Fading Traditions

Traditions are a huge part of our family. From unwrapping one gift the day before Christmas, to building leprechaun traps and eating shepherd’s pie on St. Patrick’s Day, to cooking huge meals which includes lobster, crab legs and shrimp scampi, and whatever is requested on Super Bowl Sunday and New Year’s Eve, date nights with Mom, to making various crafts on holidays, to coloring Easter Eggs for Easter. Tradition is extremely important to me. But like all things in life, change occurs and for some, traditions become lost as children age. My family is no different. This was the first year in fifteen years we did not build a leprechaun trap. My youngest son declared he is too old for such activities. I bribed him to color Easter eggs with me this year with a soda! Best part, we had a blast! I think having paint for the eggs helped. Likely, this will be my last year coloring eggs, or at least until I have grandchildren!

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

While I realize I won’t be able to continue many traditions now that the children are older, it doesn’t mean I can’t create new ones. Instead of coloring eggs next year, I may put money in plastic eggs and let the boys hunt them around the house! There’s nothing like money to encourage your teen and tween son to be involved! One of my fondest memories in high school was Memaw hiding eggs around the house with money in them. The gold egg held the grand prize of $50!

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

Regardless of what old traditions die, or new traditions begin, as long as we continue to do things as a family, even if only on the holidays, it will make me a very happy Momma. And as my husband says, “If Momma’ ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” The old timers that coined that phrase were onto something!

Olympus E520, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

Here’s wishing each of you a blessed Easter! May your life be filled with traditions and memories! Remember, it’s never too late to start something new!