A few of my favorite family traditions are the ones we’ve created simply by choosing time together, again and again. Our Valentine’s Day family date is one of those small but meaningful rituals… no pressure, no grand gestures, just a reminder that love in our home shows up in presence, shared meals, and laughter.
In the spring, we take a mini family getaway, usually just a day or two, but it always feels like a reset after winter. We also visit the flower fields and make time for our annual spring family photo. Even though we haven’t been able to do the photos the past couple of years because of bad weather, the intention behind the tradition still matters. It’s less about the picture itself and more about marking the season and the moment we’re in together.
Our Memorial Day getaway feels like the unofficial start of summer… a pause before life gets busy again. Birthday getaways to the city have become another favorite tradition, turning milestones into shared experiences rather than rushed celebrations. During the summer, we keep things simple with beach day trips, the kind of days that feel ordinary while they’re happening but quietly become lasting memories.
In the fall, we slow things down with sightseeing road trips, fall family photos, and visits to apple cider mills, something we’ve now done for the second year. There’s comfort in returning to familiar places and letting the season set the pace. And then there’s our newest tradition… the NYC Christmas trip… walking through the city lights, feeling the shared holiday energy, and creating memories that feel timeless.
None of these family traditions are elaborate, and that’s what makes them meaningful. They’re simple moments that mark time, reminding us that togetherness doesn’t have to be loud or perfect to be lasting.
EXPLORE . ADVENTURE . DISCOVER . 
“None of these family traditions are elaborate, and that’s what makes them meaningful. They’re simple moments that mark time, reminding us that togetherness doesn’t have to be loud or perfect to be lasting.” I love this. It reminds me of how important family traditions are.
One of my favorite family traditions is simple, yet deeply meaningful.
It isn’t something fancy or expensive. It doesn’t require planning months in advance or spending money we don’t have. It’s the tradition of showing up—for birthdays, milestones, ordinary dinners, and moments that deserve to be remembered, even when life has been hard.
In my family, we’ve learned that togetherness is not about perfection. It’s about presence. Sitting at the table. Laughing through memories. Sharing stories we’ve told a hundred times and still find comfort in hearing again. Sometimes it’s a meal. Sometimes it’s a phone call. Sometimes it’s just being in the same space, letting time slow down for a moment.
What makes this tradition special to me is that it reminds us of who we are beyond our struggles. No matter how complicated life becomes, there is something grounding about coming together—about remembering that we belong to one another.
Over the years, this tradition has carried us through grief, distance, misunderstandings, and healing. It has taught me that love doesn’t always announce itself loudly. Sometimes, it shows up quietly—by pulling up a chair and staying.
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Thank you for sharing this so thoughtfully. I love how you described togetherness as presence rather than perfection… that really resonates. There’s so much meaning in the simple act of showing up for one another.
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