After our Easter service, I found myself in tears after a friend was fussing about having to go home to serve a house-full of family. Hubby and I would be going home to an empty house. No Easter egg hunt (previously demanded even by our teenagers!). No long-planned Easter feast. No laughing at the silliness of eating chocolate eggs and marshmallow chicks. I felt a bit lost.
After I stopped feeling sorry for myself, hubby and I decided to make some new traditions.
- It’s spring and there is so much to do outside. Pick a project and do it together.
Pollen season was at a close so hubby offered to clean off the pollen (thick yucky yellow pollen that goes everywhere) on our back porch (i.e. my spring-summer office). We moved furniture and he cleaned everything off while worked on my bullet journal planning for the week. We came back together to finish and put the furniture back. While it was too late for nap out on the cool porch that day, I sure enjoyed one a few days later! We were both glad to enjoy the space earlier in the season this year. - Make a new Easter traditions.
For the first time, hubby made ME an Easter basket. He even put healthy KIND bars in it (along with chocolate!). What a treat! I’m hoping this continues in future Easter celebrations. - Don’t make dinner complicated (or make it complicated).
I didn’t fuss over dinner this year. In fact, I completely forgot about it until Easter morning! Hubby suggested going to our favorite local restaurant and enjoying dinner together. It was perfect! Maybe next year, I’ll come up with a new home-cooked tradition for the two of us. - Invite other empty nesters over for dinner.
We didn’t invite anyone over this year, but we’ve had guests for other holiday dinners. It’s nice to share the dinner with friends, too. Don’t forget more distant relations. One of my friends spends each Easter with his cousin and her extended family. - Spend time serving others in need
Our church sponsors an Easter Eggstravagana on the Saturday before Easter. It’s a blast to help there each year. Face-painting is my gig. I get see the children excited about Easter. It’s amazing to see the children of all ages picking up the eggs after the helicopter dropped them in the field behind the church. Seems like there are always people in greater need. Reach out and find a way to being a blessing for Easter.
Now that I’m past the first Easter with both children away, I’m looking forward to what new traditions we can establish. Who knows. Maybe one will move back to our area eventually.
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