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You are here: Home / Family Life / Family Time / Chocolate Milk Fridays: Creating Simple Traditions Your Kids Will Love

Chocolate Milk Fridays: Creating Simple Traditions Your Kids Will Love

September 26, 2011 By Julianna · PRINTABLES TIP: Always go toward the end of a post to find the printable. · Disclosure: This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. {I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.}

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I grew up going to public school. Homeschooling wasn’t really on our radar, so we just went to school like everybody else. Because of that, many of my childhood memories center around the traditional brick and mortar elementary building.

Today I delight in the education my own children are receiving at home. But there are times when I wonder if they’re missing out just a teeny-weeny bit on some of the quirky little experiences that make elementary school so unique, from the cafeteria lunches and tether ball matches to the sprawling monkey bars and big yellow buses.

Fridays during elementary school were particularly fun for me. Not only did they signal the end of a school week, they were also the day when my mom gave us permission to choose chocolate milk from the milk lady in the cafeteria. I could actually walk up to that metal fridge with my fistful of change, drop it into that lady’s hand and say, “Chocolate, please,” just like all the other kids who, I was convinced, had parents who obligingly fed them chocolate milk on a daily basis.

Another childhood highlight was pulling out the school lunch calendar each month and circling a few days for which we could actually purchase a hot lunch rather than lug around the metal Holly Hobbie lunch box and thermos. I found great delight in marking “Cheese Zombies with Tomato Soup and Orange Smiles” on the bright pink xeroxed calendar.

These are the kinds of silly little things that make me long (ever so slightly) for a similar experience for my kids.

As I recently told them about my obsession with chocolate milk, it occurred to me that there was no reason why they, too, couldn’t enjoy such a thing. Hence the birth of a new tradition in the Lawson home: Chocolate Milk Fridays. This tradition gained instant popularity. (Shocking, I know.) And the added perk? They don’t need to carry around a fistful of sweaty change in order to acquire a glass of the stuff.

Chocolate milk isn’t the only tradition that’s taken root around here. We also enjoy a weekend family movie night and Sunday afternoon tea. Last year I enjoyed reading a chapter of Beautiful Girlhood every Wednesday evening with my ten-year-old over a cozy cup of tea.

Other traditions are not weekly but yearly, like making (and devouring) a chocolate log on Lincoln’s birthday, creating an egg-shaped pinata on Easter, and sharing doughnuts and hot chocolate while decorating the Christmas tree.

Traditions can also be daily. The simple yet meaningful rhythms of a story at bedtime or a lavender back rub at the end of a tough day also contribute to the strong and nurturing environment I long to create for my children.

As we slip into our fall routine this year, I’m eager to see what kinds of traditions might make their way into our home. They probably won’t involve big yellow buses or sprawling monkey bars, but they might have something to do with “Cheese Zombies with Tomato Soup and an Orange Smile.” Because family traditions are definitely worth smiling over.

While gulping down her chocolate milk, Julianna writes about family, faith, and the fullness of joy over at Petunia June.

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Filed Under: Family Time Tagged With: intentional parenting

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary says

    September 26, 2011 at 7:45 am

    I love all of your ideas. Thank you so much!! We are reading beautiful girlhood together and it is such a special time. I love Chocolate Milk Fridays… think I may put that into effect this week!

    Reply
    • Julianna says

      September 27, 2011 at 12:48 am

      Mary, isn’t Beautiful Girlhood precious? I love having that quiet time with my girlie.

      P.S. Enjoy your chocolate milk!

      Reply
  2. Erica says

    September 26, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    When I was in school we had Hot Dog days every Friday, and I always looked forward to them. I think it’s great to do things like that. I’m hoping to start with my girls.

    Reply
    • Julianna says

      September 27, 2011 at 12:49 am

      Oooh, I could get on board with a hot dog tradition! Sounds fun :).

      Reply
  3. Julie says

    September 26, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    What a great idea! I’m trying to schedule “fun” in our day so I don’t get caught up in the busy stuff. I will certainly be adding chocolate milk Fridays. Maybe even we’ll go out for it once in a while… Thank you.

    Reply
    • Julianna says

      September 27, 2011 at 12:54 am

      Thank you, Julie! I know how easy it is to get caught up in the things that seem essential. But it’s most likely the chocolate milk kinda day that the kids will end up remembering. Have fun!

      Reply
  4. Jen says

    September 27, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    It’s funny how it really is the little things that stay in our memory. This year I’m hoping to do more fun things on Friday afternoons like playing games, playdough etc. I really like the chocolate milk idea 🙂

    Reply

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Meet Angie

Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home.  With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow. Read More…

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