This is my family’s all-time favorite New Year’s Eve tradition – but it can work at any holiday. I give each person a free pass on one thing they did wrong but have yet to “confess.” It’s a brilliant way for parents to hear what might be lurking out there to be aware of, and it gets everybody talking about what took place that needs forgiving.
Craft a “Forgiven” coupon, wrap it as a gift with a special invitation for all to gather and share what they need to unburden themselves.
These days, emailing and texting are the norm for communication, both business and personal. But a hand-written or typed letter will truly will get, and keep your child’s interest. Use it this holiday as a gift of your time and attention. Describe how you spent your holidays as a child; what was most important, what was the most fun, or even the most dreaded. Pick a moment this year when you were proud of your child, recap that moment and explain how and why she made you so proud. Wrap the letter as a gift. As she reads the letter, your child will know how you see her, and that you think enough of her to record this event on paper just for her.
