Why has the "family dinner" disappeared?

1. 61

   TCDesignposted 12 years ago

   Why has the "family dinner" disappeared?

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2. 60

   justamberposted 12 years ago

   I think one reason is that families use to live all close by each other and now they're scattered in different cities and states.

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3. 73

   breathe2travelposted 12 years ago

   For the American - the pace of life has increased tremendously, and often dinners are found at a drive through, or everyone fending for themselves.  Also, American culture does not esteem the "family unit" as highly as they once did, nor "all things family"...

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4. 77

   mattdigiulioposted 12 years ago

   Interesting question. I think the family dinner is seen as slightly archaic to today's young parents. These are parents who grew up in the eighties and nineties, times that brought on new cultural norms.
   Also, during the eighties and nineties, we gained the use of video games, hundred-channel cable, and internet. So many new forms of instant entertainment, distracting us from sitting down with your family.

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5. 63

   Thek1ngswayposted 12 years ago

   Because every member of the family has his own set of different priorities now days and duties . It doesnt happen very often for all the members to be free at the same time .
   
   Anyway i also think there is a certain apathy about these type o "activity" nowdays .

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6. 60

   twilanelsonposted 12 years ago

   With varied schedules it is hard for everyone to get together.  By my youngest child's demands we try to have family dinners at least every two weeks and for every holiday, birthday and family event.

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7. 61

   TCDesignposted 12 years ago

   I totally get that families have busy schedules and I guess that my childhood experience with family dinner was different than most. My mom works as an R.N. but still managed to cook dinner for a family of 6 every night...and we all ate together.
   
   If I ever have kids, I definitely think that family dinner is important because everyone is so overscheduled! I know its hard but I would definitely make the effort.

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8. 71

   JT Waltersposted 12 years ago

   Both parents are working and children are being scheduled to death.

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9. 59

   jkselectionsposted 12 years ago

   We are all so busy working and running here and there to find time to cook is sometimes impossible let alone sitting down at the table together.

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10. 60

    mysteriousmavenposted 12 years ago

    I think there's a lot of different reasons and situations:
    
    01. The number of the people who don't know how to cook is getting more and more each year. Thus, a lot of them depend on eating out or ordering takeaway around the clock, and they eat whenever it's convenient for them...
    
    02. The fast pace of society is gradually wearing away the number of people who even eat dinner. Nowadays, a lot of people are skipping meals, and when they eat, it's something on the go. They don't really have fixed times for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They just eat whenever they can squeeze in some time...
    
    03. More and more people are choosing not to have families and have decided to stay single instead.
    
    04. Families are growing farther and farther apart with all the new entertainment and media around us.

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