Besides the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, today marks the start of “Family Life Week.” At the Krug household we certainly have a lot to celebrate. The newest addition to our family, Boland Garet Baker, arrived mid-day on the 18th. He weighed in at just over 9 pounds and is 21 and ½ inches long. To say that his big sisters are thrilled with his arrival would be an understatement. His mom and dad, all the grandparents, aunts, and uncles are equally happy to welcome him into the family.
Hopefully the holiday week at your house will include some good family time activities. Spending time without spending much money is really the best way to make a long lasting memory with little ones. This is the perfect time to start a tradition. Children tend to greatly value a connection to family roots, so they are likely to love hearing about a tradition you had as a child, and replicating it themselves. Make a list of common interests you have with your grandchildren, as a starting point: then think about related activities that are simple, reproducible over time, and flexible enough to change or adapt as your grandchildren grow older.
Give older grandchildren real input into designating a tradition together – they will be more invested in it and will want to keep it going. Three years ago I asked our oldest granddaughter, Calyn, to help me decorate our Christmas tree. Last year when we finished putting on the last ornament I let Calyn select her favorite one to take home to her tree. She was thrilled with this new tradition. Just yesterday, Calyn asked me when we are going to decorate the tree this year. (It will be after Thanksgiving)
Whether you live in the same town as your grandchildren or across the country, children have great memories and reserve a special place in their hearts for their grandparents. Thank goodness for Skype and Facetime as good ways to be involved in milestones and day to day activities.
Here’s wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving; take time to celebrate your family!
Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County. You may contact her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu