Live in the moment
So much goes into the making of a strong and loving family, and as result of all of the hard work and effort every family has its own unique history of stories and traditions that are passed down through the generations. Below, Homemakers' readers share some of their personal family lore that has helped to shape and form the foundations of their families.
Cherish every day
I think the only thing that I would like to pass on to my children, aged two and a half and six is just all the wonderful childhood moments and experiences that I had when I was young and carefree. My daughter loves to hear all my stories -- the funny ones, the sad ones (especially the stories about me and my brother who passed away in 1987 -- whom they will never know except for through the stories I tell and the photos that I have of him). Always keep family close, because you never know from one day to the next what may happen.
-- Claudia Albano, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Seeing the good in people
My grandmother, Verna Cameron, was one the kindest, gentlest, most caring women to ever grace the earth. She passed away when I was 10 years old, but her positive attitude towards her fellow men and women made a huge impact on me. Grandma never spoke poorly of anyone. She did just the opposite. She looked for the good in people, and she found it. This is something I occasionally have to remind myself to do. It's a quality and a tradition that I hope my three sons pick up and carry through their own lives. It's something we all need to do a little more.
-- Wendy Warwick, Brantford, Ont.
Making your time count
To my husband and I, the most important thing to pass down to our children is the importance of family time. I used to be a real neat freak but now that I have my kids I can live with a little extra dust. The family memories that we are making far outweigh that dust.
-- Patricia Obee, Orillia, Ont.
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