Loss of family time

Even before the TV, there have been certain lifestyle patterns that indicate the various reasons for loss of family time. People used to gather around during festivals. The family would go on trips during holidays. But during that period with no festivals or holidays, the husband would be busy with work, the wife generally busy with household chores, and the children most likely busy with school and play. I have noted, looking back, that my mother was always busy in the kitchen, sleeping or watching TV, while my brother and I were busy studying, playing video games,  playing outside, or just sleeping. So the only time the family would be together is when they are all eating at the dining table, playing some indoor game or watching a TV show together.

Then comes the internet, and it has stolen even that little time of being together with family. Everyone is either busy with their own phones or the only conversations are look at these shorts, or rather, complete silence, then they would move away to their rooms. Parents would use to help children with their studies, but the tuition classes replaced that family time, too. The current online socialising is completely superficial. Someone might listen to you or like what you say, only to ignore you suddenly later. The real irony is that people like the socialising aspect yet completely ignore the people around them.

Which made me realise how much we had together anyway. Father was always busy with work or friends, and mother was busy with household chores. The only time we got with her was when we would be going out for shopping or watching TV together, or when we would help her prepare some special meals occasionally. The real human warmth comes from interacting with loved ones. The loneliness epidemic today can easily be solved if people would just open their hearts and be real with each other. Imagine groups of people standing or sitting listening to some preacher or guru who is telling them just look inward, your happiness is in yourself, but instead people actually look at each other and interact and socialise.