New year tradition...thank you, Bonnie!

The most horrible part of working retail(which I no longer do) in my (now) home state of Illinois is missing holidays with extended family living too far away. It really meant a new opportunity to forge our own immediate family traditions. I was always looking for something meaningful and compelling enough to call "tradition" that the kids would be excited about each year.

A couple of year ago, Bonnie was telling me about the new year burning bowl tradition she had. It was perfect for us.

I had tried feeding the family black eyed peas. I was the only one at the table not gagging on them. Maybe the Rose Parade would work. Maybe...if we remembered to switch the channel to something other than cartoons. As a young child, I can remember being absolutely captivated by any kind of televised parade. What gives with today's youth?

The burning bowl, turned out to be just the ticket for everyone. Last year was the first year for us. Instead of coming up with resolutions everyone would forget or grow weary listening to me preach about, we wrote down the negative things we wanted to get out of our lives. Last year, everyone came up with a couple of ideas, wrote them down on a piece of paper and took turns throwing them in a thick, deep, candle burning crock.

This year, the kids were excited about it for weeks in advance. Rachel and I seem to have given our negative habits the most consideration. Apparently, she had given everyone else's negative habits her consideration as well. Before the family new year dinner (with black eyed peas) was cleared from the table, she had already gotten out her paper and pen. She was going to write down something for herself, and everyone else at the table. Hrmph, that sounds like something I would have done.

After almost laughing out loud at her, I explained the purpose of the tradition was for everyone to consider THEIR OWN negatives.

Let the burning begin!

We took turns going around the table, reading what we had written and watching the bad habit burn away. We pledged to support each other, instead of get preachy when someone had a weak moment. We are only five days into the new year, but the kids seem to be making more of an effort to get along, Todd is working on carving out more couple time, and I'm down to 24 oz. of Diet Mtn. Dew a day. I'll take that for as long as I can.