Family Traditions: New and Old

This time of year always has me thinking about family traditions and how important they can be to keeping a family together.  It doesn't matter whether this is an old tradition or a brand new one that you are starting with your family.  Some of the traditions that my parents passed down to me are:  giving me a santa every year, giving me an ornament every year, putting up the tree together and baking cookies as a family.  I have passed these traditions on to my children and added a few to the list.  Our list includes: Sunday dinner with games, volunteering and fundraising for a good cause and all family members making something for the holiday meal.  What would our Holiday be like without Gary's broccoli casserole, Chris's mac and cheese, and Jenna's apple pie? 

 You might waant to include some extended family members as well.  A few years ago, I started giving my niece a Santa at Christmas time as well.  I knew that my brother was not passing on this tradition to her.  When she opened her Santa this year, she got very excited.  I was thrilled to hear that she places the Santas on her mantel each year.  It's good to know that this tradition will live on.  I think that my Mother likes the idea that something she started is going to continue on after she is gone.

My niece started a family tradition of her own this year.  We built our first family gingerbread village (a pre-made kit works best for us).  Putting it together was great fun and destroying it was equally as fun.  Posted the pictures on Facebook of the destruction.  Looking forward to helping with next year's village, Kate.

Start a new tradition this year or find one from your past that you can continue with your children.  It may just bring your family even closer together and build some priceless memories.

Unplug Today and Reconnect for a Lifetime

"Unplug for a day and reconnect with your children for a lifetime!" This would make an excellent catch phrase for parents today. As parents, we are constantly connected into the world through our cell phones, and computers. Whereever we go, we go connected to the rest of the world. We are distracted by it all from something that requires our undivided attention, our children. I suggest that you take one day a month and disconnect from all that is electronic and spend the day reconnecting with your children. This means no cell phones, no computers, no TV, no iPods. Leave it all behind and reconnect with your children in a way that you may not have in years. Play games, take a walk, have a picnic, take a bike ride, or do whatever your family finds fun.

The world will not fall apart if you are not connected to it for 24 hours, but your family just might fall apart if you don't disconnect every so often. So consider unplugging this weekend. If you noticed there were no blog postings this past weekend. I took my own advice and unplugged for a long weekend. I find myself energized, my mood uplifted and feeling very close to my family after this past weekend. I wish the same experience for you this coming weekend.

Note: Teenagers may be resistant to this idea, but it is important for their wellbeing that they disconnect at times as well.

Why is Everyone Bent Out of Shape about Fast Food Places Serving Alcohol?

I am not sure why everyone seems to be so bent out of shape about fast food restuarants serving alcohol and no one seems to be all that concerned about our theme parks serving alcohol on every corner. I am much more concerned with the fact that Universal Studios and Disney serve alcohol. Atleast the parents who are partaking in drinking at a fast food restaurant are usually eating something and not just walking around drinking. Think about it, everyday thousands of adults take their children to a crowded, hot theme park and quench their thirst with a beer or alcohol. I don't think that crowds, rides, family fun and alcohol go together all that well.

The next time that you are out at a restuarant or theme park consider the message that you are sending your children if you are drinking alcohol. Save the drinking for times other than family time.