Our Mommyhood

Holidays are the perfect time to relax with family, finally place work on the back burner and create new traditions.

One of our favorite holiday traditions is our annual trip to my family’s Panama City Beach condos at Christmastime. We usually leave on Christmas Eve and spend a few days away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, connecting and enjoying each other’s company. The Florida trip is one the highlights of our extended family each year, and definitely one of our favorite traditions.

Establishing traditions  doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive or time consuming. If you can’t afford the time and money to travel to a condo, there are plenty of small things you can do at home to make any occasion special.

What Does Everyone Like To Do?

What do people in your family like to do, that you wish you could all do more? Maybe everyone loves playing billiards on the old table in Grandpa’s basement. Why not have yearly tournaments on Christmas Eve? Make it fun by drawing up a bracket and having prizes. Maybe you all love bowling? Make a tradition of going bowling every Thanksgiving after dinner. It doesn’t cost much and it’s a great social activity.

Your family probably has a lot of different interests and it’s always fun to try something new. Find out what everyone likes, even the little ones. Even though your son may only be 4 or 5, don’t overlook his input. Everyone’s voice should be heard and given equal weight. You could even make a tradition by letting each family member choose a holiday activity, or even just a Saturday afternoon outing.

Don’t Reserve Traditions Just for Holidays

You don’t have to wait for the holidays to start establishing and following traditions. You can make a tradition out of something as simply as the meal you have on every first Friday of the month. Maybe your kids love pizza, but you don’t want to feed it to them every week. Establish First Friday as pizza day, let them invite over a cousin or friend or just keep it family oriented. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but just enjoying a few slices of pizza on a Friday evening is a great way to wind down from a busy week.

You can also make Saturday a great day for small traditions, even if it’s just pampering yourself with a quick breakfast in bed. The kids can look forward to spending a half hour in Mom and Dad’s bed on Saturday mornings eating bagels and watching cartoons, and you’ll even love it!

Even something as simple as family member appreciation days, ‘just because’ cakes, or playing softball at the park, your kids will remember those little traditions and hopefully pass them down for future generations.

Immediate Family, Extended Family and Even In-Laws

“The more the merrier” has never been truer than in the case of families. One of the reasons we love holidays is because we can finally see our extended family, laugh, be a little outrageous and get caught up. At family gatherings the one thing that’s always said is, “Why don’t we do this more often?”

Whether you’re planning for Christmas, New Year’s, Easter or even just the third Tuesday of every month, never overlook the importance of family. If you have extended family in the city, make it a point to get together with them more often.  

Establishing a new tradition doesn’t have to be a lot of work, but you’ll certainly appreciate the time you put into ordering pizza every First Friday of the month or going bowling after a huge Thanksgiving dinner. Don’t hesitate to take the initiative to create more family memories.

About the Author:  Holly Watson is a stay at home wife and mother of two (almost three ? ). She enjoys writing, traveling and yoga. You can follow her daily mantras on www.eatbreatheblog.com.

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