Have you thought about creating family traditions with your adopted child? Think about your family’s tradition when you were growing up. Which ones did you like, which ones did you dislike? Is there something special that you always wished your family would do together, but didn’t? Remember when you are creating family traditions that they don’t have to be big, or expensive, just special.

One of my friends had always taken her children to Christmas town; it’s called Frankenmuth, to each choose a new ornament every year to place on the tree. When her children were grown, she adopted six more all in the same day, and continued the family tradition with them.

We have one or two scrapbooking days every year. When the weather is bad, it’s snowing or sleeting, we pull out our scrapbooks. Each one of my children has a scrapbook, a glue stick, scissors, and stickers. I pull out all the pictures I’ve taken since the last time and divide them up between all the children. They enjoy getting them out and showing them to their friends, or just looking through them alone.

Probably our children’s favorite family tradition is our annual trip to Cedar Point, the world’s roller coast. Every year, around either Memorial weekend or Labor Day weekend, when other children are in public school, we take the whole clan to Cedar Point. The lines for the roller coasters aren’t two hours long during those times.

The children begin talking about when we might go the minute the snow starts to melt. Super Dad takes the older children, those with the intestinal fortitude for speed and loops, to every roller coaster. He literally runs off one coaster and on to the next.

I take the younger children to the kiddies’ rides and the water rides. I gave up roller coasters when I broke my back five years ago, although I still ride the really smooth coasters, yup, that's me in the photo.

We also go to family camp every summer where we swim, take out boats, and ride on the zip line. This year our daughter Lyn, jumped off the top of a telephone pole with a bungie cord attached to her harness. The children count down the days until we go again every year.

Time to Register for Summer Camp!
How to Get Your Older Adopted Child to Talk to You
Vacationing with ADHD and Passive Aggressive Behavior
Photo Credit: Cedar Point the Mantis