Out of Our Minds

So often we attempt to be aspirational in the setting of traditions in our families. What does that mean? It means we work hard to build traditions meant to project to others the "perfection" of our marriages, our childrearing, and our homesteads. Rather than cave to the pressure to portray the perfect home with the perfect traditions for the perfect children in the perfect marriage with the perfect timing and gravitas, let your traditions develop more naturally, from your unique quirks and talents. Andrew's family, he says, has a tradition of staying up late at night each winter vomiting. At least they can laugh about it! Tim and his family sing the Appleseed song with a Beethoven-esque number of amens to conclude. Children love these simple, easygoing traditions and will pass them on to their own families in due time. Lighten up. Let the traditions develop naturally and...awkwardly.