Traditions: New, Old and Different

This time of year is always all about family. Not that I'm not all about my family all year long, but I think you know what I mean.


My Grandma is really big on everything staying the same - for years we always go to my aunt's on Easter, my mom has Thanksgiving and my uncle has Christmas. Last year I really caused a stir when I announced that Levi and I decided to stay home on Christmas morning and get together with everyone a few days later. I was pregnant with Aiden and it was our last Christmas with Sophie as the only child. I was hormonal and feeling guilty that "things would never be the same" once Aiden was born and I wanted to soak up every minute of Sophie enjoying the spoils of Christmas. My family got over it and we are all still speaking, but I guess that's the thing about traditions - sometimes they change, especially when families are growing and evolving.


I know everyone might not agree with me, but it worked for us and I felt it was the right thing for my family. I guess my logic is that staying home on Christmas Day and getting together with family a few days later extends the holiday and makes everything less chaotic and more enjoyable for everyone. Instead of rushing to open presents from Santa so we can get to brunch on time, we were able to enjoy our time together. Sophie actually got to play with her new toys, and when we met up with our extended family the next weekend, it was much calmer and memorable.

Other than the traditions of who cooks for each holiday, Levi and I started some traditions with our kids that we hope to enjoy as long as we can. Every fall we visit a local farm on the Sunday the Steelers are on a bye week (so far it's always been before Halloween), and we go on a hayride and choose pumpkins to carve. We always put our Christmas tree up on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and we each open one present on Christmas Eve. When we go to Disney World we always go to Hollywood Studios on our arrival day to see Fantasmic, and we spend our last day at the Magic Kingdom.

There are other things we do, but these are some that stand out the most to me. I know that someday my kids will get older and they may not want to go on hayrides, and when that day comes I'll be ok with it. I know that traditions aren't carved in stone and that everything changes. I'm glad to enjoy these things while I can and I know that someday there will be something new to replace them and I can accept that.