Creating New Holiday Traditions -

It’s that time of year again. The Holidays! If you’re like me, your family is changing. Both our children are married now and in 2024 they had their first babies. So fun to be a grandparent! When your children get married, holiday traditions can change some. But, when grandchildren come into the picture, holiday traditions can change dramatically.

So how can you deal with these changes? First, realize your kids now have their own families and need to start their own traditions. Second, stay flexible for your kids so YOU aren’t the cause of added stress. While you may be disappointed to see some traditions go, work to develop fun new ones.

Let me share some ideas for new traditions you can use with your family as well as some I’m developing with friends. I would love to hear from you on any new traditions you have incorporated into the Holidays!

New Family Traditions

As you develop new traditions, realize that your holiday celebration does not have to fall on the exact date – be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or whatever. Be flexible and maybe “Christmas at Grammas” is on the Saturday/Sunday before or several days after. Make that day easy – it could be pizza and games or watching Holiday Movies together. Below are some other ideas:

Give everyone new matching pajamas and have them wear them when you get together. It doesn’t have to be in the morning, it can be anytime during the day!
Make your own advent calendar and put specific goodies in each bag based on your grandchild’s age. You can make a fun advent calendar for your adult children as well.
Take a family photo and start a holiday photo album tradition. Look back at the pictures every year.
Spread magic with the Elf on the Shelf.
Take a walk in the neighborhood or drive to see all the lights.
Make homemade ice cream with all the toppings. Cuisinart has a great machine https://amzn.to/4frxuBM and William Sonoma has great flavors.
Honor a deceased family member with a handmade ornament for the tree.
Making Gramma Flaherty’s famous Chocolate Pie (free to blog subscribers)
Show gratitude with a can/bottle of daily thank you note to your kids reflecting how proud you are of them and this new life they are creating with their family.
Create a coupon book they can use throughout the year for babysitting services, coffees and dinners out.

New Friend Traditions

Over the past few years, I felt we needed to create more friend traditions because we now live in Florida for six months as well as Illinois. It allows us to connect with our friends for one night over the Holidays and show how much we value these relationships.

Find a local cooking class and learn to cook a new meal together.
In Illinois, the Morton Arboretum has an “Illumination Walk”. It is beautiful lights with hot chocolate and hot spiced cider to drink along the way. We spend an hour doing that and then grab dinner.
In Florida, the Naples Botanical Garden has a “Glow Walk”. We are trying this and grabbing dinner at Rebecca’s new winebar afterward.

Subscribe and I will send you Gramma Flaherty’s Chocolate Pie Recipe. The Best!