Routines can be so boring. We have visions of doing the same thing over and over again without giving it much thought. But I want to challenge that thinking when it comes to building a legacy for your kids and grandkids.
A legacy is simply something that is passed down from one generation to another. Obviously, some legacies are negative, but the kind of legacy we want our family to remember and carry on are those things we deem most important in life. And sometimes those important things are the very routines we put in place every day.
Can you think of routines that were in place when you were growing up?
- I remember spending a week at my Granny and Papa’s house each summer learning how to sew and cook and just soaking up all the wisdom my grandparents gave.
- I remember getting up every Sunday morning with the expectation that we would attend and participate in worship at the church congregation my family was a part of.
- With our own children, we worked very hard to sit down around the table each night to eat a meal together. It didn’t really matter what we were eating, but the consistent time together was most important.
- A few years ago, on Christmas Eve, my husband began singing to our sons a song called “Old Toy Trains” just before tucking them into bed so Santa could come deliver the goods. Now, believe it or not, we still sing that song on Christmas Eve just before our grown sons send us to bed!
Each of these “routines,” whether daily, weekly, or annually, gave us a sense of what was important to our family. When the kids have grown and flown, these are the simple routines that will be remembered.
You may be wondering where to start in making your routines a part of what you want your family to remember or even continue in their own families. If you want to introduce some legacy routines in your family, try starting with these steps.
- Choose one or two daily, weekly, monthly or yearly routines to focus on. Chances are you already have a couple of things that you do on a regular basis that you could make a bit more intentional. But if you need some ideas to get you going, here are a few.
- Eat a meal together as a family around the table on a regular basis.
- Read a book to your child before bedtime.
- Take a walk around the block together after dinner.
- Go on a weekend bike ride together.
- Participate in worship together at church each week.
- Designate Friday night as family night and do something fun together (movie, board games, etc.)
- Volunteer together as a family on a regular basis
- Work together on the family budget each month
- Invite someone into your home for dinner weekly or monthly
- Create a Christmas tradition you can easily continue each year.
- Write out the family’s goals at the beginning of each new year.
2. Give yourself some grace if you can’t keep up at first. Remember the point in setting up these routines is to pass down what is important to you. You don’t want the routines to cause stress or be a time that the family dreads.
3. Talk about the reasons why you are creating and sticking to these routines. Your kids and grandkids should know the values you want to instill by continuing a routine. The important thing to remember when starting a new routine is to give it meaning and purpose. Kids can spot half-hearted enthusiasm a mile away.
Legacies are built one routine at a time. Start putting something in place today.
What routine will you begin this week?