Easter, if named by any other name would it smell as sweet?

Easter has come and gone. Say what you will about it's historical and religious significance but in our household, like probably every other recognized holiday or "Hallmark day", Easter is pretty much about family. Alas, Santa and Mr. Easter bunny, and are out of the bag, and even the tooth fairy is just a tooth-less grin on Michelle's face now. But still we carry on. The Easter bunny still brings us plastic eggs, recycled from last year of course, filled with jelly beans, M&Ms and coins. He still hides them about the house for the "children" to find. And on the same table where Santa's egg-nog and cookie are placed Christmas Eve, the Easter baskets sit waiting to be discovered Easter morning. Though the water guns and Beanie Babies have been replaced by ITunes gift cards and Movie passes, each basket contains a small gift tailored specifically for its intended recipient.

This tradition is not unique to our home, Mom did the same thing long past our age of belief and wonderment and I am certain she would still if we were likely to come. It happens all over, well, the in the US at least. It is a tradition, I am certain, aimed at bringing family back together; Away from the TV, computer, and Video games; Away from friends and the mall; Away from work and the Grocery store and other errands. Back together if not just for the 20 or 30 minutes it takes to flush out a several dozen colorful plastic eggs filled with a pound or so of chocolate, jelly beans and $8.83 in change.

The significance on our Holiday traditions seem to be, more and more, lost on the kids. At times our silly little traditions get in the way of their social life. Our kids are growing up and away from the the family identity and ideals, as kids tend to do. They are struggling to find their own identities and ideals. I get it.

But as the kids become adults and move away, these holiday traditions will become all that draws them back home, even if not physically in memories. As they start their own families, These traditions are designed to connect the generations and draw them together.

Beyond that, holidays are a time to recognize the selfishness we all tend to fall into; A time to recognize all that others do for us; A time to if not for just a day, give back to those around us who watches us perform your card tricks, listens to you practice your instruments and laugh at our stupid jokes. To give back to those who let us loose our temper and blow off steam without holding it against us; those who help us get back on the straight and narrow when we wonder; To be there for those who are there for us whenever, all we have to do is ask. To thanks those who tell us when we are being stupid, where other might not care enough to let us know.... Not just our parent, but also our siblings and our kids.

Committing this time to family traditions, perhaps even in the smallest of ways, gives back to the family. It strengthens us. It makes it just a little easier to perform all those "duties" for each other day in and day out. This family strength and stability will support and protect us in time of crisis and allow us to share in the joyous and significant events in each others lives.

It is not only the kids that can loose site in the purpose of these little events. As Karen struggles to keep these traditions alive and our family together, I have let the pressures of work, the stresses of parenthood and the tendency to cave in to children's pleads, deteriorate the significants of these holiday and importants of their traditions. My resolve has weigned over the years. Well, Easter is a time of reserection right?

These little holiday traditions may seem pointless and a burden to them now. They might just assume fling jello across the table at their brother or sistern than admit you care about them. Our home and family may seem more like a prison to then than a sanction but, while I am still able to exercise any parental control, if it comes to it, for not any other reason than because "I said so", we will continue to maintain that holidays and birthdays are reserved for family and our traditions.

So to all my family, local and extended
Love,
Peace,
(and rock and roll)
;-)