Comments on: Traditions: When is it Time to Change?

By: The 12 days of (cleaning and organizing for) Christmas – Part 2 | 2 Green Chicks

Thu, 02 May 2019 05:10:34 +0000

[…] We decided to give up some activities for one year and decide next Christmas if we missed it. Here is a great article that might help you think through your traditions and decide if some traditions […]

By: Skipping Christmas (November/December 2014 discussion) | Bossard Booklovers

Skipping Christmas (November/December 2014 discussion) | Bossard Booklovers — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:24:06 +0000

[…] Traditions: When is it Time to Change? (Reluctant Entertainer) […]

By: An Explosive Combination « Auntie Em's Guide to Life

An Explosive Combination « Auntie Em's Guide to Life — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:37:42 +0000

[…] “Tradition is a beautiful thing if it doesn’t overwhelm you. But with traditions come a lot of expectations. And with failed expectations come a lot of stress and guilt.” The Reluctant Entertainer […]

By: Auntie Em

Auntie Em — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:58:20 +0000

Sandy, I’m writing a post for A Biblical Marriage about unrealistic expectations and (wonder of wonders) I remembered this post! I’ve mentioned it and linked to it. It’s too good not to share! Thanks once more for your wonderful work!
Melinda

By: Keeping a Healthy Balance During the Holidays - Reluctant Entertainer I Sandy Coughlin - Lifestyle, Entertaining, Food, Recipes, Hospitality and Gardening

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:58:50 +0000

[…] admit, the older I get I fall into that same category. You might have read my post on “Traditions” where I say just because you did it (certain traditions) before doesn’t mean you […]

By: Nicole @cookingafterfive

Nicole @cookingafterfive — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:39:25 +0000

This is such a timely post, as we’re dealing with these issues in my husband’s family at the moment. Glad to know we’re not the only ones!

By: genie

genie — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:58:40 +0000

OH… PLEASE someone tell my MIL that it is TIME to CHANGE. I’ve been dating/married to my hubby for 11 years now and for 11 years Christmas has been either at her house or my SILs (she is closer to some grands). I casually asked a vague question about my hosting the event next year only to be informed that she is really wanting to host it at her house again. I have a 2 year old and a hubby who has very little time off. I am about ready to scream.

There are always “reasons” why it has to be at the SIL or MIL house – old people who can’t travel far, sick people… According to hubby, she’s always hosted and everyone has always come to her. He is as frustrated as I am and so is planning on talking to his dad and BIL about a revolt – with a compromise of rotating hosting duties. Really, I’d love to have it for a few years while my kid is still little. I want to be able to cook MY type of food and not the heavy meat and dairy glop that they always make. (We eat mainly veggies/whole grain type diet.)

We did realize that this is going to be a long fight and so this year, did our thing on Solstice, with a campfire in our (large) yard and Santa coming that evening. It was wonderful and all but…. Hubby said that if they don’t agree to a compromise that we’ll just stop going. I like his family but his mom is just nuts about this holiday… (oh, and they/we are all non-religious… making it sort of ironic)

I guess that having just returned from all of the “fun” I’m a bit stressed out still…. Just a thought to all of you other mothers of adult kids – it’s their turn! Let them make their own traditions and you go along for the ride.

By: Nearly There Week « Deb's Heart & Home

Nearly There Week « Deb's Heart & Home — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:17:33 +0000

[…] Traditions: When Is It Time To Change? Sandy Coughlin, The Reluctant Entertainer […]

By: Adelle @ ready...GO!...get set

Adelle @ ready...GO!...get set — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:27:29 +0000

We gave up trooping around in the cold mud to find a tree as well. Happily, we drove down to our local Home Depot and came home with a NICER (and CHEAPER) tree! The boys were allowed to pick it out – they, of course, picked the first one they saw. Men! They are all the same…no matter their age!

We are still building traditions in our family – my husband came from such an unstructured and fractured home that he didn’t really grow up with many. I had too many – we’re working on developing what works for us and our boys!

My biggest burden? Too many decorations. I work like a slave to get them all up immediately after TG so “I can enjoy them” but the process, this year, was not so enjoyable.

By: Katy-Anne

Katy-Anne — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:32:55 +0000

Wow, someone needs to send this to my mother in law. SHE is the one that thinks that because she had certain traditions with her kids, that her son is REQUIRED to keep them now that he is married with kids of his own because otherwise he’s “not honoring” her.

She does Christmas stockings. We ditched Christmas stockings after the first year because we c couldn’t afford it and didn’t want a collection of junk to have more stuff filling the house in an effort to “fill” someones stocking. But that offends her. Her house is also full of junk nobody uses, which is against our philosophy of living.

She might be even more offended next year…we may not be celebrating Christmas at all next year.