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Family Matters:  Everyday traditions and rituals?  |
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sillyfoulks
True Blue Farmgirl
164 Posts
Elizabeth
Illinois
USA
164 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 22 2006 : 06:38:18 AM
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We have all talked about our different family traditions for Holidays and special occasions. However, I am curious what kinds of traditions or rituals you all have that fit right into everyday life? Things that maybe families used to do, but that for some reason have gone by the wayside.
We have always, even before kids, sat down to the evening meal together. I know for many families, these days this is a ritual that is just about gone. It has gotten harder over the years, as the kids have gotten older and become active in sports and extracurriculars(sp?). Dinner is sometimes, earlier, sometimes latter, due to everyone's schedule. It is sometimes rather funny to see the expressions on the kid's friends when they join us. I think many of them have never sat down to a meal with their families, unless it was Christmas or something. This is something that both my husband and I refuse to give up. It gives us all a chance to connect as a family, and go over our days accomplishments and problems together.
So what kind of traditions does your family have that isn't part of a Holiday, or Birthday, or special occasion?
Elizabeth
http://livingcountrystyle.blogspot.com/ |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2006 : 06:52:24 AM
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We celebrate half birthdays with cake and icecream. I think half birthdays are just as important. It's lotsa fun too and makes little kids feel extra special.
"I would not interfere with any creed of yours or want to appear that I have all the cures. There is so much to know...so many things are true. The way my feet must go may not be best for you. And so I give this spark of what is light to me, to guide you through the dark, but not tell you
what you must see."
-Author Unknown
"Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth."
— Blaise Pascal
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2006 : 09:32:54 AM
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We do the evening meal sitting all together unless it is truly not possible. It IS harder in summer for sure.
I love the 1/2 birthday idea!
We take turns saying prayers..for instance today is Dalton's day and he is youngest in the family. He will say the prayers at meals and family prayer before bed (guess that is a tradition too..we all get together (whoever is home) and say a family prayer before the kids go to bed) and it is "his" day all day. Tomorrow is Dad's day, then mine, then the oldest child. It goes down in order of age. The kids love this.
In my family I grew up in we had a fishing tradition that has been passed down in my family..whoever catches their first fish last cleans ALL the fish!! So everyone wouldn't care how MANY fish they caught..just that they caught one quickly!! My kids always get my help cleaning ..that DIDN'T happen in my family...you could be on your own cleaning 20 or 30 fish if the whole family went..but it was great fun...well, when I didn't catch the last one. We all love fishing and I really don't mind cleaning fish. ( I like to know they were cleaned right and 9 year old boys don't do the best job)
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2006 : 10:59:00 AM
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We don't sit down together for the evening meal -- we sit in front of the TV. I hate it! My family always ate at the table but Steve's family always ate in front of the TV. But I'm going to start setting the table for supper and we're going to sit together. We need that time together to connect. It's something that I've been wanting to do for a long time.
We say bedtime prayers with Stephanie every night. Her dad and I have always tucked her in and had a bedtime ritual. We would get her in bed, read a Bible story, then we each pray. After that we would turn on music for her to fall asleep to. Now that she's almost a teen we don't do the story or the music but still pray together every night.
I choose faith not fear.
Lotion bars, linen water & more in my online shop! http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
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Buttercup
True Blue Farmgirl
1433 Posts
Talitha
Vermont
USA
1433 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2006 : 6:19:38 PM
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Every night we get together and each of us in the family say a prayer. Not a written prayer, but a personal prayer saying whatever their heart feels. Then hugs and kisses and everyone is off to bed. We also say a blessing at each meal or at least we try!! 
We used to eat every night together, but I was sick for a while so it stoped, but I am sure it will start again.
I also think the half birthday celebration is so neat!! What a neat extra special way to make your kids feel special Tasha!!
Hugz...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
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theoanne
True Blue Farmgirl
282 Posts
teddie
CARROLLTON
GA
282 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 5:06:59 PM
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When my sons still lived @ home we ate all meals together! If you were @ home then we sat down together. Always in the kitchen and NO TV!!! When it got down to my youngest son and I we did sit in front of the TV. But by then we were on opposite work schedules and it was just nice to eat together. Some times he cooked and sometimes I cooked then we would clean up together.
That makes me think of 2 other things we did. Each son,there are 4, had a week of kitchen clean up. In the summer they each had a designated day to cook and a designated day off. On the day off I could not ask them to do anything. As in: will you help me and bring me the--. They were allowed to say, "Sorry MOM it's my day off." They just hated this one. :) LOL. On their day to cook they pretty much handled it alone. The requirments were that the meal had to include all 4 food groups. They also had to plan ahead and let me know what to buy when I went grocery shopping. This started at about age 11. They were all boy scouts and were pretty good campfire cooks. So I figured they could cook in the summer when I was working and they were home. Eventually they would cook during the school year too as the mood hit or when they thought I needed help. Now when we all get together for a meal , cookout ,etc., they always tell me what they are bringing. I've gotten some pretty good recipes from them!!!
I'm sure someday I will have grandkids with this tradition. |
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happymama58
True Blue Farmgirl
1210 Posts
Patti
Missouri
USA
1210 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 9:07:08 PM
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Until the move this past Spring we:
had supper together every evening -- well, whoever wasn't at work (dh
works shifts, so sometimes he isn't home)
I visit with each child in their room a few minutes before they/I
(whoever is first) go to bed
That's all I can think of right now.
We also have an "I love you" sign that we make, like when ds would be backing out of the driveway and I'd be watering plants or something. I can't share what it is -- we all agreed when the kids were really little that it would be just between the 4 of us.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
http://happymama58.typepad.com/my_weblog/ |
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sillyfoulks
True Blue Farmgirl
164 Posts
Elizabeth
Illinois
USA
164 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 05:13:37 AM
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Patti, we have the "I love you" sign too. We use the sign language for it, what is yours? It has really worked out great. Our son is getting to that age were the kiss and hug don't always happen, but he feels ok about the sign. It is a great sign to encourage them also. We use it when they catch our eye during plays, sports, or other event. It lets them know we are there for them.
Hey Kay, If you try to get the family to sit and eat together, but they bulk over much. Meet them half way. Pick a couple nights a week where there is no TV.
Elizabeth
http://livingcountrystyle.blogspot.com/ |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 09:21:58 AM
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When one of us says I love you the other says back "too". So alot of times if the kids don't want to be embarrassed in front of their friends when they leave or something they just say "too" or hold up two fingers together and we know what they mean. I love that.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Family Matters: Everyday traditions and rituals? |
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Everyday traditions and rituals?
