Whether they are based in culture, or good humor, family traditions are important. They provide a healthy understanding of self-identity from a young age and help strengthen family bonds. Family traditions can transfer from your old home to your new home easily or you can consider creating new traditions at Brunswick Crossing. To get you started, here are a few tips on how to start new traditions in your new home (with a few of our own beloved traditions at Brunswick Crossing):
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Turn everyday chores into a habit. If everyone walks the dog on Saturday morning, make that time a priority for family time. Try blasting music each Sunday for a family cleaning spree, or make a favorite dish for dinner during the week. Even though these actions seem insignificant, doing the same activity over and over again as a family fosters togetherness.
*Brunswick Crossing Tradition: Consider taking your pet on a walk daily on the 26 miles of Brunswick Crossing Trails or shopping together at the Marketplace.
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Set aside family time. Life is busy. Between the back-to-school rush, sports practices, music lessons, and work, it can be easy to forgo quality time. However, if you set a meeting on the calendar, then everyone knows exactly what time and where to meet for a family get-together. Put the cell phones away, and make it fun by incorporating Sunday brunch or Thursday game night.
*Brunswick Crossing Tradition: The Brunswick Crossing community center is full of family activities including community game nights and open-mic night. Consider joining your neighbors for a fun night out.
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Incorporate video into everyday scenarios. It does not have to be a life-changing moment to break out the video camera. Snap a few seconds of film at the same time every day. Imagine seeing your child playing with blocks at the breakfast table and fast-forwarding to the morning of high school graduation. This video will prove that it is the little moments that mean the most.
*Brunswick Crossing Tradition: Post and share memorable moments with your neighbors on the community's shared message board or turn your videos into a fun interactive photo album in your new home.
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Close the distance. Carve out some free time to connect with extended family that lives farther away. Use Skype or FaceTime to call aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa, and little cousins across the country.
*Brunswick Crossing Tradition: Take your family on a tour of your new home and community even if they can't visit in person. Show them your new kitchen, favorite new reading nook or favorite community amenity, such as the community garden or dog park.
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Break out a timeless recipe. You can honor cultural roots with cooking, teach your kids how to make the age-old recipe. Moving with children can be traumatic, but familiar smells can help establish and continue cultural traditions. Not to mention, everyone will get to spend quality time together in the kitchen.
*Brunswick Crossing Tradition: Haven't met your new neighbors? Consider taking a batch of cookies or other family-treat next-door as a way of introducing yourself and your family to the community.
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Write a letter before each birthday. Don’t you wish you could go back in time to tell your younger self what you know now? Give your child a head start by having them write a letter each year before their birthday. Ask them a few basic questions:
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- What do you want to be when you grow up?
- What do you like to do?
- What is your favorite toy or book?
- What would you tell other kids your age?
- Where do you want to visit someday?
- Who is your best friend?
As the years go on, neatly organize the letters in a binder. Give the collection to your kid on momentous occasion like their wedding day, 21st birthday, college graduation, or first apartment/home. If you want to join in the tradition, too, include an annual letter to your son or daughter about how they are growing, your thoughts on their future, and more.
*Brunswick Crossing Tradition: Consider a community pen-pal. Everyone loves getting a letter in the mail - not just email. Organize a group of pen-pals or choose someone to write to in the community.
No matter how you choose to celebrate your family, it’s important to set aside some time to do so when moving to a new home. It's all about repetition and anticipation, so find an activity that excites your family and keep doing it. Rituals also offer security and comfort in a fast-paced world. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or yearly, new traditions in a new home can help build your child’s character and strengthen family ties.
