Trick or treating. Thanksgiving dinner. Opening Christmas presents. These are all easy yearly traditions to participate in but they are not the only ones you need to know about and definitely not the only ones your family should participate in.
Every family should have a set of their own special traditions.
We have a couple parades that we go to every year. One near both sets of grandparents. Tomorrow is the Pumpkin Festival parade which is near my parents. We can walk to the end of the street to watch the parade.
Parades are pretty good traditions because they all seem to consist of people who like to throw candy at your kids. This keeps the kids occupied and generally content. Last year, Pookie really seemed to like the marching bands. He did a lot of dancing before getting tired and falling asleep on Mamaw’s couch. He really hates the loud fire trucks and hot rods. The loud horns and engines really get into his head differently than the rest of us. Geetle likes anything and everything at a parade…especially the candy.
Another part of the tradition happens a few hours before the parade. Within walking distance of my parents’ house is the starting line for a 10K race that I run every year. A few years back I was in pretty decent shape and finished right around 43 minutes. I was pretty thrilled. Since then, I have progressively gotten slower and slower. This year will probably be the first year it takes me more than an hour. Yuck and ouch.
The kids get a little bored during the race but can head back to the house if things get too bad. So far, they have always been there when I finish and are excited to see me suddenly appear amidst the more than 1000 other runners.
I have a couple races that I run every year not matter how fit I am. They normally remind me that I need to start running again. But, more importantly, participating in the races shows my kids that I think fitness is fun. I am hoping that as they get older they might get a similar idea and maybe decide to run some races with me.
That would be a great tradition.
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Tradition, family time, & fitness all rolled into one. Perfect!
I love that you are showing your kids how great fitness is! My dad’s big thing was taking a hike with us down the rail road tracks to McDonald’s the first snow of the year. Traditions are great!
As far as the fire engine and loud noises have you tried ear plugs? I have an autistic child in my class who gets very upset by the bell, fire alarms, and the kids being too loud. When things bother him he just puts in his ear plugs and things are better. Old stereo headphones with the cord cut off work well too.
For those who were curious, I finished in 56 something. A couple minutes worse than last year, but I managed to break the 1 hour barrier and I also ran the entire way.
The kids met me at the corner closest to my parents house and high fived me as I ran by.
Afterward, Geetle decided tht she wants to run a race with me someday.
Cool stuff.
I can’t wait to start creating traditions with my daughter when she is old enough to remember. That is very cool that Geetle wants to run a race with you. You are setting a good example.