Hub

In days gone by people used to gather around the fireplace. Fire was the centre of people’s lives, whether they were camping outdoors or getting together as a family in their homes. Over time this focus changed. For most people, their television became the hub of their lives, the place that they most often gathered as a family.

As people began to own more than one television and computers came on the scene, this focus was lost. Whatever your feelings on television, time spent in front of it used to be family time. Television ownership, video and on-demand services fragmented this shared culture in the same way that fast food, take-aways and longer working hours eroded the family mealtime.

We’ve been careful to ensure that our family mealtimes remain sacred. More specifically, our evening meal. For one reason or other we can’t always be together at lunchtime, or even breakfast. But we do try very hard to make sure that every evening, at roughly the same time, we sit down to enjoy a meal together. We always cook our own meals (an important part of the ritual for us) and sometimes we’ve even cooked them together (as much as cooking with a two- and four-year old can be considered “teamwork”). The time, attention and care all matters.

The pace of social fragmentation is gathering. The web, social networks, mobile devices and a general globalisation of relationships has made it as likely we’ll spend the day talking to someone on the other side of the planet as someone in our own city. And the positives of this are obvious. Sharing culture globally is a good thing for so many reasons. But what does it mean for our local relationships? And, more importantly, what does it mean for our families?

We can’t answer that question for everyone, but we’ve definitely found our hub. It’s not the television, or a piano (albeit through a lack of talent rather than interest). It’s not even something primeval like a fire. But eating is still a basic human need, and one that is better enjoyed together. What connects you?