Why Traditions Matter

Looking back on my childhood I remember my family traditions as if they were from a hallmark movie. Now the family has grown from 6 to 22 and we still gather often. Because of these special traditions we are a big happy family and I feel very bonded to everyone. The parents play such an important role in creating magic around important family gatherings. Establishing a family tradition doesn’t necessarily need to be anything extravagant or expensive. The extra effort is worth it, because your family traditions will positively affect your children and generations to come.

Here are some of the benefits:

Promotes a strong sense of identity- family traditions help children understand their roots and heritage. They feel a sense of belonging and over time develop a deeper understanding of who they are and where they came from.

Opportunity to teach-gathering the family for a shared experience can create an amazing environment for the parents to share the “why” behind a specific holiday or event. The parents have a chance to share stories, express feelings of gratitude and love, and teach specific principles.

Encourages emotional bonding- when loved ones are gathered with the purpose of learning and experiencing something special together, often times feelings are shared. These bonding times allow for younger ages to learn from the older members of their family. The family time together compounds over the years resulting in strong emotional bonds with our loved ones.

Allows children to feel safe a secure- Our children are on earth to experience life to the fullest and will often will go through hard times. As parents, we can create consistency and predictability. Family traditions give family members something to look forward to. Everyone feels a sense of belonging, a belonging to something bigger than oneself. This often comes as a relief to individuals, understanding they are part of a group of people that gather to learn, celebrate, worship and strengthen family bonds.

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Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

-Audi