Holiday Traditions: Family Craft

Brace Yourself

Right after Thanksgiving I start pushing the Panic Button labeled, “Uh-oh, here comes the Christmas Chaos!” I’m inclined to think I’m not the only one feeling like that. Not being a natural born shopper and being a person who doesn’t like large crowds, the commercialized part of the season really doesn’t appeal to me… but I make up for it in TRADITIONS!

Over the years we have come to cherish some of our traditions and I’d like to share some with you during the coming weeks.

Family Craft

This year I decided to borrow a friend’s tradition – a Family Craft Project. The project is different every year, and can involve inter-generational participation. I like the idea because it’s not obviously competitive, like games, and you spend time with each other while encouraging, complimenting, and helping.

Over our Thanksgiving weekend at a cabin we had our first project – Mosaics. The guys worked on recycled tin cans, a bottle, the patriarch decorated a wooden box; Amy made a trivet and I embellished a glass vase.

Maybe your family could make scrapbooks, paint bird houses or clay pots, or make ornaments. Any family gathering will do – reunion, vacation or any holiday.

Note from Amy: Mom forgot to mention the best part of family craft time: trash talking. Really, though, I’ll vouch for how fun this was. I wasn’t sure how it would go over with the guys, but they all got into it; and I think everyone would agree it was a good way to spend time together sitting around the same table.