Making Time for Family
Three youths give their take on making ‘family time’ amidst their hectic schedules. – by Lim Jolene
TV programmes bond us together
Due to our busy schedules, my family rarely has time to spend with each other.
My grandparents and I used to be really close, but balancing school and my work load made it increasingly hard to spend time with them. Occasionally, my family and I would still have meals at my grandparents’ house, and the night would end with chatting and laughter.
Both my parents are working, so the only time that we get to spend together is after dinner, when we watch our favorite television programs. Especially in a world where social media is used by people of all ages, I have seen family members interact through popular social networking sites, instead of in person.
The two hours in front of the television may be short, but it’s important because it’s the only time we get to talk, laugh, and be a family. Our mutual interest connects us all together.
Justin Lam, 21, is majoring in Communications at Republic Polytechnic.
An activity with each family member
In our cyber-savvy society, it is not surprising that each member of my family owns a computer. This makes it harder for us to connect and bond because everyone stays in their rooms using their computers.
However, no matter how immersed we may be doing work or playing games, we still managed to bond with each other through specific activities.
My father and I share a passion for food, so when he cooks for the family I take the opportunity to help him out.
I bond with my mom over television programs like National Geographic, where we discuss our opinions about the show, and learn more about each other in the process.
Like many other teenagers, my brother and I use our knowledge of Korean pop culture as a common ground to bond by talking about our favorite stars and bands.
We may be living in a world where technology can slowly disintegrate family relationships, but if each member puts in the effort to commit to family rituals, the bonds will remain unaffected.
Samantha Loh, 18, is a final year student studying Network Systems and Security at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Dinners are our “family time”
My siblings and I are still in school, while my parents work full time. We are not able to see each other in the day, so we always have dinner together.
Family dinner is an important occasion in my family. The dining table is a place for us to catch up on each other’s lives.
Even school work requires the use of computers so it can be toughto pry myself away from the screen, and spend time with my family. However, when my dad is out on business trips, technology like Skype keeps our family close.
Over dinner, my parents always insist that my sisters and I stop all other activities so we can eat together and reconnect with the family. I have always appreciated spending time with my family, because they helped shape me into the person I am.
Siti Soleha, 20, is a Mass Communications student at Republic Polytechnic.
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