Meal Lessons and Family Bonding

I miss our family bonding especially during mealtime. When I was young my parents would usually start the conversation asking how do we do in school.  Each one of their children would want to have a share of the limelight so each one has his own stories to tell; of course no one must speak very loud and we should not interfere when someone is still talking. Those were a few of the rules we have in front of the table. Mealtime is like a class. No one should be absent nor late. Exemption to the rule is allowed but with valid reasons. Here are the rules that we as children learned to follow during mealtime and we’ve adapted to it as we grow:

• Playing with your food is strictly prohibited. Our mother used to tell us not to talk if our mouth is full. To chew our food quietly and with our mouth close.
• Leaning your elbows on the table is a no no.
• To cover our mouth with our hands while sneezing, coughing and burping while our head is turning away from the food and the person beside us.
• Our hands should be washed first before sitting in front of the table.
• Get amount of food we can actually consume no leftovers on plate.
• No wearing of caps or eating half-naked.
• We are taught the positions of plates, forks and spoons and how are we going to use them.
• Of course, we should not forget to say the grace and give thanks after.

Aside from that, we became closer as a family because of this. Our parents were able to ask our daily activities outside the house. We as children were able to share them our achievements as well as our problems. I truly believe that it helps strengthen family ties. Unfortunately, this value of family eating together seemed to be a thing of the past. Children were left to eat alone. Sometimes when they do eat together, it seemed like a task with too much distractions. Children were caught in the middle of eating and using their cellphones, PSP, computer, or watching television. I observe a lot of children who don’t have table etiquette. It saddens me to think how a good custom could easily be forgotten.

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