How to Enjoy the Holidays with Your Teenager

Aaah, December! Cooler weather, fallen leaves,a special dinner being prepared on a certain day. Or it
shorter days, and the holiday season! For some, thecan be as simple as drinking spiced cider while
holiday season is filled with parties, family getwatching an old movie. As stated, traditions create
togethers, celebrations, and traditions. The change inmemories, and memories invoke the senses. Perhaps
music, sights, and aromas remind us of this special timeyou can still smell a certain baked good from past
of year. Yet, if your family is like mine, it quite easilyholidays. Or you can hear a special song that takes
can be the busiest time of the year. So many things toyou back to a special time in your life. My guess is that
do, so many places to be - all in the span of a fewthese special memories were born out of a family
short weeks! Are you concerned about keeping yourtradition.
holiday spirit alive in the midst of the chaos of theDon't have a lot of family traditions? The great thing
holiday season? Are you looking for ways to connectabout traditions is they can start at anytime. They do
with your teenager, as this may be his last year atnot have to be great or huge, just repeated and
home or her first year as a teenager? Here are somemeaningful. Start a new holiday tradition just for you
tips on how to enjoy the holidays with your teenager:and your teenager. Perhaps adopt one from another
1. Keep up the traditionsculture.
For some parents, this time of year is a huge hassle.3. Don't get lost in the holiday blur
The shopping, the decorating, the baking can leave youThe holiday season is synonymous with a lot of
feeling frustrated and tired. For others, it is veryactivity. Stores are open until late in the evening.
meaningful and steeped in family traditions. AndPerhaps you have a lot of office of family parties to
traditions are the gateway for happy childhoodattend. You willingly rush to attend all of them for fear
memories of the past. Traditions and memories evokeof not wanting to offend anyone. Likewise, your
the senses and nostalgia in all of us.teenager may have her own party list to attend, gifts
Have you ever wondered if family traditions areto purchase, and places to be. Yet, it is easy to lose
important to your teenager? Are you starting tosight of enjoying the holiday season as a family rather
wonder if he even notices them? Well, the answersthan individually. Make it a commitment to spend some
are yes and perhaps. Teenagers can seem selftime alone with your teenager. It could be as simple as
absorbed and not really noticing the world aroundhaving breakfast one morning or going to the malls on
them. But they are aware of their surroundings.Black Friday.
Traditions are important because they build memories.4. Teach that it is not all about the money
And regardless of how silly they are, memories makeJust as the holidays are busy, they can also be
for a richer life and give a sense of belonging. So, evenconsumed by materialism and greed. This is a great
if your teenager does not seem to notice them, keeptime of year to give as a family to those that are less
up your traditions.fortunate than you are. Find a service project to do
Ask your daughter what her favorite holiday memorytogether as a family. But rather than just do it once,
is and find away to celebrate it. Does your son have aconsider volunteering throughout the year.
favorite holiday tradition? The only way to find out is toAre you looking for more common sense advice,
ask!practical solutions and even humor for parenting your
2. Make new traditionsteen? I invite you to check out where you will find tips
A tradition is simply something we do repeatedly in thefor parenting teens, school, curfew, and more!
anticipation of a celebration. It can be as elaborate as