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In a large family, members who do not eat dinner together have even more disagreements. Take for an example, if one day a mother cooks a very delicious meal that everyone enjoys, everyone will eat more than their usual portion. If they sit down and have dinner together, the only problem they may encounter is a shortage of food by a few bites per person. However, if everyone eats at different times, a problem will likely occur. Those eating last may not have enough food to eat. The child is left feeling hurt and neglected. If that child helped out around the house, he/she will feel jealous as well. The lazy children can usually be found hanging around the kitchen close to dinner time, complimenting their mother on cooking a delicious meal. Even before setting the table, they will take and sample the best parts first. They also tend to be the ones who eat the most, too. These chubby children are adored by the mother because they know what sweet things to say. Those diligent children whose work usually takes them past dinner time end up being the last ones to eat. They are the most tired, yet they get to eat only the leftovers. Sometimes they end up washing the dishes, too. All this hurts their feelings. The more these situations occur, the more hurt they will feel. Minor disputes with siblings are followed by major arguments. If a sibling happens to break a favorite cup, anger will arise, possibly resulting in a physical altercation. Parents who do not understand the true causes will just pacify the situation, but this does not address the actual problem. The anger may still linger. If similar incidents occur regularly, parents could misinterpret such situations and blame the misunderstood child. The child may become jealous of his siblings and might run away from home if an opportunity arises. A minor thing such as not having dinner together as a family could be all it takes to break a family. Parents may be oblivious to rising resentment and conflict. This problem usually occurs in a new family where everyone is busy with their own activities and do not have time for each other. No one knows what could be bothering the other person. Therefore, a family that does not eat together is a red flag that this family is on the verge of falling apart. Eating together allows family members to voice their concerns and to give advice to others because people are often in a better mood when they are full. Parents can use this time to demonstrate good habits and etiquette to their children. Our ancestors expressed the importance of having at least one daily meal together. Breakfast is difficult since everyone rushes to prepare for work or school. Lunch is impractical because everyone is away from home. The Warm Hearted Family 160 Creating Harmony in the Family The Warm Hearted Family 161 Creating Harmony in the Family