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Christmas time is here. No denying it. And as you are getting ready to celebrate your own traditions, you might be wondering what your counterparts in adoption are doing tradition-wise this year. Are your child’s adoptive parents doing anything similar to how you were raised when it comes to holiday celebrations? Are your child’s birth parents gearing up for the holidays in the same way you are?
While you may have a very open, honest relationship, things like holiday traditions may not be high on your priority list to discuss. They might not even cross your mind at a time as busy as this one! All the same, consider taking some time this year to discuss traditions that the other side participates in at this time of year. Ask them why they do such a thing, how it was started in their family and why they think it has been passed on for years. Or, if they’ve started a new tradition just recently, ask them why they felt the need for something new.
Then see if you can incorporate their tradition into your own celebration in some way or another. Some are easy. As an example, a family friend of mine gets together with the generations of women in her family and makes cookies one Saturday early in the holiday season. Maybe you could get a family recipe and make it for your celebration. There are also other holiday recipes other than cookies to share back and forth.
Other things to share include any fun little things that you do. Do you go caroling? What’s your favorite carol? What do you do on Christmas Eve? Do you eat something special on Christmas morning? Do you do something different with your stockings? Do you have an Advent Calendar?
There are many ways to participate in traditions together while apart. You just have to talk about what your family is doing or has done and ask what the other family does as well. I know we’re all busy but this isn’t a heavy conversation to have! Have it today!
