Every family has traditions. From the way a family passes out presents, what the family eats on holiday mornings,  or even celebrating a religious tradition, these traditions flow through our holidays.  As children grow, move out of the house and even start their own core families, deciding which traditions to take from generation to generation is up to the children.

This holiday season, try to pick one or two traditions from your immediate family, and ask your partner for one or two traditions that they would like to continue to carry on in your family.  These traditions not only provide substance for holidays, but they can provide sweet memories of your childhood and preserve the traditions that helped make the holidays so special for you and your family.

Here are some of our favorite traditions at GROW:

“My favorite tradition that my wife and I have had with our kids is Christmas morning and gathering together to have a casserole titled “Breakfast Strada,” that my wife makes with egg, chopped bacon (or ham), potatoes and cheese. It’s delicious. Then, we go to each individual and one person brings them their gifts for them to open, and then on to the next one. It’s a great time together with lots of fun and great interaction.”

“Santa Claus leaves a clue in each stocking (hung by the chimney with care) where to find a special gift on Christmas morning.”

“My brother and I always make it a point to watch “A Christmas Story” on TV together Christmas Eve. It’s usually playing continuously on some station and even if we are in different locations we can tune in at the same time and text each other our favorite lines…”You’ll shoot your eye out!”

“Going to cut down a Christmas tree with my husband while drinking hot chocolate.”

“We pass out the gifts, then take turns opening the presents, one at a time. That way, if you gave or received a “bad present”, then everyone knew it! It helped my siblings and I learn to give thoughtful gifts as we grew older.”

Wendy Dickinson, Ph.D
wdickinson @ growcounseling.com