| Every parent hopes their family will build a close and | | | | Holiday meals, outings, and vacations are all wrapped |
| loving relationship. Every parent hopes when their | | | | up in their definition of home. I see this in my own child |
| children are grown that they will have many fond | | | | as well. We have morning rituals and bedtime rituals |
| memories of their childhood. But how do families | | | | that he clings too rigorously. While some, such as the |
| create those bonds and memories? By creating rituals. | | | | bedtime story, will eventually fade into oblivion I hope |
| It is so hard in today's fast-paced, overscheduled world | | | | others stick with us. One of those is the way I ask him |
| to find time to spend together as a family. It is too | | | | every night what was good about his day. If I forget or |
| easy when a gap appears in the family schedule to | | | | am tardy with the question he is quick to remind me so |
| simply collapse in front of the television and meditate | | | | it is clear the ritual is important to him, but it is also |
| for the evening. It is too easy to wait for the perfect | | | | important to me because I love seeing what really |
| opportunity for bonding. If this describes your family's | | | | matters to him. Sometimes I can guess but sometimes |
| current pattern then you need to find a way to break it | | | | I am surprised. |
| now. | | | | Another tradition I hope we will preserve is the way |
| One of the best ways to bring your family closer | | | | we express our love to each other. While he is |
| together and create memories that will last a lifetime is | | | | currently young enough to let smooches (kisses), |
| to create some family rituals. Perhaps there can be | | | | squishes (hugs), and snuggles occur on a frequent |
| some small ritual that is a part of your greetings or | | | | basis and he is happy to tell me that he loves me and |
| good-byes. Perhaps there can be a small daily ritual | | | | hear that I love him, I know the day is coming when he |
| that is part of bed time. Certainly you can create a | | | | won't be so eager for this affection and certainly not in |
| ritual that takes place either weekly or monthly. It might | | | | any public display. However I am paving the way for a |
| be a family dinner night, a family movie night, or a | | | | new tradition when that time comes. Today, we play a |
| family game night. It really isn't important what you do | | | | giggly little game of describing our love (I love you as |
| so long as you do it together on a regular enough | | | | much as 10,000 walruses). My hope is that in the future |
| basis so it does become a tradition. | | | | when I can't tell my teenaged son how much I love him |
| One of the assignments I give my college freshmen is | | | | because I might embarrass him then I can at least |
| to write about their definition of the word "home". While | | | | whisper in his ear: "1 million elephants" and perhaps get |
| they frequently begin describing a specific place what | | | | a smile at the inside joke. |
| often comes through are the traditions of their family. | | | | |
