Beverly Nunes
Instructors Smith and Wells-Edwards
English& 101D OL
20 May 2011
Family Tradition
When I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, the family sat around the dinner table just to have a conversation with mom and dad, brothers and sisters. We talked about what we did during the day, such as school happenings, who we saw at the playground or friends in the neighborhood, it did not matter what the topic was, we were able to catch up on it. Problems and maybe even some secrets were shared between all of us. My dad would sit at the head of the table, and sometimes because there were six of us, my mom would sit opposite my dad to make sure that one of us did not act out or do something that we knew was wrong; either one of them could reach out to discipline us. They were also the ones to keep the peace between my brothers and sisters. Sitting around the dinner table is no more; fast food has taken its place.
With technology in preparing fast food, it seems no one sits around the dinner table anymore, due to the convenience of picking up dinner already prepared. Families can sit anywhere they like during mealtimes; in the car, in front of the television or the computer, on a park bench watching a child’s sports game or whatever after school activity there might be. It’s convenient, quick and easy to come by. Larger towns and cities have restaurants that have to go options, and delivery service in addition to traditional fast food locations. Even the smallest towns have a fast food restaurant.
Presently fewer and fewer families eat their evening meal together at the dinner table. “A new survey has revealed that one in ten families never sit down to an evening meal together. And worryingly, of the few who do manage to sit down together, one in five families then spend less than one minute at the table. Almost 10% of people admitted they don’t eat a meal with their partner and children on a weeknight, with another one in ten saying it only happens once a week. The study of 3000 adults also revealed two thirds of kids yearn for a return to the traditional family dinner time.” Also in this study, “almost one in twenty people even said the family members all eat their meal in a different part of the house.” “Those who do manage to sit at the table together don’t always have the quality time together thanks to mobile phones, Television, and computer games.” (Times of India) This research shows that families no longer taking the time to sit down together for an evening meal.
When I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s; the woman’s role use to be a stay at home mom. However, with the economy today, she has to assist in economically supporting the family. With women joining the workforce, they don’t have time to make a big meal for their family to sit down at the dinner table. Some women view fast food as a treat, eliminating the chore of cooking. (E A Johnson) Getting any kind of fast food is convenient and easy to obtain for the family dinner meal. Convenient and quick is not necessarily the best way to support family connections.
There is a natural tendency to drift apart as children look for and find their own identity and to adventure out on their own, Sitting around the dinner table provides more than a meal, it’s a time to reconnect with each other. It gives families a time to open up the communication link. The dinner table offers the opportunity to bring adults, teens, and younger children together to share their individual experiences or issues of the day. It is a place where life issues are brought up and talked through and possibly even resolved.
The memories that I have about sitting down at the dinner table are of having a good conversation with laugher and joy. “I think the best part about any of these traditions is that it brings the family together. You are all in one place together and having good times creating memories that will last a life time.” (C J Tillotson) These kinds of memories are shared by many. However, the tradition of sitting around the dinner table for a meal is conveniently substituted by fast food dining.
“This dinner ritual is about more than providing your body with required sustenance. It gives families a time to reconnect with the people closest to them and opens the doors of communication.” (Importance of Family Dinners) The Times of India research also states “…. four out of ten children have even asked their mum or dad to have more evening meals as a family. “ While interaction during meal times strengthens and bonds the family, the new technology of fast food is contributing to its decline.
Works Cited
Times of India. “Families that don’t dine together.” 10 May, 2011
Johnson, E.A. Blog comment. 29 Aug. 1992
Tillotson, C J. Blog comment. 10 May, 2011
Oppapers.com/essays. “Importance-Family-Dinners.” 20 May, 2011
03 June 2011
Family Tradition
When I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, the family sat around the dinner table just to have a conversation with mom and dad, brothers and sisters. We talked about what we did during the day, such as school happenings, who we saw at the playground or friends in the neighborhood, it did not matter what the topic was, we were able to catch up on it. Problems and maybe even some secrets were shared between all of us. My dad would sit at the head of the table, and sometimes because there were six of us, my mom would sit opposite my dad to make sure that one of us did not act out or do something that we knew was wrong; either one of them could reach out to discipline us. They were also the ones to keep the peace between my brothers and sisters. Families sitting around the dinner table are no more; fast food has taken its place.
With technology in preparing fast food, it seems no one sits around the dinner table anymore, due to the convenience of picking up dinner already prepared. Families can sit anywhere they like during mealtimes; in the car, in front of the television or the computer, on a park bench watching a child’s sports game or whatever after school activity there might be. It’s convenient, quick and easy to come by. Larger towns and cities have restaurants that have to go options, and delivery service in addition to traditional fast food locations. Even the smallest towns have a fast food restaurant.
Presently fewer and fewer families eat their evening meal together at the dinner table. “A new survey has revealed that one in ten families never sit down to an evening meal together. And worryingly, of the few who do manage to sit down together, one in five families then spend less than one minute at the table. Almost 10% of people admitted they don’t eat a meal with their partner and children on a weeknight, with another one in ten saying it only happens once a week. The study of 3000 adults also revealed two thirds of kids yearn for a return to the traditional family dinner time.” Also in this study, “almost one in twenty people even said the family members all eat their meal in a different part of the house.” “Those who do manage to sit at the table together don’t always have the quality time together thanks to mobile phones, Television, and computer games.” (Times of India) This research shows that families no longer taking the time to sit down together for an evening meal.
Family traditions were changing due to the facts that mom’s were having to help pay the bills and to have food on the table. When I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s; the woman’s role use to be a stay at home mom. However, with the economy today, she has to assist in economically supporting the family. With women joining the workforce, they don’t have time to make a big meal for their family to sit down at the dinner table. Some women view fast food as a treat, eliminating the chore of cooking. (E A Johnson) Getting any kind of fast food is convenient and easy to obtain for the family dinner meal. Convenient and quick is not necessarily the best way to support family connections.
Sitting around the dinner table provides more than a meal; it’s a time to reconnect with each other. It gives families a time to open up the communication link. The dinner table offers the opportunity to bring adults, teens, and younger children together to share their individual experiences or issues of the day. It is a place where life issues are brought up and talked through and possibly even resolved.
The family memories that I have about sitting down at the dinner table is about having a good conversation with my Mom and Dad along with my brothers and sisters; sharing the laugher and joy. “I think the best part about any of these traditions is that it brings the family together. One of the blogs I read from my classmate stated “You are all in one place together and having good times creating memories that will last a life time.” (C J Tillotson) These kinds of memories are shared by many.
I believe that families today are not finding the time to just sit down at the dinner table to enjoy each other and to find out what everyone did that day or week. “This dinner ritual is about more than providing your body with required sustenance. It gives families a time to reconnect with the people closest to them and opens the doors of communication.” (Importance of Family Dinners) The Times of India research also states “…. four out of ten children have even asked their mum or dad to have more evening meals as a family. “ While interaction during meal times strengthens and bonds the family together, the new technology of fast food is contributing to its decline. People are going in several different ways because of work, sports, or schooling, so they are not taking the time to sit down with their family to reconnect.
Works Cited
Times of India. “Families that don’t dine together.” 10 May, 2011
Johnson, E.A. Blog comment. 29 Aug. 1992
Tillotson, C J. Blog comment. 10 May, 2011
Oppapers.com/essays. “Importance-Family-Dinners.” 20 May, 2011/88355?topic
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