Disconnect To Reconnect: Putting Down Our Phones Can Strengthen Family Bonds

The good old days are far gone. It is sad to see how things have changed. The good old days had their charm. Now, they are just beautiful memories locked up somewhere in our heads. Time keeps moving forward, and whether we like it or not, we have to make new memories. Growing up, I had a perfect family. I understand that the word “perfect” is almost impossible to attain. Prevention is hard to come by, but if anything, I can boldly say that the family I grew up with what was close to it.

I grew up in a family of 6- my parents and 3 older siblings. Aside from running errands and washing plates used by the whole country, I always enjoyed the benefits of being the last born of the family. I grew up in a strong; rock-solid family. Each member had a role to play. My parents (as other parents would do) were responsible for providing for our needs, while we, as children, reciprocated their love and support by excelling in our studies and also helping them with little tasks.

Our family really valued spending time together, and I think one of the main reasons for that was the fact that technology had not advanced as much as it has now. I remember during my elementary school days, Android phones were not in existence. They were not a thing. Or maybe they were, but not commonly used in my country. At least, no one in my family had one. At that time, only my parents had cell phones, which they used strictly for business purposes and also to communicate important details with themselves. Although button phones (remember Nokia button phones?) were common at that time, none of my siblings had access to them.

My mom valued the tradition of having dinner together. Dinner time was always cool and interesting. My mom would prepare our meal and serve it on a very big plate. She would also serve that of my dad, her husband, and her own on another big plate. Then she'd place the big plates in the middle of the table. We’d all form a big cycle around it and start digging. There were no distractions. We were all completely focused on our food. The only sounds you would hear were the cracking of bones, the licking of tongues, and the chewing of meat.

The holiday seasons were the best, especially on Christmas Day. The house was always full of women cooking, dads sitting together, talking, while children ran around the house, and helped out where necessary. We’d all sit outside when it was evening, enjoying the cool breeze and the sight of the moon. There were no distractions. No one got distracted by the sound of a cell phone notification. Things were going well.

Things were beautiful and perfect, until… until cellphones came in with full force. I remember the day my mom bought phones for my siblings. I was too young to use a cell phone at that time, so I was exempted. It was after school. My mum took my sisters and brother to a phone store and got phones for them. The emergence of social media platforms also contributed to this. My siblings started bringing cell phones to the dining table, and that was also when my mom stopped the tradition of serving our meals together.

Family time should be a time when families come together and get to know each other. It's a time that should be filled with uncontrollable laughter and undiluted smiles. Sadly, the reverse is the case. Instead of trying to make memories, our eyes and minds are fixed on ourcell phones, and we are always eager to reply to a message or check a reel.

It is disheartening how technology can sometimes distract us from fully engaging with our loved ones. Yes! The use of phones should be banned during special family moments. It would be way better to set boundaries and put our devices aside during special times.