Redefining Holiday Traditions: Balancing Family, Memories, and Joy - Episode 51

What's Up Wednesdays!

With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the importance of traditions. In this episode, let’s dive into what traditions mean to you, explore ways to create lasting memories with your loved ones, and discuss how to balance the needs of your immediate family and extended relatives.

Let's Take a Deeper Dive
Listen to These Episodes to Cultivate Self-Love and Self-Care During the Holidays 

• Nurturing Self-Love During Parenthood - Episode 1
• Embracing Self-Care In Motherhood - Episode 2
• Self-Love/Self-Care and Gestational Diabetes - Episode 3
• Reflection Exercise - End of Self-love/Self-care Series - Episode 4

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Remember, as parents, do your best—there are no perfect parents, but countless ways to be loving and supportive. Signing off from the For Love of Parenting podcast. Thanks for listening. Until next time.

Transcript

Title: Redefining Holiday Traditions: Balancing Family, Memories, and Joy

Intro Summary
In this episode, let’s dive into family traditions, explore what they mean to you, and discover ways to create lasting memories while balancing the needs of your family and extended relatives. Come on!

Podcast
Hello, For the Love of Parenting parents. Welcome back! Thank you for your grace last week as I did not air an episode. I had some type of respiratory virus or food poisoning or something. Well, whatever it was, it put me down for some time and now I am feeling a little better. 

So, before getting sick, I celebrated my birthday, and instead of the usual single-day celebration, I indulged in a week-long series of special experiences planned by my husband and kids. It was a delightful time filled with joy and connection.

That weekend, I had lunch with a friend and former co-worker who mentioned how much she and her colleagues enjoy listening to my podcast—especially the episode about raising grateful kids (BTW, that’s episode 48 - Unlock The Secret To Raising Grateful Kids! if you’d like to check it out). This conversation, coupled with my birthday celebrations and the holiday season in full swing, led me to reflect on traditions—specifically family traditions.

As my children have grown, my husband and I have carved out unique traditions for our family. But it wasn’t always this way. When our kids were younger, the holidays often felt dictated by an unspoken rule: Everyone must see the baby. While it’s wonderful for children to connect with extended family, I began to wonder: What traditions did I want for our family? How could we balance the expectations of others with our own needs for quality family time?

The Importance of Traditions

Traditions are more than rituals—they’re a way to create lasting memories and foster a sense of identity, belonging, and stability. However, the holiday season can quickly become overwhelming for parents with endless obligations and the pressure to make every moment magical.

For years, my husband and I traveled extensively (I mean it was all local travel within the area that we lived) during the holidays, splitting time between his large family and my smaller one. It was important to us to see everyone, but as our kids grew, I realized I wanted them to have memories of being together as a family, not just traveling from one house to another. 

As our children got older, family dynamics changed—through the loss of my husband’s father and other loved ones, family members moving away, divorces, and even family feuds. These shifts, along with my growing desire to create new traditions, inspired us to begin redefining our traditions, shaping our holidays into something smaller, special and more intimate for our family. Don’t get me wrong, I still miss those really big get togethers. Seeing everyone, catching up and just celebrating together were magical moments.

After my parents passed away, I started hosting Thanksgiving, but I would host it on Saturday instead of on the actual holiday. This allowed us to attend my husband’s mom and Pop’s Thanksgiving celebration while still carving out time to celebrate with my siblings. This change significantly reduced the stress of cooking and traveling on Thanksgiving Day.

For Christmas, we created a structure that worked well for everyone. Christmas Eve was dedicated to celebrating with my husband’s mom and Pop—a tradition we’ve maintained since our children were babies. On Christmas morning, my sisters would come to our house for a light meal or brunch. This new rhythm gave us the chance to balance family obligations while focusing on quality time with our children.

So here are some tips that I used that you might also find helpful for Managing Holiday Traditions with Kids

1. Be Prepared for Meltdowns
   Babies and toddlers can become overstimulated during holiday gatherings. Bring comfort items like a favorite blanket or toy to help soothe them.
2. Dress for the Ride Home
   Before leaving an event, get them ready for bed by washing them up (brushing their teeth) and changing your child into their pajamas. They’re likely to fall asleep on the ride home, making the transition from car to bed much easier.
3. Don’t Stop Breastfeeding at Events
   If you’re nursing, find a quiet spot to feed your baby. Let family members know you’ll be stepping away to nurse. Staying on your regular breastfeeding schedule can help keep your baby content and avoid discomfort.
4. Stick to Your Routine
   Try to maintain your child’s regular schedule as much as possible. Consistency helps children feel secure, even in new environments.
5. Invest in a Portable Baby Monitor
   When your little one falls asleep during the festivities, use a portable baby monitor so you can stay nearby while still enjoying the event. Find a quiet room to settle your child for a restful nap or bedtime. Please remember to still keep safe sleep practices in play.

By adapting your approach to the holidays and embracing flexibility, you can create a balance that works for your family. Traditions don’t have to be perfect—they just need to feel meaningful and reflective of your family’s values and needs.

There are other tips that you can use for Managing Holiday Traditions

1. Define Your Family’s Priorities
Ask yourself, What do I want my children to remember about the holidays? Traditions should align with your values and bring joy—not stress.

2. Communicate and Set Boundaries
Discuss your plans with extended family in advance. If you’re making changes, be kind but firm. For instance, “This year, we’ve decided to spend Christmas morning at home to create our own tradition with the kids.”

3. Rotate or Alternate Visits
To maintain balance, consider rotating or alternating holiday visits. Spend Thanksgiving with one side of the family and Christmas with the other, or switch each year.

4. Simplify Gift-Giving
Focus on meaningful rather than excessive gifts. Give the gift of family experiences instead of material items.

I also want you to remember self-care during the Holidays

Taking care of yourself during the holidays is just as important as creating meaningful traditions.

Some other things to remember The Power of Saying No
Not every invitation needs to be accepted. Prioritize what matters most to your family and decline with gratitude: “Thank you for thinking of us, but we’re keeping this evening for ourselves.”

Delegate Responsibilities
Share the workload. Let your partner or older kids help with cooking, decorating, or planning activities.

Carve Out Personal Time
Take moments to recharge—whether it’s a quiet coffee break, a short walk, or journaling. A well-rested parent brings joy to the entire family.

Creating Your Own Traditions

Remember building your own traditions doesn’t have to be elaborate. Here are some ideas:

• Holiday Movie Nights: Choose a family favorite, make popcorn, and enjoy a cozy evening.
• DIY Decorations: Craft ornaments or decorations together.
• Volunteer Together: Teach your children the value of giving by helping at a local charity.
• Special Breakfasts: Start a tradition of making a festive breakfast, like pancakes or waffles, on Christmas morning.

Final Thoughts

Traditions evolve as families grow, and it’s okay to adjust or let go of ones that no longer serve you. By focusing on connection, joy, and balance, you’ll create memories that your children will cherish—and perhaps pass on to their own families someday.

Closing

So, in closing, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday for however you celebrate this season. It has been a sheer delight to bring  to you For The Love of Parenting Podcast throughout the year. I am looking forward to 2025 and more podcast episodes. 

As, For the Love of Parenting plans for the upcoming year – my next episode will not air until Wednesday, January 8th. Please be safe and enjoy your time with your family. I hope that you can use some of my tips for this episode to start building traditions of your own. Until next time, take care and happy holidays.

Hashtags: #FamilyTraditions #HolidayParentingTips #SelfCareForParents #ThePowerOfNo #CreateJoyfulMemories