Buidling Traditions

I kept my son home from school on Thursday. Living in Canada means that American Thanksgiving is just another day, so if he is going to go to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, he will have to be absent.

As I teacher and a mom, I'm okay with parents keeping children home for family traditions. I should add that the days missed should be minimal. Much can be learned attending special events with loved. I don't mean learning in an academic sense, but an emotional sense. Andrew and I (along with a friend who is like a sister) sat on the sidewalk along Woodward Avenue for two hours, in awe of each new spectacle. All around us were families, some with younger children and some with ...teenagers and all seemed to be smiling and bonding. I cuddled and giggled with my son, a gift to both of us. My poor husband missed all the fun because he had to work (parent/teacher conferences - he really couldn't miss). Today, Andrew and I drew pictures of floats and balloons.

Growing up, my family never attended the parade or the fireworks. We did not take regular summer vacations. We had fun and had our own traditions, such as playing Trivial Pursuit at dinner. I always wished, however, that we had done some of those other things. I have determined that my own family will have traditions of going places and seeing things outside of our everyday world. I plan on dragging Andrew to that parade, even if he grows into a snarly teenager.