The Trouble with Traditions

As most of you know, I come from a freakishly large family which loves to spend a lot of time doing things together. This attitude didn't appear overnight. It was carefully and lovingly nurtured by generations of women before me or my sisters. When I was little time was marked by events such as Easter picnics

Family reunions, which of course included luaus
And of course the biggest end of year event- Christmas Eve

It seemed we would just get done with one event and planning would begin for the next. Everyone in my family can recall-sometimes with fondness; sometimes not- all of these traditional family events and gatherings. I still can't comprehend the idea of spending Christmas Eve quietly watching movies.

Anyway, as time has gone by and as noted in previous posts I have been blessed/cursed with the genetic desire to continue traditions. Well, it turns out that traditions take a lot of work. When I was little I didn't truly appreciate all the work that went into all the events around me. But now as I get older I appreciate the need for traditions. Not all the traditions that I had as a child have continued. We no longer do large family Easter picnics, Sunday dinners are a thing of the past, and luaus are simply a fond memory. But a few years ago I woke up one day and realized that while I couldn't do all the traditions my Grandma did, I did have the opportunity to start creating my own traditions within my family.

You see, that's the trouble with traditions, they take a lot of work or they go away. It doesn't count when you sit around and just tell your kids about the great things you did way back when. You need to actually get up...and do something. If you aren't willing to help, you deserve to not enjoy them. So...as the time gets closer for the 2011 RE Whiting Family Reunion, and I hear "well...I don't think we are going to make it this year" or as Christmas approaches and I hear "I just can't make it this time...but for sure next year" I wonder what your children will be doing in 20 years. You see, kids learn from example, if you didn't have the time for your family I wonder if they will ever have the time for you.

Traditions create a sense of stability. Something that you can count on no matter what is going on. Unfortunately, many members of my family, while they enjoy the traditions, are not willing to put the work into them. To them I say--"Quit ****ing and get to work! You think it was easy for people before? Well, they did it, so suck it up cupcake!"