We started the way all married couples do when we got married five months ago. We did a lot of things together, even bathing. When it was time to eat, I served our food together and we ate while chatting. When I finished cooking and he wasn’t around, I waited, no matter how hungry I was. I reserved the best of gist for that moment when we were both seated and eating together.

Not too long ago, he started requesting to eat alone. When it started I thought it was going to be a short time thing until it continued for a week. He would come to the kitchen to tell me, “Today I want to eat alone so don’t add my food to yours.”

“Darling, what has come over you? Why are you requesting to eat alone these days? What has changed?”

Because he wasn’t forthcoming with reasons, I thought I might have done something wrong or said something wrong while eating with him, hence his reason to eat alone.

When he realized I wasn’t going to stop asking why, he was forced to speak up. He said, “When we eat together, I’m not able to eat to my fill. I’m forced to eat fast but no matter how fast I do it, you end up eating more than I do.”

Ah, how is that even a problem? There’s always something left in the kitchen for a top-up if that is the case. He explained that he would rather eat once than eat in bits.

How Do You Find Love Again As A Single Parent?

Because of what he said, I’ve become mindful when I’m eating. I eat slowly, gently and little by little. I’m training myself to go at his pace so I get to eat with him again. It’s not the same when I eat alone. The gists have lost their flavour because I don’t share them while eating but come to think of it, how is that even a problem?

— Tabitha

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