The 4th of July is about over now, and I couldn’t help but think about the traditions this day used to hold for me when I was growing up. Things like waffle breakfast bars, neighborhood parades ending in lemonade and cookies, board and card games all day, waiting until night fell to catch a good spot for fireworks.

Then as I became an adult, those traditions faded, and new ones emerged – mostly ones that included family cookouts, sitting outside talking and enjoying a drink, and always ending with fireworks/sparklers.

Now, as a 30-year-old married woman, even the traditions above have faded. Cadarius and I talked today about how we’re in a period of transitioning traditions, and it’s now our responsibility to create new ones with our families and friends. We don’t have the space right now for cookouts and guests, but it’s something we long for in the future. Tonight, I believe, was a good start; we spent the day really just relaxing and gaming, took naps, then spent the evening with my sister and her boyfriend. They cooked us hot dogs and fries, we played some COD Zombies, and watched fireworks from her porch. It may not have been as routine as what we used to do growing up, but it honestly was a sweet time. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the day in any other way.

These things are less of a celebration of what the 4th is traditionally about, in my opinion, and more of a celebration of family and friendships that have held through time.

Moving forward, I’ll be eager to see what other things we put into place as our family grows, and as time passes on.

What kind of traditions do you have with your family and friends (they don’t have to be held just on holidays)? Are you in a space of transitioning your traditions? How does it feel to be in that space?

Mishy 🦋🩵