Modern family meals: Preserving the family meal, preserving the bond.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, there are families who still sit together at the same table for meals, but each person is living in their own 'world'.

Adults are busy with work, children are overwhelmed with academic pressure, and mobile phones inadvertently create an invisible distance between family members.

These concerns were also raised at the seminar "Family Meals in Modern Society: Values ​​and Challenges" organized by Hanoi University on May 26th.

More than just a discussion about family culture, the program also opened up many emotionally rich stories about connection, generational gaps, and the yearning to be heard in every home today.

The seminar attracted a large number of students, who reflected on the role of listening and connection within the family.

Family meals – where the "soul" of home is preserved.

In his opening remarks at the seminar, Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Vice Rector and Chairman of the Trade Union of Hanoi University, stated that family meals are not simply about recharging energy after a tiring day of work and study, but rather a space and time where all the worries and pressures of the outside world are left behind the door.

“A warm and cozy family meal can truly nourish our souls and strengthen family bonds. It also serves as a bridge connecting us and a place for family members to communicate and share stories about their lives,” shared Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung.

Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Vice Rector and Chairman of the Trade Union of Hanoi University, delivered a speech at the seminar.

In Vietnamese culture, family meals have long been not only a familiar part of daily life but also considered a core foundation for building a happy and lasting home.

However, in modern society, meals with all family members present seem to be becoming a luxury.

Work pressure, packed study schedules, social engagements, and the development of technology mean that many people have less and less time for their families. There are homes where the lights are on, but it's rare for the whole family to sit down together for a complete meal.

According to Nguyen Tien Dung, the most worrying thing is not only the loss of a daily routine but also the risk of losing the "soul" of family traditions and the connection between generations.

"Happiness doesn't lie in lofty things. It's present in the aroma of perfectly cooked rice, in simple dishes prepared with love and care."

"No matter how vast the world outside may be, how many temptations or pressures there may be, just knowing that there is always a warm meal waiting for us at home will give us the strength to overcome everything," he said.

Concluding his speech, the Vice Principal conveyed a message that touched many: Cherish and preserve the value of family meals. Because the warmest sound in life is the call: "Come home for dinner!"

A short play by students from Hanoi University recreates a familiar scene: the whole family sitting together, but each person lost in their own world.

When loved ones sit next to each other but grow increasingly distant.

One of the most emotionally impactful highlights of the seminar was the skit performed by students from Hanoi University.

Without elaborate details, the skit recreates a familiar scene in many families today: the whole family sitting around the dinner table, but lacking connection because everyone is engrossed in their phones and their own world.

The scene left many attendees speechless because it was so all too familiar in modern life.

Sharing his thoughts at the seminar, journalist Ho Minh Chien – Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Family Magazine – recalled childhood meals that, though simple, were always filled with grandparents, parents, siblings, and heartfelt conversations.

"Back then, there were no phones, no social media. People truly talked and listened to each other," he said.

Journalist Ho Minh Chien, Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Family Magazine, shared his insights at the seminar.

However, nowadays, a common sight in many families is the whole family sitting at the same table, but each person pursuing their own world, glued to their phones and hardly interacting with each other.

According to journalist Ho Minh Chien, this is an alarming situation, especially in large cities – where the fast pace of work and the pressures of life leave people with increasingly less time for their families.

"Family meals and family bonding are facing a huge challenge," he shared.

From the perspective of someone with many years of experience reporting on family matters, he believes that many current conflicts and domestic violence don't stem from major issues, but rather silently arise from silence, a lack of listening, and a lack of sharing.

"Domestic violence is not just physical violence; it also includes psychological violence. There are families where there is no shouting, but there is coldness and indifference towards each other within their own homes," he said.

Young people need to be listened to, not judged.

Sharing the same view, Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu – Head of the Department of Political Education, Hanoi University, believes that many families today “live very close together but do not understand each other.”

According to her, young people today face a lot of pressure from studies, work, their future, comparisons, and even school bullying. However, not everyone is brave enough to open up to their family.

"What young people need most is not judgment, but to be listened to with understanding," emphasized Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu - Head of the Department of Political Education, Hanoi University, shared her insights at the seminar.

She said that many parents love their children very much but don't know how to support them emotionally. Meanwhile, many young people choose to remain silent for fear of causing their parents worry or disappointment.

The female lecturer recounted the story of a student who asked to pay tuition late because they were afraid to tell their parents that they had to retake the course for the third time. According to her, this is a clear manifestation of the communication gap that exists in many families today.

"Family is the best healing solution if its members know how to listen to and support each other," she said.

Many students openly share the psychological pressure and communication gap they face with their parents in modern life.

From a young person's perspective, Chu Dinh Nam, a student in class 4A-22 of the English department, shared that he had often felt pressured but didn't want to share it with his parents for fear of causing them worry.

"Sometimes I choose to confide in my friends instead of my parents," Nam shared.

However, every time I return home and sit down to eat with my family, all the pressure seems to be relieved.

"Family meals give me a feeling of safety, joy, and like I can be myself again," the male student said.

Meanwhile, student Le Minh Khue - class 1I-22C, Italian Language Department, believes that technology is not the biggest barrier to connectivity.

"Even when living far from home, I still call my parents every day. Just hearing the sound of dishes clinking together makes me feel so warm," Khue shared.

The female student also believes that the tradition of waiting for each other to eat meals is still sacred to many young people today, including Gen Z.

The organizers presented flowers to thank the guests.

Guests, lecturers, and students pose for a commemorative photo after the seminar "Family Meals in Modern Society: Values ​​and Challenges".

The discussion has ended, but the echoes of the stories shared around the family meal linger. Amidst the pressures of modern life and the countless "virtual" connections, the family meal remains perhaps the most peaceful place for each person to return to, to be listened to, and to experience genuine love.

Because sometimes, happiness doesn't lie in grand things, but simply in moments when the whole family gathers around a warm meal, chatting and sharing after a long day. When the phones are put down, it's also the moment when the distance between generations is narrowed by genuine care and love.

And perhaps, the warmest sound of a home is always the affectionate call: "Come home for dinner!"

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/bua-com-gia-dinh-thoi-hien-dai-giu-mam-com-giu-su-gan-ket-d813364.html