Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

The Start of a Tradition… I’m Lovin’ It

By

We’re not really the type of family who schedules stuff in. Classes, sports, organized play… meh, we’ve been pretty relaxed about the whole thing; choosing not to push the boys into activities, but rather, take cues from them regarding where their interests lie.

Of course, you all know about my little dancing king, who shakes his booty every time the music is turned up. That was our first cue – and now that we’ve enrolled him in dance class, we know that we’re on the right track. Reid LOVES it.

And this past weekend, I realized that we have developed our very first family tradition – and it goes something like this…

It’s Saturday morning, and we’re startled awake by the alarm blaring at 6:45am. We need those 90 minutes to get Mommy and Daddy showered and caffeinated; to wake the boys and give them a healthy breakfast – especially Reid, who needs protein and carbs for all the exercising he’ll do – and have everyone changed, piled in the car and ready for the 8:30am Toddler Dance class.

For 45 minutes, we watch our two-year-old turn into a budding Barishnykov. As the only boy (and youngest dancer) in the class, we have to make sure he stays focused and stops flirting with the little girls in tu-tus :) While my husband takes Reid through the motions, I stay with Ryder on the sidelines, going over his reading and writing homework.

(In case you’re wondering, we choose to NOT dress Reid in a dancing leotard, opting instead for casual play clothes. A toddler boy in a spandex-type outfit just seems wrong to me…)

When dance class is over, we make our way to our local McDonald’s, where us parents finally get to enjoy a relaxing, sit down breakfast, and the boys refuel – Ryder with a chocolate milk; Reid with a Sausage McMuffin with Egg.

And of course, Mommy has a different way of refueling…

Sitting in the restaurant, I think about how wonderful our Saturdays are. It’s the kind of tradition I always pictured us having – waking up early, taking the kids to lessons, relaxing with a warm breakfast and cup of coffee. It makes weekends great. It makes families great.

I’m lovin’ it.

Do you have any weekend traditions with your children? Do you have awesome memories of traditions growing up?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. victoria

    This tradition replaces the tradition of late night/early morning drive thru runs on Saturday nights :)

    • Lena

      Hahaha, you are so very right! I’ll try to order a cheeseburger next time to salute our wonder years :)

  3. Kat E.

    My dance school was right beside a McDonald’s, so my tradition was McNuggets for dinner after class night! Memories! ;)

  4. Margaret Imecs

    You’re so lucky! Cherish all memories because time will change everything down the road and you will look back missing these wonderful moments.

    • Lena

      I absolutely will, Margaret. So happy our little family has a tradition – will definitely cherish it.

  7. Nancy

    Honestly, yes. My boyfriend and I have a tradition, on Valentine’s Day to eat at McDonald’s. Very serious!

    We did long distance for a year and our 1st Valentine’s Day I was flying back home – we were rushed and went to McDonalds’ for supper. So on our second year we thought it’d be funny if we went again. 7 years later, we’re still going strong on Valentine’s Day to good ol’ McD’s. We’re lovin’ it ;)

    • Lena

      Words cannot describe how much I LOVE this! Sounds like the perfect tradition :) I’m curious, do you order the same thing each time, or do you just play it by ear?

  8. Nicole W.

    If we had any traditions, I have pretty much forgotten them! haha. I got dragged along to my little brother’s sports games – hockey, baseball, soccer.

    It’s so nice that you have something to look forward to every weekend! :)

    • Lena

      I have a feeling that Ryder will be the one to get dragged to Reid’s stuff as they get older ;) And yes, we love our little tradition!

  11. Luisa

    We don’t have a weekend tradition, but a birthday tradition. On the Saturday closest to the day of their birthday, the birthday girl/boy gets treated to breakfast in bed. And there is no skimping..it has to be pancakes, eggs, bacon, yogurt…the works. Inevitably, we all end up in that person’s bed eating with them! LOL

    • Lena

      I love it, Luisa! It sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a birthday, and I love that the entire family is involved. I’m sure the kids will treasure those moments always!

  12. Shweta

    So cute! Growing up my family tradition was McDonalds for Sunday night dinner. All 4 kids piled into a station wagon, and me (the youngest) yelling “BIG M, BIG M” as we got near! Oh and the treat of the week was not to be missed :)
    These are the times I still remember years later and I’m sure you’re boys will too.

    • Lena

      “Station wagon” – now THAT takes me back! Love that you had a tradition the whole family enjoyed :)

  13. Cindy

    I think that’s a great tradition. You realize though that you have the makings of a McDonald’s commercial. Traditions are fun.

  14. Victoria Ess

    I melt whenever I see pictures of your little ones. When I was little, my dad used to take me to McDonald’s after my swimming lessons every week. Thanks for sharing your tradition…

  15. Leona

    Lena I think you nailed it. Not sure if this is a paid post but I’m going to say it isn’t because you are always on top of disclaimers. So it’s probably not a paid post and that’s why you nailed it.

    A few years ago McDonalds tried to convince us that they offer healthier choices. Which they do. Yet I don’t know anyone who goes to McDonald’s for yogurt. The fact remains that if you drive thru chances are you want a hamburger and if you didn’t then why would you even bother?

    Then they did their McDs Moms or whatever campaign last year where they took everyone behind the scenes and that was sort of successful because people had a behind the scenes look. But they fill their restaurants every day with customers who don’t care where to potatoes come from.

    The truth is that families come to McDonalds because it is part of a greater tradition that they either took part in as a kid and are trying to recreate it. You said ‘It’s the kind of tradition I always pictured us having’ and now you’re doing it. You don’t care that your kid is eating a sausage muffin because he’s not going to die if he eats one from time to time but at least he will have the memories when he grows up.

    I think you have the right attitude and applaud you for realizing what counts is family spending time and having that tradition. We take our daughters to McDonald’s every week after their math tutor and if we stopped I think we would be missing something.

    I love the post and like the comment from Cindy above said McDonalds should be calling your family and featuring you in a commercial and forget about all the where our potatoes come from stuff.

    Leona

    • Lena

      Leona, thank you very much for your response. I do believe that traditions are etched very firmly in all of us (or they wouldn’t be passed on from generation to generation) and ours happens to be one I always knew I’d have. And I won’t say no to a McD’s commercial, LOL.

  16. cheryl

    just a gentle reminder – in order for the 5-point harness to work correctly, that chest strap needs to be up at the nipple line. it can be tough in the winter with bulky jackets. take the jacket off and cover him with a blanket until the car gets warm

    safe travels

    • Lena

      Thanks so much Cheryl – you’re absolutely right. Normally we slide the harness up once he’s strapped in, but obviously we forgot to in this case. Safety first!