I asked some friends and clients about their belove
d holiday traditions, and this is what they wrote.
"My favorite tradition is not putting names
on my kids packages each year. I number them 1-6, and then assign each kiddo two numbers. They have no idea whose number is whose, and it
changes every year. It cracks me up on C
hristmas day when they think they have figured out their numbers, and they are typically completely wrong. Makes opening up their gifts that much more of a surprise for them because they haven't had time to guess what's in it."
"Okay, maybe this is not THEIR favorite tradition, but a mom's gotta have a little fun at Christmas too! ;)" - Kelli Collins
"Hold off the best gift for the kids till last. Once they are finished opening and they think it's over - they have to follow a trail of clues. One clue leads to the next until they find the treasure."
"Always fun because they work together, and then they find the unexpected gift."
- Mere Green
"I take my girls to the movies every Christmas Eve and we gorge on whatever we want to eat and drink. When we leave the movies, we take the long way home and look for Santa out our car windows! It's special to me because it's something we all love and it is like pushing the pause button during a very hectic time of year." -
Mary Novas
"My favorite holiday tradition is putting black olives on my fingers every Thanksgiving and Christmas and eating them off. Haha, food is the priority, obviously." -
Natosha Sanders
"For me, I would say just being together as family is the best and most meaningful part/tradition of the holidays. We are not always as traditional as some as far as foods for Thanksgiving or Christmas as we are not huge turkey or ham lovers, so sometimes we have seafood or steak or lasagna.
"
"We always go to a candlelight service on Christmas Eve, that is a given to celebrate the real reason for the season. We always wait until Christmas Day to open presents and usually start with stockings. We alternate who opens a present so we can watch each person open their present and see their reactions as well as try to get a picture.
"
"We love to play board games or cards or even work on jigsaw puzzles, all kinds of activities just to hang out together. Watching holiday movies like the original "Miracle on 34th Street" to more modern films like "Elf" are fun too.
"
"Finally, going to look at various holiday light displays are always fun too, and we try to fit that in. All in all it just comes down to spending time together
in no matter what you do, no matter how basic it seems - just wrapping your heart around your family <3." -
Jami Thornton
_______________________
I'm the first to admit, it can be second-nature to focus on and talk about the embarrassing/boring/disappointing/negative things that happen when a lot of people get together (especially the relatives!). So it's all the more important to acknowledge what we DO love about this time of year, and highlight it for ourselves as some of The Great Things to Remember About 2016.
Thank YOU for being a part of my 2016. I hope to see you again very soon in the new year, and I'll be expecting a big hug. :)
