Ways of Keeping Your Family Close

Today, on Redhead Mom, I’m sharing a partnered guest post about ways of keeping your family close. 

Feeling close to your family is one of the many foundations for living a joyful and meaningful life, as the bonds we share with each other truly go beyond infinity for the time we spend together, as well as the time we don’t. In this fast-paced world, we need to make sure we find ways to maintain and remember the power of those connections.

Family traditions are an example of one of those things that can require more planning and thinking than the others, but are well worth it. Sometimes extended and even immediate families don’t get to see each other on the bigger holidays, since they all spend time with their families or across the country. That’s where intimate family traditions come in – decide on a date that doesn’t cover any other bigger holiday and plan your time together to eat dinner and play games together while catching up on life. 

Some of the monthly tradition examples for families who live nearby each other are also game nights, dinner parties or play dates for the younger generations. All of these ideas can be fun for everyone involved, and fit into different budgets and schedules. Family traditions allow for more open communication, as you see each other more often and will also promote communication going forward, as you catch up on certain events you discussed at your latest dinner. 

If you’re looking for ideas to keep the little ones in your family closer to you and their grandparents when you’re apart, here are some activities, gifts and creative ideas for you to try out. While some will require additional research and planning, others are effortless and meaningful to only you and your family.

Birthstone Jewelry

Even though communication and spending time together brings us closer together in the long term, sometimes you just need to feel that instant feeling of connection with your loved ones. Keep your partner, children and your parents close to your heart with a sparkly, yet dainty birthstone necklace, where each birthstone represents the birth month of a different family member. Birthstones are a great way to reconnect and feel those who we hold dear all the time. Attached to a 14k gold chain, this jewelry is designed to be worn every day and for any occasion.

Family Handprint Art

Have a creative evening with your kids! Make hand prints in different colors, and make a variety of cute decorations to remember your kids while you’re away. You can frame it for your work desk, decorate your living space with a family tree full of hand prints, keep a smaller version in your wallet or even gift a framed print to their grandparents for the holidays. Kids’ creativity will light up any space in an instant, and you’ll also feel closer to them while you’re at work or traveling.

Doodles T-Shirts

Little ones’ doodles don’t always turn out bad, do they? Transform their drawing into a small detail for a nice t-shirt to print on. Their wobbly sun can look like a nice touch to a regular white t-shirt you can wear while you’re out and about, and you can make their drawing of your family into a motif for your next pajamas. These will also make the cutest gift for your extended family.

DIY Scrapbook

Encourage your bundles of joy to create a family album or a scrapbook full of stickers, photos from your trips and funny stories that have happened while you were together. All you need to provide is a good quality notebook, color paper, a bunch of stickers, pencils and glue. This will result in hours of laughter when creating yours, as well as when you’ll look back on it in a couple of years from now.

Your family is like a garden, to which caring and loving are nutrients it needs to bloom and grow to its full beautiful potential. Even when you’re away, you can keep your loved ones close with a meaningful piece of creative art, jewelry or other objects meaningful to you that will nourish the relationships you built while you were together.