Meaningful Family Traditions

Is this month shaping up to be stressful and far from the meaningful time it could be? The key to changing that is simplifying. It's very had to spread joy and good cheer when we are stressed and feeling overwhelmed. All our good intentions to give the best to our children and to others will be doomed if we try to do it all.  The first step to making this time of year special is to just say 'no' to everything that feels obligatory.  Then pick a few traditions (not a huge list) that have special meaning or are particularly enjoyable. Perhaps you will continue traditions you have done in the past. Perhaps you'll add one new one this year or you may choose to pare it down. Whichever you choose to do the key is to "relax". Don't expect perfection, enjoy the ride no matter how messy it may be. Traditions gain meaning as you revisit them each year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanuka, Kwanza or Soltice, here are some ideas for family traditions: 1. Watch seasonal movies and drink hot chocolate together as a family (This is, by far, one of our favorites! We do this several times during December.) 2. Cut snowflakes out of paper and decorate front windows or hang from the ceiling so that you can "walk thru" them. 3. Take a drive to look at the lights. Coordinate this around an extended family dinner so you can do it together as a caravan. 4. Decorate sugar cookies. 5. Make a gingerbread house or village together. 6. Act out the Nativity. 7. Sing songs together. Make up some of your own family actions to the songs. If you want, take your show on the road and go caroling. 8. Host a neighborhood party. 9. Have a special meal you eat only at this time of year. 10. Play secret Santa. 11. Buy a new children's book each year regarding the holiday and season. Read this book and the books from previous years throughout the month as a family. Be sure to hold the book up and show the pictures. Visuals make traditions even stronger. 12. Hang mistletoe and try to catch each other under it (or as we like to do, try to trick others into getting caught underneath it.)