A good family is a good thing; a good family is people who will stand with you when the world turns against you. Recently, my dad was telling me a story of Fela Kuti. A man who stood against a bad government, this man talks about the ill treatment of the people, and many times he has been arrested, but this doesn't stop his family from standing by him. Even when he was in prison, they would always visit him and make sure he was doing good. Do you know the best part of this story? After he gets back from prison, they will all share food at the same table.
In a world moving at the speed of instant messages and endless to-do lists, the simple act of sharing a meal has quietly faded into the background. But remember those warm, nostalgic movie scenes where laughter echoes around a dinner table, stories are passed like the salt, and connection is rekindled with every bite? It's not just about the food, not the gist, or the laughter; there is something else that goes on while eating together.
Ask yourself this question: "When was the last time your family sat down, without distractions, and truly ate together?" Do you know there is a different kind of bonding that is between siblings who eat together, and there is a difference amongst siblings who don't eat together.
During the #hivelearners discord talk show today, the speaker 
If a parent eats in the same plate as a child while allowing the other child(ren) to eat separately, then inner hatred might be developed for that child by their siblings.
I have said this many times, and I would say it again. While growing up under my parents' roof, my parents would make sure my siblings and I ate at the same time, same plate, and make sure we shared the protein among ourselves. Many time my sister use her teeth to cut meat for me, and I would eat it with love. This made me see her as a provider in a way, and I always want to protect her.
It got to a point, my little sister and I got into the same university at the same time. We stayed in the same apartment while in school, we have the same dining table. Sometimes when I am out, my sister won't be able to eat because I wasn't back from class. It went on like that, and when I want to eat and she's not around, I would be able to eat until she's back home. This made me want to look out for her, and I always think of her when I want to eat. I always want to know if she has also eaten.
That’s what eating together does: it builds something deeper than memories. It plants seeds of loyalty, compassion, and unity. It becomes more than just sharing food; it becomes sharing life. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a stronger bond in your family, maybe the answer is not in long talks or forced activities. Maybe, it’s just in sitting at the same table, sharing a meal.
So, don’t just eat to fill your stomach, eat to fill your family. Bring everyone to the table, not just for food. Because a family that eats together, stays together.
Thanks for reading. My name is Fashtioluwa.
