A recent news from a Malaysian province is that the government is offering free honeymoons package to rekindle the romance between married couples on the brink of divorce. Divorce rate is increasing in every country and culture. We know the gossips and what celebrities eat, talk and shop but clueless about happenings in the life of our spouse,children and parents. We communicate more with world but talk less with our dear ones within our walls. Such is the sorry state of affairs in many of ours home department.
Its a fast paced world and the popular saying “Family that eats together, stays together” holds more importance now. I would also add “family that plays together, stays together” along with dining.
Having said this, making a family eat together and play together would be a next to impossible thing in many modern families what with working parents, children overburdened with tuitions and homework. Add to that the new work culture of 24/7 that has made many parents look like a guest to their own children. Even if a family manages to sit together to eat, in most cases, thanks to the television revolution and plethora of channels dishing out “breaking news” and glycerin filled sentimental fares, the family will be sitting and eating as if in movie hall. Worst case, they will be fighting to take control of the remote. Daddy dearest would want to watch the breaking news, Mommy dearest and mother in law dearest would team up to see what the “saas and bahu” are scheming against each other, where as the kiddo would want to watch his favorite toon channel and the teen wants to see the stage managed “reality show”. It would be a miracle in spite of all this a family would eat together and stay together. Still, it makes a sense to eat together, fight for the remote and cherish the moments. The bond would certainly manage to pull a compromise formula to eat together and watch together, may be laugh together too. Though, I would advocate switching off the TV and eat together, talk together, share together the day’s events and laugh together. It’s worth trying and would help a lot in building a family bond that you would cherish.
So what do people play now? Did you say Mafia wars, FarmVille? Well you are not alone, half the internet population seems to be playing games of this genre with people known and unknown. But when was the last time you played a game with your spouse, parents and kid? Ok, may be your kiddo would have pestered you to play a game with him, if he himself is not busy playing game alone in his playstation or its lesser common cousin, the computer. Ludo, snake&Ladder, Chess, carom board – remember playing it when you were kids? Dust them if its still somewhere buried or buy them or grab them from your kid (if he is still playing board games instead of computer games) and play with your spouse/parents. Believe me, it will rekindle a fresh air of bond and warmth in your relation that has been forgotten or sidelined.
So what you are waiting for? Go grab a board game, play a game after meal or before meal and yes, eat together.
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when i was in japan, i came to know that the government was trying to give forced holidays and recommended vacations for the people as the family time was getting lesser, and also the population of the young.
My Dad hates sitting infront the Televison during a meal.Haha…
They launched a similar campaign in Singapore, proved worthy for a while I guess…
When work becomes life and life becomes a work, you know something is terribly wrong.
Problem is many people don’t recognize this until they are well in to their old age, their children living half a world away and suddenly life’s cruel stages loom upon them.
very relevant topic to point on….just recd’ a mail ‘discussion between the room-mates – maybe relevent to the post to some extent…
मैं और मेरा रूममेट अक्सर ये बातें करते हैं , घर साफ होता तो कैसा होता .
मैं किचन साफ करता तुम बाथरूम धोते,
तुम हॉल साफ करते मैं बालकनी देखता.
लोग इस बात पर हैरान होते ,
उस बात पर कितने हँसते.
मैं और मेरा रूममेट अक्सर ये बातें करते हैं.
यह हरा- भरा सिंक है या बर्तनों की जंग छिड़ी हुई है , ये कलरफुल किचन है या मसालों से होली खेली हुई है.
है फ़र्श की नई डिज़ाइन या दूध , बियर से धुली हुई हैं.
ये सेलफोन है या ढक्कन ,
स्लीपिंग बैग है या किसी का आँचल .
ये एयर- फ्रेशनर का नया फ्लेवर है या ट्रैश – बैग से आती बदबू.
ये पत्तियों की है सरसराहट या हीटर फिर से खराब हुआ है.
ये सोचता है रूममेट कब से गुमसुम,
के जबकि उसको भी ये खबर है
कि मच्छर नहीं है, कहीं नहीं है.
मगर उसका दिल है कि कह रहा है
मच्छर यहीं है , यहीं कहीं है .
दिल में एक तस्वीर इधर भी है, उधर भी.
करने को बहुत कुछ है, मगर कब करें हम ,
इसके लिए टाइम इधर भी नहीं है , उधर भी नहीं .
दिल कहता है कोई वैक्यूम क्लीनर ला दे,
ये कारपेट जो जीने को जूझ रहा है, फिकवा दे .
हम साफ रह सकते हैं , लोगों को बता दे
मैं और मेरा रूममेट अक्सर ये बातें करते हैं .
घर साफ होता तो कैसा होता
A very good thought!! And so very much needed in our urban hectic lifestyles. And because of this we can lose focus of spending quality time together with our family.
Communication breakdown has been cited as a major cause of conflict within the family, over the years.
I am all for…Family that eats and plays together, stays together!!
Cheers
good topic
people should be made aware of what they are losing in the race of going at par with everybody around
gr8 post
A very practical solution …. today with different schedules of the family its really important to eat together and play together even though it can a computer game as well…
hey sharat……my feelings exactly……..keep up the good work…..