When I think about my childhood, and what I remember most fondly, it’s the small things repeated over and over again. Things we like to call traditions. I remember: Going to Caloundra with my extended family for September holidays; Mum buying pink milk for a holiday treat; Dad buying me ice-cream after every holiday swim; Picking a cake from the Woman’s Weekly Children’s Cake Book; Christmas-time; A block of chocolate, all for me, at Easter; Choosing my birthday dinner; Bible stories at night; Watching Where Eagles Dare when I was 15; Eating my Grandmother’s tuna fried rice; The Farm visits.
Suzy, a Be A Fun Mum reader, wrote to me about a tradition she shares with her children.
My sister loved Suzy’s idea and did ’100 balloons’ for her daughter’s birthday. Her daughter (pictured) woke up at 4.30am, saw the balloons, and thought she was in a dream, only to wake a few hours later to find the balloons still there. It was a hit! It’s a tradition I’m going to start too. It’s affordable and oh-so-fun.
Little traditions are important for creating lasting memories.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
fun!
very
I love this tradition. We did this idea for Miss M (3.5) last year and she thought it was great.
I bet she did!
Love it… traditions give a sense of anticipation and connection. They are good for crossing generational boundaries. Loving, thoughtful and momentus traditions link us to our memories and reach into our future.
THAT is a gorgeous description! I might just have to quote you!
Love this !!
Hope you don’t mind..Have shared on my Face Book page
Kind regards,
Penelope.
Thanks Penelope! Of course, I would love it! I’m so glad you said hi. I have another browser open and am having a look at your shop. And I’m going, OOOOO, AHHHH, NIICCEE
I love the idea of waking up to the balloons.
We had an accidental tradition start when I blew up a bunch of balloons to throw into a tent for one of our birthday parties here at home. The kids loved it, and a tradition was born. It also keeps them entertained while we wait for the other guests to arrive.
Balloons are cheap and fun entertainment, it’s true. We let the birthday guests take some home if they want to and we still have a tentfull at the end of the day. No one seems to have outgrown it yet!
Thanks for the great ideas…I love your blog and how it inspires me to enjoy my kiddos.
That sounds lovely Polly. Balloons are wonderful, fun and bright! I love the idea of having them in a tent. Awesome.
What a lovely idea. Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us!
I remember my mother decorating for our birthdays. Nothing as elaborate as that, but it still made me feel special. Now that I remember it, I think it’s something I have to start with my own kids.
It doesn’t take much to make kids feel special hey
This sounds fun. Will have to remember to do this.
(I’m just catching up on all your posts, my blogfeed to your blog hasn’t been working!)
Hi Michelle! I can’t wait to do this soon … my daughter will be 9!!!
fantastic! We did this in my son’s cot for his 1st Birthday (after he woke up of course, hehe, safety first people!
), had them all blown up waiting then piled them in with him, he loved it!
Must do it in the room now they are older (4th and 2nd Birthdays approaching).
X
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