The Importance of Family Traditions

Ezra Taft Benson said, “Build traditions of family trips and outings. These memories will never be forgotten by your children.”

Growing up, I had the ultimate Mother that created the most magical traditions for every holiday. On St. Patrick’s Day, it was an all green dinner, our birthday cake was always homemade and a surprise, Easter was a week-long event of studying Christ’s last week of his life, and on Halloween we would always get a visit from Witchalina. Christmas was on another level every single year. My Mother worked tirelessly every year making sure it was always a memory we could have forever.

Now as a Mother I am starting to reiterate the same traditions in my own home.  I am starting to get a taste of the late nights and how much work it really is. But I’m starting to understand why my Mother had such an emphasis on creating traditions within the home. Sure, she wanted us to have an incredible childhood, but it was more than that. I learned it’s because traditions are what brings your children back home. It creates unity within your family. All six kids in my family are adults now. When Christmas comes we want to go home because we become like a child again, giddy and anxious for the smells and tastes of our childhood at Christmas time. We crave to have our traditional candlelight meal on Christmas Eve, or to see where “Santa” hid our presents that year. During the holidays, we want to return home to the place where we feel the most love.

As Mother’s it’s important to be the captain in our homes and create the environment we want our children to cling to. Traditions turn into memories that your children will carry with them as they leave your home and create their own home and families. Create traditions in your home now while they are little so they will want to return home when they are big!

What are some family traditions you have in your home that bring unity in your family?

-Hayley

{Hayley is a beautiful southern mama with the cutest little boy. She is amazing at decor and loves turning her home into a place everyone wants to be. She is a professional wedding and event planner, sunshine seeker, and believes life should be celebrated, not just endured. You can find her over @hayleycmarsh on Instagram.}