When we think about the good old days, I bet a lot of us also relates such memories with the time we had together as a family, and also the tradition of eating together, especially dinner, I remember how dad would always makes make sure he comes back early from work so he doesn't miss out hearing how we spent the day at school and home and also if we faced any difficulty, this mostly happens during dinner time, and that very act increased the family bond abd sort of creates a heartwarming memory engraved in our minds.
Today, a lot of parents are so engrossed with making ends meet and providing comfort to their family at the expense of family time, not even having the time to share dinner together. Mums come back from home exhausted and might have already left the care if their children, feeding and all to maids, while some fathers spend some time away from home working, and only appear every once in a while. The one's that manage to come back home daily probably arrive late when the children are asleep and leave very early the next morning.
The economy has become so harsh, a lot of meaningful moments like eating together as a family are no longer considered as important. Well, this is one tradition in my home I've managed to still keep alive as much as I can, and I think my spouse is to be thanked for that. At first, I found it funny when he would always want me to serve him some types of food like rice in a big tray instead of a plate, and this means I have to join him in eating, according to him, his mum did same for him and his brothers, so it has become a part of him.
When the children became a part of the picture, this tradition of serving his meals in a big tray still continued, not only do I join him in eating from his big tray of food, our children also join in as well, thereby increasing the bond between us as a family. I noticed just like I did with my father, my children are also closer to their dad, and easily tell him how their day went during this family time together, formed during meal time as he is not like some African dads that have their special plates, cups etc.
Just yesterday, I spent the evening with my extended family, and it was so much fun getting to enjoy a special traditional delicacy with my parents, siblings, and other extended members of my family. My dad invites us once in a while like this, and it's always a great opportunity to bond and catch up on each other's lives.
As we sat together talking about our different ups and downs and even the funny ones that made us laugh, I couldn't help but think about how important it is to prioritize family time. In today's world, where everyone is busy with work and responsibilities, it's easy for family time to fall by the wayside. But I believe that's a mistake. Family is everything, and the time we spend together is what creates lasting memories and also strengthens our bonds. By making time for family meals and activities, we show our loved ones that they matter and also that we care about them.
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