Joint Meal: Building a Healthy Relationship Among Us

I have come to understand and appreciate some of the actions our parents took with us when we were much younger. Back then, we didn’t understand much of it; most of the time, we felt it was a normal way of life, and we are not exempt from it. Not until we began to grow older and started to see more of the reality of life did we

As kids, my mum would always let us dine together, not separately, on the same table, but together on the same plate. She prefers we finish that and ask for more rounds. We got used to it, and also sometimes she will serve it separately, but at the same time. We came to master how to dine together and also how to dine separately.

One thing she did was that she would make sure she corrected our eating habits, maybe there was a sitting position we used, or most times the unnecessary competition we got ourselves involved in, and gradually we adjusted.

All of the training she gave was for some time. Then we began to dine separately but together at the same time. It wasn’t like eating from the same plate, but there is more to that. We’ve grown up a little, and now there is always the joy and bonds that come from sitting together, eating, drinking, and having some gist afterwards.

Most times, the moment we get a full gathering is time for breakfast and dinner. And no one will want to miss out on that because there is little or no fun in dining alone.

---

Time flew, and all of us found our different reasons to leave for greener pastures. We were not together like it was before. And the only time we get to have a joint meal is during festive periods.

We all went our different ways and met with different people. On my end, my experience was just quite different. But I was so quick to adjust, and this is because we already had the foundation from the outset.

While I was in university, I got my hostel in a flat, my roommate and some of my hostel mates happened to be from the same department as mine. So since we had to attend classes at the same time and on the same days, we also have our free days to be the same, and we are most of the time around each other.

Every morning when we wake, we prepare a joint meal and serve ourselves from a big tray. This is where everyone gets to dine. At first, it appeared somehow to some of us, but with time, we got used to it. There was a guy who wasn’t pleased with that style of dining; he wanted to eat alone.

The repercussions of his actions were that he found it difficult to relate and have fun like we had among ourselves. He was often left out. The relationship grew so strong amongst us that even after school, we still connected, and the last time we had a meet-up, we dined together.

---

Also in my service year, my roommate was also the same type of person who appreciates joint meals. We didn’t die on separate plates but on the same plate till we were done with our passing out parade. Had I not been used to such before, I would surely have a hard time coping with those people I met. They happen to be one of the best I have met so far.

If there is one thing a joint meal can bring to your life, then it's unity and love. Time has passed by, and a lot of things have changed, but anytime I have the opportunity to be together with my siblings, there is nothing like eating separately. We cherished eating together a lot.