1

A REGULAR MEAL TIME FOR MY FAMILY

My family. Very precious in my life. Since my birth, until now and
forever, they will be my everything. I have 9 siblings. 3 brothers, 4 sisters
and a little sister. I am the second last children in my family. For me, our
most memorable moment together was our meal time. The only time that
we held regular and have a quality time together. Dinner is the only all of
my family members will gather and have a conversation together. As I
remember, since my childhood, my mum will always cooks and served the
dinner, and she will call all the family members to have the meal together.
That was the most valuable moments and very nostalgic for my family.
Usually, if all my brothers and sisters came back home, we will have a
discussion to held an activities together. Our parent will participate the
meeting too. One of the main points in this meeting is what we will have for
our dinner. Everyone will have a chance to ask for a meal that they want.
We will shortlisted all the request from my family, and my mum will decide
the meal for us.
From that, my mum will delegate the task. Everyone will get a task to
make sure that our plan run smoothly and successful. Usually my mum will
delegate the task fairly, according to everyone interest. From Along, to
Nana, everyone will do their task and work together. usually, my mum will
choose Along and I to help her cooks the meals. Angah and Uda will prepare
the ingredients and do the mise-en-place. For Andak and Ipin, usually they
will have to go to groceries and buy ingredients that not enough. And lastly,
Odah and Nana will clean up the kitchen and dining area including wash the
plates.
My mum is the best chef ever for us. For me, I like Sambal Tumis and
Masak Lemak Labu from my mum. I had tried to cooks like her but the taste
is different. That is the different between cooking with full hearted and

2
cooking just for the meals. During the cooking time, we will have a
conversation together, gossiping about all the current news and learning to
cooks just like mum. I will not forget this lovely moment forever.
After we had finish cooking, Odah and Nana will help to plating the
meals and prepare the dining area. Because I had a big family, usually we
will have the dinner on the floor. Old newspaper will be the lining and we will
sit cross-legged in a circle. My dad will lead to recite the Doa. And we will
have a dinner together as a big family. This was the most valuable moments
because we are sitting, have the dinner and have a joke together about all
of my siblings during their childhood.
Why I choose dinner as a preferred meal time for my family? Because
this is the only time that all of my sibling can be together. Some of us are
already working, and my younger sister is still schooling. So, dinner is the
only time where we all can meet each other in a quality time. This had been
our ritual since our childhood. I still remember, during my childhood, Amir,
Nana and I will share a plate and my mum will fed three of us. The hand
that cooks the meal, also feed all of us.
Dinner had become our family ritual since our childhood. My parents
had thought us to gather together once a day. In the dinner, we will have
time to discuss together, share any new information or even telling any
story that happens in that day. Dinner is the only time that we can spend
together as a family. This will help to tighten our relationship bonding.
Everyone will participate in the conversation. And my parents will be the
judges, chairman, advisor and everything to us. That was really mean
towards us because our parents had shown their responsibility as a father
and mother.
When I was growing up in a rural area called Batu Pahat, Johor, I
always waiting up the family dinner so that I can share on how my day had

3
gone, talks about matters which concerned us and made future family plans.
This pleasant time seemed like a reward for the days hard work.
Conversation was spontaneous and unpredictable, although negative topics
were discouraged since they might impair our appetites. Discussion between
bites was fun, and often the conclusion is end up with some jokes and fun.
While our smart phones and devices have brought us closer to the rest
of humanity, it is the family meal that brings us closer to our own families. I
still remember one incident that happens during our dinner. While having
our meals, suddenly my elder sister phone ringing. She just got a massage
from her classmate. She stops eating and reply the massage. My dad had
told her to stop massaging and finish up her meals. But my elder sister
ignores my dad advice. Suddenly my dad took her phone and throws it to
the floor. Even it seems too aggressive, but my dad has his own reason. And
now I see the good impact from my dad incident. He wants to spend a good
quality time together with his family without any interruption from outsiders.
From the other sides, my dad just wants to make sure that his children
have good table manners while having meals. He wants to teach us to
respect the others among the participant. Playing phone while eating is a
rude things to do in front of the family members and others people. Our
parents believe that a good education firstly come from the parents itself.
Being a role model towards children can help the children grown-ups with
good manners and etiquette.
Although we live as a family, each member is on a different track
through life. Spending time together over meals lets us keep in touch with
each other on a regular basis. As a part of the family, I think I should
involve in every activities and discussion among the family members. This
ritual should be made as a culture, not only in my family, but for the whole
generation. ( 1056 WORDS )

4

ABAH
JAAFAR BIN SADIRAN
ALONG
FAEZAH @FARINA
ANGAH
ROZELAWATI
ELLESYA BALQIS
ERRIENA BATRISYA
MISRAN
UDA
RANIMAH
NUR AMIRA ZULAIKHA
AMIR AIMAN
NUR AMIRA FAQIHAH
AMIR ARIEF
AMIR FIKRI
ANDAK
HAIRIL FITRI
PUTERI NAJIHAH
PUTERI NAJWA
PUTERA NASEEM
ZURIALISA
IPIN
FATHUL ARIFFIN
WAHIDA
ODAH
RAUDHAH
FARIS
ASRI
AMIR
AMIR HAMZAH
ARIN
SHAHRIN ZULHELMI
NANA
SITI RAIHANA FATEHA
EMAK
AISAH BINTI ABU BAKAR