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

November 5, 2012 By Lena

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?

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: family traditions, McDonalds, Toddler Dance

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Soozle

    November 5, 2012 at 11:01 am

    What a great tradition – sounds like some amazing family time :-)

    • Lena

      November 5, 2012 at 9:54 pm

      Thanks Soozle! We look forward to Saturdays every week :)

  2. victoria

    November 5, 2012 at 1:08 pm

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

    • Lena

      November 5, 2012 at 9:56 pm

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

  3. Kat E.

    November 5, 2012 at 1:54 pm

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

    • Lena

      November 5, 2012 at 9:57 pm

      LOVE! Thanks so much for sharing your memories :)

  4. Margaret Imecs

    November 5, 2012 at 4:32 pm

    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

      November 5, 2012 at 9:58 pm

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

  5. Shirley

    November 5, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    Great tradition. It was nice following your story.

  6. jennifer k

    November 5, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    I love the dance class. Sounds like so much fun.

    • Lena

      November 5, 2012 at 9:58 pm

      Thanks Shirley and Jennifer :)

  7. Nancy

    November 5, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    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

      November 5, 2012 at 10:00 pm

      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.

    November 5, 2012 at 10:12 pm

    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

      November 7, 2012 at 9:46 am

      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!

  9. The Flying Couponer

    November 5, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    So beautiful tradition!

    • Lena

      November 7, 2012 at 9:46 am

      Thank you :)

  10. Natasha W

    November 6, 2012 at 12:03 am

    Great family time! I love that it includes coffee!

    • Lena

      November 7, 2012 at 9:47 am

      But of course :) I think I have a cup perpetually by my side :)

  11. Luisa

    November 6, 2012 at 11:34 am

    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

      November 7, 2012 at 9:48 am

      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

    November 6, 2012 at 11:09 pm

    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

      November 7, 2012 at 9:49 am

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

  13. Cindy

    November 8, 2012 at 10:37 am

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

    • Lena

      November 11, 2012 at 11:17 pm

      Hahaha yes, I suppose it could be a commercial, but it’s really just our weekly routine. We love it!

  14. Victoria Ess

    November 8, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    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…

    • Lena

      November 11, 2012 at 11:18 pm

      Thank you Victoria :) And thank you for sharing yours…

  15. Leona

    November 9, 2012 at 7:35 am

    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

      November 11, 2012 at 11:20 pm

      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

    November 11, 2012 at 6:25 pm

    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

      November 11, 2012 at 11:21 pm

      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!

  17. TakeItOffCanada

    December 13, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    Hey That is pretty Awesome! :)

  18. Debbie Bashford

    July 10, 2013 at 11:41 am

    What a wonderful new tradition

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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