Traditions

It’s that time of year when so many people feel anticipation and start looking forward to their holiday traditions. They often bring families together and are passed down from one generation to the next. When the traditions are challenged however, it can be met with resistance.

When our children were younger, we decided to change things up and instead of gift-giving, we suggested going somewhere and creating memories. My children weren’t quite sure about this new plan but went along. The first day into our new adventure, we were having so much fun they said they wanted to start doing this every Christmas. And we did.

We typically did not go far, usually within a few hours’ drive and would spend two to three nights. We looked for cities that offered something our hometown didn’t. A few times we went to an indoor water park. They loved being able to wear a bathing suit and swim in the winter. We also went to a children’s museum and another time we visited an aquarium. One year we did a “big” trip which took months to plan and spent a week at a resort in Disney World. 

The memories we created all those years are special. They have both shared they don’t remember many of the gifts they received from us, but the trips they will never forget. They are older now and live out of state, which hinders planning many of those short family trips. At least with today’s technology we can still “see” each other and create new traditions, and share special moments in a different way.

It’s important to be flexible as families change and grow. I’ve learned that being able to accept new and different ways to celebrate, as well as initiating new traditions, can still create lasting family memories.