How can dads start holiday traditions?

If you’re just starting a family or if you already have a few young children, you’re probably more excited for the holiday season than you’ve been since you were little. I know from experience how moms can dominate the holidays with food, shopping, and various activities for the kids, but dads should also play a special part as well. In fact, there are just some things that dads do to that make holidays more special. I know that I’ve always loved my dad’s traditions because they generally involved fun things my mom wouldn’t normally let us do.

You may already have family traditions passed down from your parents and your partner’s parents, but it’s ok to start some of your own too. My family always went to my grandparents for every holiday, but my husband and I also started some of our own traditions at his request so we could have a few that were separate from our extended family. This was so we would have some time just for us. We continue them every year to take a break from the mad scramble of inevitable family activities and dinners.

How can we get into the spirit of the holiday?

Don't focus on stuff. By stuff, I mean material goods, which can often dominate the holidays. Moms can often get caught up in getting the perfect deals and trying to get all the Christmas shopping done early, but dads can help reinforce the spirit of the holiday season and redirect their family’s focus to spending time with each other and enjoying family bonding time. Dads can pull out the board games, put on favorite holiday movies and music, or simply making decorating the tree a memorable event each year.

How do we curb our holiday obligations?

Say no. It doesn’t always have to be a negative thing. For dads, it can mean saying “no” to working long hours on holidays or working overtime on the weekends. It can also mean saying “no” to over planning. Especially if you have young children or infants, over planning can turn the holidays into a nightmare, and moms often like to try and please everyone during the holidays by overbooking the family’s schedule. Dads can help their spouses by being the one to put a stop to hectic holidays and ensuring that families have enough time to stay home and rest.

Dads play an important role during the holidays, just like moms. However, like many aspects of parenting, dads just fulfill some roles better, or perhaps it’s just because they’re more suited to certain types of roles. Whatever it is, having a dad around just completes the holiday season.