Creating Family Traditions…When families are miles away
The Christmas Decorating “Contest”
Like many families today my kids are off pursuing their “fortunes” at the far corners of the country. Like the three little pigs each has gone off down the road and my hope is they are building with bricks and not straw. Though we were a close family growing up together this is the way of the world. Professions, jobs, education, spouses all contribute to putting many miles between each other. We make a great effort to see each other at least two times a year but its takes a concerted effort. Thanks goodness for the miracle of email and programs like windows messenger and skype which enable today’s family to keep in touch. The purchase of an inexpensive video cam for the computer even enables a live video conversation. Such conversations feel more like a visit, than a mere phone call. Having recently enjoyed the John Adams series on PBS one is reminded that this issue is not necessarily new. Families were often days away from each other and letter writing (a lost art) was the only way to keep in touch, Think of the days when letter writing and post by ship took months to get a response from a love one traveling the continent.
I’d like to share a simple idea for Christmas time to help touch base with each other and maintain a sense of family. Of course substitute Hanukah or Kwanza for Christmas if you prefer…you get the idea.
Several years ago my family and I started the idea of the annual Christmas decorating contest. It really wasn’t a contest…everybody won but it was a great way to feel connected at Christmas time. Each of our families were asked to submit via email a picture of their Christmas decorations based on an annual theme. Everybody participated and snapped one favorite shot of their home and family as they prepared for Christmas and emailed it to me as the coordinator. I then simply put together a little slideshow using one of the many photo programs available, added some music and some titles and issued a Christmas “CD” which was sent to each family. Programs like Windows Movie Maker or Roxio Video Wave, or Apple Movie Maker are very easy to learn to put together a basic slideshow with music. As we improved our computer skills we learned how to post the little “video” on the web therefore getting it to everyone right before Christmas Eve. The results were really fun. A simple way to take a peak into all our houses during the Christmas season and feel a bit more family in spite of the many miles between us. Yes we still exchange gifts and call on Christmas but we also look forward to the arrival of the Christmas Video.
Merry Christmas to all and please share your ways of keeping in touch across the miles.
