Family: The Ultimate tradition
posted on
March 8, 2021
I have a very on-off relationship with technology. I see the importance of it, but I also see a huge draw back. I am a parent who fights hard to not have their kids on technology all the time. I want them to be able to entertain themselves, think for themselves, use their imagination and make lasting meaningful relationships. For Xennials like myself, we lived through the birth of the internet and experienced the changes that came along with it.
It has become hard to make lasting friendships and bonds in the technology crazed society we live in. It is now common to walk into any “family meal time” whether it be at someone’s home or restaurant and see everyone on their phones, never looking up acknowledging each other, never having to embrace in real conversation. Growing up, family meals at my house meant we all sat around the kitchen table, eating together, talking about the day’s happenings and having an actual conversation. You didn’t get up to leave the table until everyone was finished, and you helped clear off the table, all while talking to each other. Do you ever sit back and wish that we could go back in time to when things were easier, simpler? Good news, you can! One of the easiest ways to promote a feeling of closeness, enrich families and strengthen bonds is through traditions.
Making grandma’s famous homemade bun recipe, cheering on your family at their after-school activities, throwing square bales together, partaking in the annual Christmas scavenger hunt, or annual hunting weekend gatherings, having the entire family helping with branding the cattle, or being sure not to miss a birthday party, anniversary, holiday or other activity are all examples of traditions. The whole family putting up the Christmas decorations in their pajamas the day after Thanksgiving while jamming out to Christmas music, or bathing in the warm summer sun while camping at the lake. Attending church together as a family every Sunday followed by either a treat of going out for donuts or even better going home to make Sunday brunch as a family. Whatever your family traditions are I hope that they light up your heart and bring a huge smile to your face. My hope is to pass along my husband and my traditions along with some new traditions made onto our kids, because it is another way we like to pass along our beliefs and what is important to us to other generations.
My in-laws are extraordinary people with ginormous hearts of gold, compassion for miles, supportive through everything, and most of all they truly make my life better by being a huge part of it. I didn’t come from a farming background, but I did know from a young age that this is where I wanted to be. They accepted me, all my annoying questions and quirks, with open arms. They welcomed me as part of the family from day one. I am grateful to call them my family, my parents, sisters, brothers and grandmas. They are not my second family, they ARE my family, my tribe. Their family traditions are very similar to mine: their traditions revolve around family time and family memories.
There is nothing I cherish more on Earth than family. They make you laugh, cry, stress, but they also make you unbelievably happy. They accept you completely for who you are, they support you, encourage you and build each other up. When you get to grow up with family becoming your best friends you have won in life. Because as long as you have family and God you have everything you ever need.
Family traditions make you feel safe, secure and help create beautiful everlasting memories. I am thankful for my family, our family traditions and all the memories we have made together.
Read Heather's other posts in the series here:
