One thing nobody really prepares you for as a mom is how quickly your kids grow up!
My girls are now 13 and 11, and while I absolutely love this stage of motherhood, it's definitely different from when they were little. The holidays especially have started to look a little different in our house.
When they were younger, I was the one planning all the activities, picking out the decorations, and making all the holiday magic happen behind the scenes.
Now? They have opinions! 😂
And honestly, it's been so much fun finding new ways to include them in our family traditions.
One of my favorite things about raising tweens and teens is getting to include them in more of the planning.
Whether we're shopping for holiday decorations, checking out the latest trends, or deciding what activities we want to do as a family, I love hearing their ideas.
Sometimes they come up with things I never would've thought of!
Instead of planning every little detail myself, I'm learning to give them a little more say in how we celebrate. It makes the traditions feel like something we're creating together rather than something I'm simply planning for them.
Of course, just because my girls are getting older doesn't mean we're giving up all the traditions we started when they were little!
One of my favorites is visiting the holiday light show at Shady Brook Farm every year on my birthday. It's something we've done for years, and I love that it's still part of how we celebrate the season together.
If you're local to the Philadelphia area, Shady Brook Farm's Holiday Light Show is such a fun family outing!
You can use my affiliate code AMBER10 for 10% off eligible tickets.
Affiliate note: I may earn a commission when you book using my link or code, at no additional cost to you.
And then there's Christmas Eve!
We still put on our matching family pajamas, make homemade pizzas, and bake and decorate cookies for Santa.
Yes, even with a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old! 😂
It might look a little different than it did years ago, but that's what makes it special. We're still making memories together, just in a new season of motherhood.
I've been thinking a lot about this lately.
When my girls were little, being the magic maker meant planning the surprises, creating the traditions, and watching their faces light up over the smallest things.
Now, it means inviting them into the process.
They help choose the decorations, plan our activities, and create some of those special moments right alongside me.
And you know what? I love it.
There's something really sweet about watching the traditions you started when your kids were little become traditions they genuinely want to be part of as they grow.
If you're raising tweens or teens, here's your reminder that family traditions don't have to disappear just because your kids are getting older.
They might not get excited about every activity they loved at five years old, and that's okay!
Let them have a say. Try something new. Keep the traditions that still bring your family joy.
Because the magic of childhood doesn't have to end when our kids grow up.
Sometimes, we just get to create the magic together. ❤️
Happy memory-making, mamas!
Looking for more ways to make memories with your kids as they grow?
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Amber Bowie
Author