I’m exhausted! It’s a lot of work to create what has become wonderful traditions for my children. Decorating the house, going to chop down the tree, baking and decorating cookies, and the enormous party on Christmas for family and friends. It’s a lot of time, energy, and money, and in my kid’s minds it just happens; like magic. I wonder, at what point will they appreciate it – in terms of the work? When I was younger, I didn’t appreciate my family traditions – until I had my own family.
I feel very strongly that instilling a sense of family and belonging will help to create boys that want to be around, to contribute, and be party of a family unit. As a mom of boys, I know that the chance of my guys staying in the area we live forever is not likely. I live in a rust-belt city where more jobs are leaving than coming in. If they go away to school and meet a girl, they’re more likely to move where her family is. It’s just the way it is.
Creating traditions offer stability as they are a constant one can come to expect every year. It’s satisfying to me that no matter how busy my life is I know what I’ll be doing and where I’ll be on all the significant holidays in a years time. it’s reassuring in times of sadness to feel comfort in belonging to a strong family. There’s a built-in network of people to celebrate and to mourn with.
Traditions help to create an understanding of our past, to learn our culture and to appreciate where we’ve been. I think boys can benefit tremendously from being part of family traditions. As kids get older and friends become more important, time with family is so valuable (even though they might not appreciate it now, someday they will).
What are your family traditions?
By Renee Martinez, Founder of Raising Boys World
