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| Family Traditions: Making the Holidays Memorable |
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| If you find yourself caught up in the hectic trappings of the holiday season, you're not alone. It can be easy to lose sight of the deeper traditions and the relationships that make holidays meaningful to us in the first place. This year, strive to create meaningful and memorable family experiences. With some creativity, a touch of discipline to say "no" to certain seasonal demands and a few of these ideas, you can make this year's holiday season one you and your family truly cherish.
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The "meaningful" test
Ask yourself what it is about the holidays that means the most to you. Where are you putting most of your energy? If your answers overlap, good for you. If not, consider ways to shift more of your energy to the holiday traditions that mean more to you.
Something old, something new
Look back into your past and find a tradition your family can carry on, such as lighting a candle in each window or decorating wreaths with old family ornaments. Also, identify a practice that creates good feelings among your family throughout the holiday season, and make it a new tradition for your household to continue year after year.
Rich experiences
The experiences you share with family and friends create memories for years to come. Try to limit commitments that pull you away from your family. Cross the "nice to haves" off your shopping list to cut back on time spent in stores. Stick to simple comfort-food recipes to save time in the kitchen. Better yet, select cooking activities you can do together. Bake a few batches of cookies with your kids. Go caroling as a family. Select a holiday story to read together or a game to play together — make it something you can repeat each year.
Gifts and sharing
Downplaying the importance of gifts this year helps place more emphasis on togetherness. Some families organize a gift exchange so that each member of the family only shops for one other person. Others set gift value limits to keep gift giving from growing out of proportion. Let creating holiday memories your family will treasure be the greatest gift of all.
Capture your memories
Find a way to record this year's holiday highlights that fits your family — whether it's a scrapbook, photo album, video or journal. Use the same approach in years to come. You'll love looking back on your holiday collection.
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