Traditions on Snooze: The Family Table I Keep Missing

What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?

My childhood was steeped in the aroma of freshly cooked meals, the sound of clinking plates, and conversations that danced around the dining table like old friends. My mom and grandparents made me believe that “a family that eats together, stays together” wasn’t just a saying—it was a lifestyle. Fast forward to my present, where ‘eating together’ often translates to completing target with one hand and holding a chapati with the other.

I do try to preserve the essence of these traditions. I really do. But somewhere between Zoom calls, school runs, and surviving the Monday blues, the sacred family meal often gets postponed… indefinitely. “We’ll all sit and eat dinner together tonight,” I declare with noble intent. But by 9:30 PM, the kids have already foraged through the fridge like wild raccoons.

I miss those shared moments—the accidental spoon fights, grandpa’s same old stories, and mom’s stare if someone dared get up before finishing veggies. Now, the only stare I get is from the microwave clock blinking 11:00 PM.

As much as life has changed, the yearning remains. Maybe it’s not about three meals a day anymore—but about carving out moments when we can.

“Traditions aren’t broken; sometimes they’re just running fashionably late.”

Thought to ponder:
What if the tradition isn’t about timing, but about togetherness—whenever that may be?