Celebrating Good Parents: Creating Meaningful Traditions for Mother's Day and Father's Day

At our house, traditions are the rule of every holiday. Actually, traditions are just plain the rule. You have to be careful of doing something once, because the kids might deem it a tradition, and you better darn well do it again the next year, exactly the same or you'll have some outraged children on your hands!

I love how traditions are like that, though. They really keep our families connected to one another, especially as our children grow older. It seems like the majority of our holiday traditions are in conjunction with the big holidays: Christmas, Easter, and even Valentine's Day. What about some of the holidays where we actually celebrate each other?

Our parents do so much for us throughout our entire lives. I'm 40 years old and my parents are at my house right now helping me out with things we wouldn't be able to do without them. And it isn't just home projects, they help me figure out how to discipline my children (they have many more years of experience than I do), they help me make difficult decisions (they are full of great advice), and they help me get through the overwhelming feelings I so often experience as a busy wife and mother. But most of all, they love me. And they always have.

I am so grateful for my parents and we do have a few traditions that celebrate them each year on Mother's Day and Father's Day. My parents--my mom especially--mostly just love to receive letters on these holidays. My mom wants to hear how much we love her and why. She saves every single letter and I assume she reads them often. Phone calls are a big tradition, too. With my parents living a couple thousand miles away, we can't have a nice dinner together and so we have to rely on the telephone (or Skype or Facetime).

Even though I talk to my parents often, it's important that I recognize them on the holiday that was created to honor them. And it's my pleasure to do so. However, as I think about the traditions my family has for other holidays, I feel like these calls and letters--wonderful as they are--aren't enough.

I think about how much we look forward to watching certain movies on specific days during the Christmas holidays. I think about how excited we get about eating foods that we only get on Thanksgiving Day or at Easter dinner. How about creating some traditions we can really get excited about? Traditions that will be meaningful to parents, but also something kids will have fun doing, and that will teach them thoughtfulness in the process.

1. Keep your recipient in mind

What are the things your parents or spouse absolutely love? What would make them happiest on their special day? Remember that this day is all about them--celebrate what makes them unique and go from there. Is your mom a film buff? Take her to the movie she wants to see most every Mother's Day. Does your dad love to spend time on the golf course? Take him golfing every Father's Day, and if you can't do that, gift him with a free game instead.

2. Get creative

Some of our favorite traditions are our silliest ones. Make Dad "king for a day" and give him a special crown he is required to wear all day. Give a book-loving mom a book she can read out loud to her children. Compose a song to sing to your dad every Father's Day that's all about him and how he has influenced your life. Go on a special walk or hike together--to the same place every year.

3. Take it one step further

So remember how I said my mom loves receiving letters? I think this year we'll make a video letter for her instead. She will love having her grandchildren talk about how much they love her, and of course The Maestro and I will do the same. Think of the things you already do and make them a little bit bigger and a little bit better. This doesn't have to cost extra--it just takes extra thoughtfulness.

4. Don't just keep it in the family

My sister-in-law brings a doughnut to every mother in her life--friends, sisters, daughters, cousins--on the Saturday before Mother's Day. She makes sure to honor all of them with a hug and a treat. I always intend to do something similar, but never actually do it. Maybe this year will be the year. Because it makes me feel wonderful to have people other than my own husband and children recognizing my efforts as a mother. This is something your children can do, too. They can honor teachers, coaches, or other influential adults in their lives on Mother's Day and Father's Day.


The trick to all of these tips is to make it special. Choose things that you will only do on this one day of the year, then it will truly be something you can look forward to all year long!

Let’s celebrate our parents with New York Life by sharing how we plan to honor our parents this Mother's and Father's Days.

Share a photo on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #KeepGoodGoing and then visit New York Life's Celebrating Good page to see how others are celebrating their moms and dads.

My mom and me on Mother's Day 2014. The first one we celebrated together in person in nearly 10 years. #KeepGoodGoing

What are your favorite Mother's Day/Father's Day traditions?

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