The reality is that as parents we have only a short 18 years to instill in our children a sense of pride in family traditions at Christmastime.

Hi, I’m Lorraine Brock, Professional Organizer, Family Coach, and Speaker. I love to organize. Organize a space, an event, and even traditions. These three areas share common organizing traits: you have to create a plan and then implement the ideas to a successful end.

In my video blog this month I not only share MY favorite Christmas traditions, but my family shares theirs as well. I also have a video blog describing a unique new family tradition you might want to implement in your home for Christmas this year.

For some reason when my son was younger, I would tell him 50 times a week to put on his seat belt in the car, and yet it took some time for it to become automatic. However, in only a few short Christmas seasons, if I failed to place our snowman candy jar filled with M&M’s on the counter, or put Christmas lights on all the stair rails, he noticed. These were traditions that he connected with Christmas and our family, and it made me happy.

You may already have some simple Christmas traditions, but if you don’t, allow me to share some that you might want to consider starting.

1. See a yearly live nativity. There are many around the DFW area that offer a trip back in time to the birth of Jesus. While one of these has already passed, keep it for next year.
Bethlem Revisited: (early December). 

Dallas First Church of the Nazarene: (free admission)

2. Fulfill a Christmas Wish. Each year KLTY 94.9FM teams up with Chick-fil-A restaurants in the DFW area to help families in need. You can submit a wish for a family or you can stop by a designated Chick-fil-A Monday thru Saturday to pick a family to support.

3. Attend an annual Christmas play. Dress up and take the family to see The Christmas Carol at one of the local performing arts centers followed by dinner at a new or favorite restaurant.

4. Read The Christmas Story to your family before opening gifts Christmas morning.

5. Take your family to a tree lighting and then ice skating.

6. Take each of your children shopping individually for Christmas presents and end it with a scoop of ice cream.

These are just a few suggestions for traditions that your family will enjoy year after year. It’s time to stop saying you are going to do it, and start by creating a list and then putting the ideas on your family calendar. An idea does not become a family tradition until the family actively participates in it. As I always say in my blogs, “there is a difference between planning to do something and scheduling it.” So look at your calendar now and schedule your new tradition with your family this Christmas.