Fun Family Traditions?

0 votes

Families usually have traditions, even if they are unaware of them. I have found that it is interesting to learn about what other families do for special fun. One family I knew had an ice cream and pretzel dinner every once in a while, where each family member got to choose their own personal ice cream flavor -- which was eaten with pretzels! When my kids were growing up, living room picnics eaten around the coffee table while sitting on the floor was a special treat. What kinds of " traditions" are being created today -- or are being carried over from the past?

A Grandmother asks..... Do parents these days feel a desire or have an interest in developing new traditions or continuing older ones? How about Birthdays? Holidays and parties? Vacation times, and even weekend activities? Special times spent with just Mom or just Dad ? What about Grandparents ? Maybe these are topics that are not thought of by families these days....? I myself happen to think that special occasions are important memory builders for family bonding. Would anyone care to comment?

- Suzanne, Dec 5, 2009
Suzanne

Jan 15, 2010, edited Jan 15, 2010

2 Answers

  • 0 votes

    When it was my sister's birthday, she bought a small gift for me and when it was my birthday, I bought a small gift for her. That way, the "un-birthday" kid didn't sit there and watch the "birthday" kid open all these cool gifts. Also, we got cupcakes for breakfast.
    Alana

    1 little boy, girl on the way, still many ?s
    Cupertino, CA

    Dec 10, 2009

  • 0 votes

    I worry constantly about creating traditions for my kids. We carry over some old ones from when I was young (my husband's family doesn't have many (any?) traditions) and have created some of our own. Our kids are still young so it is a work in progress.

    On Christmas morning, we wake up at home, do stockings, open the presents from our immediate family, have a light breakfast (other than Santa chocolate), then pile in the car to see my parents and spend the day with them and extended family.

    We have a big cookie decorating party every Christmas and everyone is allowed to invite whomever they want.

    On birthdays, kids are allowed to decide where to go for dinner or what they want to eat at home. Breakfast is also the kid's choice. (Lately bacon and Apple Jacks. :-)

    We decorate cupcakes for every occasion we reasonably can.

    We have hot chocolate whenever it rains.

    We watch bike races and eat snow cones every 4th of July.

    We go for a walk in nature on Thanksgiving.

    We go the same place every year for vacation.

    We haven't tried to implement traditions with extended family and a kid alone, mostly because I don't think any of our extended family would be super-reliable about doing the same thing every year.

    I love your tradition of hot chocolate whenever it rains. May have to implement that one in our house. :-)

    - Alana, Dec 15, 2009

    Anonymous

    Dec 14, 2009



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