Family Traditions: Breakfast of Champions

Have you ever surprised yourself with a family tradition you didn’t recognize as such until you discovered yourself in the middle of it for the bazillionth time?

Last weekend we got away for a few days in Tahoe. We like to stay in places that have a kitchen so we can prepare at least a few meals, and often the kitchen fills up with foods we wouldn’t typically stock at home: sugar cereals? Chocolate bars? Ice cream? Go for it!

Since most of our getaways are within driving distance we also travel with a small cooler, perfect for beach outings or picnics and also to transport food home at the trip’s end. But not ice cream. That has to be consumed before we leave. (Don’t even try suggesting we throw it out. Tossing perfectly good ice cream? Sacrilege!)

So, ice cream for breakfast on our last morning has become a thing. A family tradition, apparently. I laughed as I scooped the rest of the ice cream into a bowl for Q16, topped it with a few remaining sliced strawberries and a handful of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Breakfast of champions right there!

But the smile on the kid’s face…the one he wouldn’t let me photograph, sassy teen that he has become…priceless. A big bowl of ice cream for breakfast on a memory-making trip makes for a memory in itself.

I didn’t intend to create a family tradition, but I love it. I hope it’s something my kids will do with their kids someday as they reminisce about some of our family trips when they were kids.

How about you? Have you happened upon any unintentional family traditions this summer? For that matter, have you celebrated summer with any intentional traditions? Maybe more than most, this summer demands celebration.

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