#41: Family Rituals

When you have a kid, your family develops its own little, quirky rituals.

Families are full of rituals, big and small.  With the smaller ones, you often can't remember their origin.  You simply wake up one day and realize they're an integral part of your routine.  The specific actions that comprise the ritual aren't important in themselves; rather, they gain importance from the fact that they are and must always be performed.

Like this one.  Every morning, while Steph showers and gets dressed, I watch A.  We do different things -- play, watch an episode of Sesame Street, eat breakfast, etc. -- until A. hears the hair dryer.  That sound is like the whistle to Pavlov's dog.  Hearing it, she immediately runs to the gate at the bottom of the stairs.  I bring her upstairs to the bedroom and plop her down on the bed next to Steph while she dries her hair. 

What we do next varies by the day.  Sometimes, A. stands on the bed and "helps" Steph with her hair. Other times, I'll grab the hairbrush and brush A.'s hair or let her brush mine.  Lately, I've started building mini pillow forts on the bed, surrounding her in a little square.  She gets such a kick out of it, and will dive headfirst into the pillows with a huge smile on her face.

Next week, we'll probably find something different to do while Steph dries her hair.  But one thing is certain: A. and I will be up there while she dries her hair.  Now matter how much the ritual changes, it stays the same.  And that's what I love about it. 

What are some of your family rituals?