Meaningful Family Tradtions

When Mike and I started our family we really wanted to have family traditions that were meaningful and also fun. We have only been parents for 12 years, and we do a lot of tweaking, but here are some of the things I've observed about family traditions.

Incorporate your childhood
Our kids love it when we do something as a family that we did when Mike or I were kids. They love visiting the hollow where Mike played as a little boy and they love it when we do holiday traditions that our families did.
We decided to do  Pajamas on Christmas Eve. That was something that my family did when I was little and our kids seem to love it. I know families also give their kids Christmas pajamas on Thanksgiving so they can enjoy them all season.
Mike's family has always done the Nativity on Christmas Eve. I love our kids getting dressed up with their cousins to recreate the night Christ was born. We have used towels and robes and blankets to dress everyone up before. My wonderful sisters-in-law made amazing costumes a few years ago and that has been really fun too.

Go with what's important to you
There are so many things that you could do with your family. It is very overwhelming to get on pintrest and try to figure out what would be the most fun or the most meaningful. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING! Not only that, but you don't have time to do everything either. I feel like it's important to teach our kids to simplify and to enjoy the things they're doing instead of feeling like a crazy person trying to be "the best mom ever."
Every year we have the kids decorate their tree (we have 2). One is a cute, themed tree that sits in the front window, but the other sits in our living area that we spend most of our time in. That tree is covered in ornaments that they made themselves and little things that represent Christ. The tree that has all those ornaments on it is a tree that Mike and I got on our first Christmas together. It is fiber optic and totally out of style, but it's a sentimental gesture to keep it. The kids think it's pretty cool too.
We did the Elf on the Shelf for the last few years, but this year we're not (My kids are older now anyways). There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing it, I just felt like we needed something a little different. Since we are Christian we went with the 25daysofchrist.com ornaments.

They come unfinished so you can make them your own and also come with a booklet that has scripture references to both the New Testament and The Book of Mormon. We are going to double up next week to start it because our older 2 have been in Arizona this week. I am excited to focus more on why we celebrate Christmas this year.

 

 

Find somewhere to give

I am absolutely, 100% into giving more than receiving. It might not seem that way to the people in my family, but that's because most of what I give goes to those that absolutely need it. I have the kids brainstorm with us to find out how we can help others and sometimes it's how they can help the members of our own family. Usually it's service oriented (because that's my love language) and rarely has anything to do with "wants", but rather has to do with "needs." Find somewhere to give to others. We are so blessed and we have too much. It's better to give to those who truly need it rather than having a hundred presents under the tree.

 

Be purposeful about your family traditions. Even if you're the only person in your immediate family, find things that you can do that make the holiday season a joy to you and to those around you. We are here to help others and to live in joy.

 

Lots of love,

Nicole