Traditions to Keep
Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue. You’re thinking wedding but I have to tell you, this age-old adage goes clear through marriage and family and generations beyond.
This morning, we all sat, disheveled and in pj’s, around a simple Easter breakfast. The kids had already broken into their candy-filled baskets and Brian had helped me to make Easter rolls…something new I had thought to try a few days earlier with him. Brian helped me dip a marshmallow in butter, roll it in cinnamon + sugar, and then wrap roll dough around it, pinching it off. We let them rise for 30 minutes and then baked them in a hot oven. They’re simple, sweet, and a tender reminder of the message of Easter, with a little bit of magic, too.
Sitting down for breakfast, Brian cut into his roll only to find the marshmallow had completely disappeared, leaving a hollow space. He was baffled and delighted, and plowed through at least six of them. They’re good, and they launched a fun conversation deciding if these new-to-us Easter rolls were a tradition we should keep.
The kids eyes lit up as they talked about our other Easter traditions, which led to summer traditions and other holidays, back-to-school things we do, pizza Fridays, and on and on. Our traditions are the perfect mix of something old—things from our families that we wanted to continue to do, something new—things we started with us, somethings are borrowed—ideas from friends over the years, and even something blue!...ok, maybe we don’t have a specific “blue” tradition…maybe we should?
I’ve thought a lot today about what traditions are worth keeping. It’s oh-so-easy to get caught up in a Pinterest and Instagram world of feeling a need to make occasions look like a big, pretty, production, but friend—can I tell you something I have learned the hard way?
It doesn’t matter how it looks, how it’s presented, or if you take and share a picture. What matters is that you do it with love and that you love to do it FOR your family. What matters is how it makes the people in your family feel. What matters is the purpose that the tradition serves. It matters how it makes you feel!
You are the leader in your home and you get to decide where you place value and on what you place value. Continuing family traditions are essential in enhancing family values and strengthening bonds. Old and new family traditions, no matter how grand or simple, brings about a sense of belonging, emphasize good values and create happy family memories.
My own children will leave our home one day and have families of their own. They’ll get to decide what traditions they want to continue on and they’ll find their own new traditions, too. I hope they will want to continue and begin traditions with their own families.
The Easter Rolls are a tradition we will keep. I’d love to hear about a favorite family tradition of yours!
xo
Dayna
