Knowing When To Let Go Of Family Traditions

Embracing change can be hard, but focusing on the upside helps.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Parenting is loaded with ups and downs. Ultimately, you hope the good outweighs the bad.

I feel lucky to have often said, “If I had a dollar for every instance I wished for a machine that could freeze this moment in time, I’d be a millionaire by now.”

When, in fact, those moments themselves made me rich a long time ago.

• The warmth of your infant, wrapped in a blanket and snuggled to your chest.
• The fresh smell of your toddler’s hair after a bath.
• The smile your preschooler shines on you from the front row of a holiday concert.
• The pride that bursts inside you while watching your son or daughter grow, achieve, and follow their dreams.
• The touch of your child’s hand in yours — at any age, any time.

At each juncture, I’ve tried to hold on—attempted to squeeze every ounce of joy out of that moment, and wished that my kids could remain that age a tiny bit longer.

But, during our most recent vacation, I realized that in certain ways, I may have been holding on too long. Some family traditions have a shelf life, an expiration date. Letting go is…