Family Traditions

In November, I always host a three-session event on building positive traditions. I do it in November, because people are at a point in their lives where they are thinking about how they are going to celebrate the end of year holidays and, frequently, they are reflecting on our memories. For some, those memories are positive, for some, they are a mixed bag, and for far more than I would like to admit, those memories are experiences that they do not want to repeat for themselves or their loved ones. In the most recent of these groups, I was intrigued by how many participants admitted that they never thought about creating family traditions outside of the holiday season. But we all have traditions throughout the year.

So frequently, we think about traditions occurring at the holidays, but that is only one of the many times that family traditions occur. Traditions occur in everyday life throughout the calendar year. Each of these is applicable, whether you have no children, have children that live with you, have grown children that live far away, have grandchildren, or have no biological family (which means that you likely have adopted-by-the-heart family like me). For example . . .

• Do you have regular ‘dates’ or time alone with your significant other?

• What do you do the night before or the first day of school each year?

• What do you do the last day of school each year?

• What do you do for family time each week?

• What is required when new foods are introduced?

• What does ‘surprise’ mean in your family?

• How do you do special events?

These are all opportunities for traditions. They serve as the foundation for the memories that your family members will take into the future chapters of their lives. Your role in them serves as the cornerstone of how you will be remembered in their lives. One of the families that I have worked with is on their 4th generation of repeating some of their family traditions. Another family that I love deeply has a grandmother who bakes and sends cookies on a regular basis throughout the year to her grandchildren and their friends. She is BELOVED . . . and so are her cookies. 🙂

The secret of retaining family traditions is that they meet the needs of each of the family members (or at a minimum do not reduce or take away from any family member) and they are flexible. There is no ‘requirement’ to do it this way or that. In fact, the families that have the most long lasting traditions (in my experience) regularly update their traditions to meet the changing needs of the family members. (i.e. cookie flavors change, camping spots change, and events on the family night change regularly)

Why am I bringing this up now? Because this is the perfect time for you to consider, re-evaluate, and create positive family traditions that will support each of your family members in 2023 and beyond. I shared this complimentary resource with you a few months ago, but I would encourage you to click on the link again and download it into your inbox. Please take the time to think about the information you find there for the ‘everyday traditions’ that will help your family to become closer, develop memories that will serve as a positive foundation for the remainder of their lives, and create positive opportunities with those that you love that may currently be untapped.

Have a wonderful March!!

Family Traditions

Family Traditions

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