I believe it is important to have traditions within the family. To have rituals that are repeated on a regular basis that gives the members of the family a feeling of inclusion as well as bonding. It is our first experience of being a member of a group. My mother was wonderful at creating traditions. We had many within our family, some that were repeated every week and others that were practiced around holidays and birthdays.

Every Saturday evening we would have the same dinner. Mom would make Swiss steak, baked potatoes and tossed salads. We were allowed to eat in the living room on TV trays and watch television. Every Saturday morning was cleaning time. Everyone had their assigned chores. When your chores were done you had free time until dinner.

Mom’s traditions around birthdays included picking your favorite meal as well as your birthday cake. There were four kids and dad that mom would do this for. My brother would ask for the same meal every year. He wanted homemade corndogs, baked beans and fruit salad. His birthday cake was always homemade chocolate with dark chocolate frosting. Mom continued to make him this same meal and birthday cake until she died. Now my brother is fifty years old and his wife makes him this same meal.

I would not always ask for the same meal. Sometimes I would ask for spaghetti and other times I wanted mom’s homemade chicken dumpling soup. My birthday cake was always the same. I wanted a marble cake with white frosting and pink roses from the bakery. I still have wonderful memories of those past birthdays every time I see a bakery cake with pink roses.

My mother was a wonderful cook so most of the traditions in my memories of home include food. I think that this is a great way to create traditions because the use of food involves so many of the senses. There is the sense of smell and taste along with sight that can trigger memories of past events. My sister’s choice for her birthday dinner was creamed tuna over chowmein noodles. The smell of tuna always reminds me of my sister. Her birthday cake choice was a chocolate jellyroll filled with cream and covered in chocolate frosting. I tease her husband that he is supposed to make this cake for her each year. He has bought the jellyrolls at the bakery, but they do not compare to mom’s homemade.

We still remember each others birthdays and have the memories of having our special day as we were growing up. I have continued this tradition in my family and so have my siblings. We have our mom to thank for giving us such a strong since of family traditions.