Pardon the Garden

Confessions of a lazy wannabe homesteader

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Let’s Get In Touch

On traditions and simplicity

December 21, 2014 Marie 2 Comments

Traditions are funny things. They are, by definition, a pattern. It’s tradition for me to put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. It’s tradition for me to give the niece and nephew an ornament each year. Every year I do the same things.

But traditions change, too. They evolve. It used to be tradition that I went to see my extended family on Christmas day up until a few years ago. Now it’s tradition to stay home and open presents and relax (because it’s something I’ve always wanted but never had as a kid). Christmas with the extended family on my mom’s side used to mean a tree you could barely see because there were so many presents piled around it. Now the tree is more simple, and there are only presents for their children (my mom and uncles and spouses) but not the grandchildren. There’s a little sadness in that for me. It isn’t the presents, though that makes me a bit sad, too. I think it’s that, as an adult, you see things differently. You know the why and how. You see things for what they really are instead of having the lens of childhood innocence to tint your view a different, happy shade.

Traditions change, and it has taken me 30 years to realize it. I can’t believe I’m finally realizing that I don’t have to follow tradition just because “it’s tradition.” I don’t have to do something if I don’t enjoy it. I don’t have to make something work just for the sake of keeping tradition. All I have to do is what makes us all happiest, and say no to the rest. No to making 10 different kinds of cookies and candies, yes to just the one or two we actually enjoy. No to the pressure of making everything hour and minute special, yes to keeping it simple and laid back (which is our style, anyway). No to letting anyone dictate what our traditions should be, yes to doing what works for us.

Just a happy, simple holiday season for probably the first time ever in my life.

Featured, Posts holidays, winter

Comments

  1. susan says

    December 21, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    Hi Marie – I’m so happy that you’ve decided to do things your way. It’s wonderful to be true to yourself and , though tradition is nice, there’s certainly nothing wrong with starting new traditions that better suit us. Have a very Merry Christmas! xo

    Reply
    • Marie says

      December 22, 2014 at 7:14 am

      Thank you, Susan. I hope you have a merry Christmas as well!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome

Pardon the garden. A phrase I’m most likely to utter anytime anyone visits the house during the growing seasons of spring through fall. Sure, there are pretty flowers and delicious veggies in there somewhere, but they might be a little hard to find amidst the mess of overgrown grass, dandelions, and weeds that have found their way in there and haven’t been pulled. Read On

Favorite Reads

  • Beauty That Moves
  • Casey Knits
  • Chalk Legs
  • Chiots Run
  • Completely Cauchy
  • Dula Notes
  • Hygge House
  • Posie Gets Cosy
  • Pretty Gingham
  • Reading My Tea Leaves
  • Sheetar
  • Simple Cozy Living
  • Space Farm Continuum
  • Starving off the Land
  • Sweet Sunday Stitches
  • The Atheist Homesteader
  • Whole Larder Love

Looking for Something?

Recent Comments

  • Marie on Rainy Day quilt progress
  • susan on Rainy Day quilt progress
  • susan on Two.
  • susan on Little growth
  • Marie on Spring jelly
  • Faythe on Spring jelly
  • susan on March
  • DKnits on The tally

Tags

5 things Area baking beanie bags Buttercup camping crochet Current events december photo project dyeing embroidery fall family farm dreaming food garden gifts handmade wardrobe holidays home homebrewing knitting less link love literary little happy things Little Mr Me misc crafts Motorcycle Adventures nature out & about playlist preserving quilting recipe running sewing spinning spring summer travels tutorial winter woodwork

Pages

  • About Me
  • December Photo Project
  • Less Fluff, More Meaning
  • Let’s Keep In Touch

Copyright © 2023 · Pardon the Garden · Built on the Genesis Framework