Some of my fondest memories as a young girl and later as a Mother revolve around family traditions and routines. I recall in my childhood days how we had big family meals on Sundays, oftentimes around our round kitchen table and in our dining room on holidays or other important times. There was always an abundance of home cooked meals and lots of chatter between my siblings and my parents, those were good times. Those times ceased for the most part when my brothers and my sister went off to college and made their own lives. They did not end abruptly, but slowly over time, leaving just holidays and summertime to gather as a large family group.
Once I had our three children I had Sunday dinners with the children, sometimes my Mother and often my wonderful mother in law, Thelma. Their Father was there as well, often cooking out on the grill in summer and my doing the meal preparation in cooler months. It was a lovely tradition, but never quite rivaled my childhood gatherings. Life changed at one point for all of us and Sunday dinners became fewer and fewer with Thelma often in attendance. Sadly these too ended, due to illness and death of the matriarchs,which happens to most of us.
Now with the pandemic these gatherings have gone on hold, due to possible contagion and other health conditions and circumstances. I miss these kinds of gatherings, closest to it are meals at my sister Ruth’s home and summer events at my daughters lovely home. My hope is by summer of this year we can begin to gather again, small family events would be nice. I have not seen my oldest son in person in over a year, he is in NYC and events have kept him and his fiancée from traveling. A good family reunion would be lovely also, perhaps next summer. Despite all this past years difficulties, I am thankful for life, family and perhaps building a few new traditions. I would like a big birthday party someday, if for no other reason than to gather with loved ones and reminisce.
Traditions change as do our lives as we age and switch roles, it’s key to keep some of them alive, even if only in our hearts.
