can eat together, but dinner time doesn't work for me.
Most times I skip dinner, eating together as one family is never for me, the only time I know I do eat with my family is during the Christmas season when everyone will be present at home and I always have free time, I am always away from work and have time for my family, this is the only time I know I can have dinner with my family.
Eating together doesn't symbolize or strengthen our bond and it doesn't change anything about us, even when I am free from work I can decide to eat in my room and no one can stop me, sitting for a long time can be so difficult for me, most times I can be eating and be pressing my phone at the same time, I can never try this with my siblings whenever we are eating together or with my mother, they will always tell me it is a sign of disrespect, so I always avoid this and move straight to my room whenever I am ready for dinner.
Now that everyone is busy with work or other activities, it is very hard to come as one and eat dinner together, my brother will eat outside before coming home, and likewise me as well, no one is ready to be stressed preparing dinner after a long day at home and tiredness, the only thing I can do is to bath and sleep in other to prepare myself for the next day.
We can be forced to eat together as one family when we are young and still stay with our parents but the moment you are alone then it will be difficult to observe dinner, I skip dinner most times or just do something light by drinking tea.
It is lovely to eat together as one family if time permits you, I love the uniqueness and the way family shares stories while eating because I had a fantastic experience with one of my family friends when I was invited for dinner, it was an awesome moment to share together, I wish I can relate like that with my family but work will always take my dinner time away from me.
Family will always remain family no matter how far away you are, the moment you share will always be unique but eating together will never determine the bond you share as one family. This is my response to today's episode of hive-learners community prompt of #hl-w141e1 which the topic is tagged FAMILY DINNER