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Start Giving Thanks Early This Year
The turkey is cooked, the gravy is steaming and the cranberries are waiting to pop. Just before families dig into their fruitful feast, they sit down to give thanks for the past year's blessings. Instead of waiting until the end of the month, start a new family tradition and have everyone start writing down things they are thankful for at the dinner table every night leading up to the festivities.
What Are Your Family Halloween Traditions?
Whether you're visiting the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, or trick-or-treating, most every family has some sort of Halloween tradition they follow year after year. Some do all or none of the above. As my children grow older, it is apparent that our once simple night of staying in and greeting neighborhood goblins is over and a long list of parties and candy collecting is ahead.
Do You Have a First-Day-of-School Ritual?
It may be hard bidding camp adieu or putting all of that pool paraphernalia away, but like all good things — Summer must come to an end. In anticipation for the big first day back to school, mother may buy her child a new outfit, polish an apple for the teacher, or bake a celebratory cake for the inaugural day.
At my house, every last night of Summer ended with my sister and I laying out our outfits for the first day of school on our beds.
Will You Hunt For Easter Eggs?
It is an Easter tradition for my mother to host an egg hunt for my family. She always invites cousins, uncles, aunts, her sister, our grandmother, nieces, nephews and close friends over for quiche, ham and sweets, but the kids only have one thing on their mind — eggs. I, on the other hand, always enjoy sitting back and relaxing during the festivities while my relatives fight over holding my children.
Mommy Dearest: I Don't Want My Son to Be "The IV"
Mommy Dearest,
I'm seven months pregnant with a baby boy and so looking forward to meeting the little guy. But, I am also dreading the birth because my husband's family just assumes that my child will be the fourth in a long line of family members named John Patrick. I want to pick a unique name for my son.
Tell Mommy: Thanksgiving Traditions
Most everyone has memories of their turkey days growing up. Every one of mine was spent surrounded by family — sometimes in Georgia, but most times In Texas. Post chowing down on broccoli and rice casserole followed up by a sampler plate of pies, we all fell asleep in front of the college football games and waited for the Dallas Cowboys to take on the Houston Oilers.
Do You Take Your Kids to the Pumpkin Patch?
'Tis the season to be hunting for pumpkins. Families all over the country are flocking to the fields of festive orange gourds to pick out the perfect pumpkin. While you may see imperfections in size, discoloration or what have you, chances are your wee one will finger the one that fits the family.
Did You Follow Any Customs or Rituals?
Different cultures celebrate births in various ways. In China, it is common practice for elders to cook chicken and rub the tongue of the bird over the child's lips in hopes of a good talker on her first birthday. Some Indian newborns are dropped off a tower 15 meters high onto a white sheet in hopes of a healthy and strong future.
Family Ties: Family Road Trips
The Summer months always seemed to go by so quickly when I was little. Maybe those hot sweaty months flew because my rock star mom made the most of our classroom free days with road trips across the country. Starting out at the crack of dawn, my mother, sister and I would pull out of our driveway with the car filled to the brim with suitcases, dolls and refreshments to keep us chipper.
Lil Tip: Picture It
Choose a time of the year (birthday, Christmas, New Year's, or another day that has some significance to you) and take a picture of your tot in the same spot year after year. Maybe you have a favorite chair or an antique piece of furniture that you know will be around for a lifetime that can serve as your marker.
I put my daughter in front of her rocking giraffe before she could even sit up and took her photo.
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