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Traditions

I love creating memories with my kids through new family "traditions." It has always been a delight of mine, but I think especially since the divorce and since I have to work full time, I'm much more purposeful in the time I spend with the kids. Sometimes it's hard to temper the "divorce guilt," trying to compensate for the other parent or make up for the fact that the kids had to go through such a major life change. Some days I feel like I just have so much to "make up for."

Most of all, I just want my kids to have happy memories to look back on as adults. Not just your average traditions of Easter eggs and Christmas trees, but simple things like "Pancake Saturdays," or "Pizza & a Movie Night." I can't afford to take them on family vacations to Disneyland - heck, I can't even afford the museum right now - but I can do fun things like I have planned for this weekend.

The boys had early dismissal from school today, so I surprised them with a movie date. I saved my tip money all week and had just enough to cover three matinee tickets to see Hotel Transylvania 2. I smuggled homemade movie snacks in my purse and we enjoyed a fun outing for less than $20. Tomorrow after I get off work, we're going to carve our $3 pumpkin while enjoying some hot apple cider and pumpkin pancakes for dinner.

I'm challenged to create fun childhood memories for my kids on a very tiny budget, but we manage. Thankfully, they're too young to know the difference and hopefully when they're older it won't matter. They know their mom loves them.

One of my biggest goals is to create traditions that teach them generosity. Just because we don't have a lot doesn't mean we can't share. This past Christmas and Valentines, we made baked goods and cards for our local fire department. I'm getting my oldest involved in the next food drive I'm running for my company. We're also going to "adopt" another family for Christmas. These are the kinds of memories that I want to shape my kids' characters.

I can already see it working in my oldest son (age 6). On the way to our movie, C started talking about how he wanted to help me get a bigger house so we could adopt more kids. He was upset to find out that there were children in the world without a mommy or daddy and he's made it his mission in life to bring them all to our house so he can share his toys and food with them. His tender little heart makes me so proud of him. 

I think perhaps that is the best tradition I can ever give my children - selfless generosity.

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