I love stepping outside right now…. The air is crisp, the colors are starting to change and mums can be found potted on every front porch step on my street! I love, love fall and can’t get enough of it! That said, it is always sad to see the freedom of summer exchanged for busier schedules and more structure. Even though I love season change… I always feel a little bit sad to let go of summer (minus the heat).
At our house we love traditions (even though we usually make them on a whim)! Our “End of Summer” tradition has been a walk to Van Dee’s… our favorite local ice cream shop! We load up the wagon or take our bikes and head out for our final goodbye to summer! Ice cream is a great way to celebrate the end of something… don’t you think?! I must tell you my favorite from Van Dee’s is the chocolate chip cookie dough blitz! YUMMMM!!!
Here are five reasons why we love and celebrate traditions in our home:
1. It gives our kids something to look forward to!
Whether it’s making almond pretzel sticks at Christmas or going to Family Camp in the summer… my kids look forward to and talk about our traditions throughout the year! I love hearing chatter of things to come from my little ones’ mouths!
2. It creates specific family memories for each of us to remember!
Although some traditions are okay to share with other friends and families… I am a HUGE believer in doing some things with just your immediate family! Growing up, we did lots of road trips with just my immediate family. I think this is a huge reason we are so close and tight-knit today! We have so many special memories that only my parents and my sisters share. How I cherish those memories dearly!
3. It is bonding.
“Remember the time when we…?” This is the conversation I want to hear from my children when I am wrinkly and gray. I know as my kiddos get older they are going to be busy with friends and activities, but I want them to have specific memories that only they share together! I love hearing my hubby and his brothers talk about their skiing trips when they were growing up! Years later, it is still bonding them!
4. Traditions seem to make my children get along better.
Maybe it’s because traditions are so much fun?! But whenever we are doing one of our many traditions they just seem to jive. The little sibling rivalries take a hike for a while! I LOVE IT!
5. THEY ARE FUN!
Who doesn’t love making memories? Soak up these special moments with your family!!
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I love this article! Family traditions are so important. Even little traditions such as brushing teeth as a family and nightly bedtime stories create memories for your children.
I think bedtime routines are a fun tradition. We lay with each of our older 2 for a minute or two and talk about their day and what they are thankful for after we pray. It is such a sweet time. We also love doing big breakfasts on Saturday mornings!! This Summer we started a tradition of going to Big Creek on Sunday evenings!! SO fun.
I agree with you that family traditions seem to correspond with how closely knit a family remains over time! We have an ice cream tradition, too: each year we go out for ice cream (or froyo) to celebrate both the first day of school and the last day of school. It’s a special time that we all look forward to!