Traditions and rituals are a great way to unite a family and create special memories. Traditions don’t have to be associated with a festival or a religion. You can create your own tradition unique to your family. Teaching children about the importance of these little family rituals can create warmth and strength in a time when everything, including relationships,is fragile.
Traditions could be eating dinner together each night and not arguing or fighting with one another, spending weekends at the library or museum, watching a movie together every Wednesday or Friday night. Rituals could include special birthday treats or expressing gratitude for life’s blessings by sharing with the unfortunate and needy. The list is endless and one can easily choose activities that will be apt for one’s own family and children and then, set an example by doing them together and giving them importance. If you keep canceling a movie night or family dinner, kids are bound to realize that this doesn’t really mean much to you and so wouldn’t bother about it themselves. On the other hand, if they see you canceling something else to accomodate family tradition, they will try and do the same.
So, go ahead and create your own family tradition or ritual this year and watch it bring your family closer.