Lately I've been thinking a lot about the little things that are unique to my family. The traditions and habits and quirks that we share that would probably seem odd to others, that make me smile. For example,on birthdays we always give a card that is not a birthday card, e.g bon voyage, best wishes on your christening, congratulations on your engagement, graduation card, get well soon, wedding etc etc. For my 50th my sons gave me a sympathy card. We think it's hilarious and we really look forward to seeing what type of card we'll get.we don't say "Happy Birthday", we say "Happy to You" this is because one of my sons used to say it incorrectly when he was little and the saying has just stuck.balloons on birthdays are compulsoryIf you're male in our house you will always get one sock for every year of age on your birthday. We have lots of spare socks from those odd years.we have an emergency word, which is a word we use when we may be struggling with something (like we're depressed or deeply upset) when we can't bring ourself to talk about it. The word is 'pineapple'. If any one of us randomly says that word or sends it in a text, then all the family will immediately drop everything and rally round, no questions asked because sometimes it's easier to say a single word, rather than trying to explain a difficulty you're experiencing or that you are feeling badwe have the same seat at the dinner table. What's funny is that when we eat out we sit in the same positions.It's a tradition in our house that when my boys got their first pay from their first job they would take mum (me) out to dinner.If one of us gets a promotion we always go to Pancake Parlour to celebrate - we've done this since our kids were toddlers.Just wondering what quirky traditions other families have.

We have words and phrases that we've kept in use from when the kids were little, the mangled ones, the sweet attempts. One of my favourites is the 'red danger', my nephew's name for the gas stove lighter. Now they come in many different colours but we all still say 'where's the red danger?'!We have food traditions of course. And at birthdays, your presents always get piled in The Little Pram which is left waiting for you in front of the fire. It's a toy pram, an old fashioned one made of white wicker, that belonged to me when I was a very small child. My birthday's in the winter, hence the placement in front of the fire. Occasionally I've forgotten to do it and boy, do I get into trouble! The 18yo son is most insistent! We even specifically designed a storage space for it when we renovated our house.Another very family specific tradition is at Christmas. My parents are English and we always had our Christmas meal in the evening. As kids my sisters and I were always up at dawn's crack, and so to keep us going through the day my mother decided to split the present opening. The Christmas tree was a small one and on a round table. Presents on the floor under the table were opened in the morning, presents on the table (smaller and often jokey) were opened in the evening, before dinner when we were small, after dinner when we were older. They're called Christmas Tree presents, and now with a big tree on the floor, we mark the gift tags with a little Christmas tree to differentiate.Quality Streets at Christmas, always!I have some sadness round some of these family traditions. There was only two years between myself and my deceased sister. When she died she took the memories of my childhood with her. She's the only person who shared them with me. My remaining sister is six years younger than me and was raised differently. E and I shared a room, had our own words and particular ways of comnunicating that we continued to adulthood. We had our own call and response if separated, and it makes me sad that I'll never get to do that again. This is making me a bit teary! FU breast cancer.

We always went to the same place for Christmas holidays. Our girls never asked to go somewhere different because it was acknowledged as chill out time for everyone to do their own thing...my husband catching up with reading, my embroidery and the girls always playing monopoly. Having said that Uno and Trouble were always played when we went camping at Easter. Very loudly! Also Rummikub. I'd always make the girls their birthday cakes, they would get to choose what design. The ones i had the most fun making were their 18th cakes. One was a Tardis from Doctor Who and the other was this cube thing from a game called Portal.

Cant think of too many at this moment but there probably is !!When we are all together for birthdays we sing Happy birthday at about 5 times the speed it should be , any outsiders look on in amazement their faces are priceless.My dearly departed uncle used to concoct weird & wonderful stories for us growing up , his attention cry at a BBQ usually in the Dandenongs was 'Cook-a-chook' . A phrase often repeated for a laugh !My young cousin always said capushion for cushion we still use that ! lolAs early teens my boys liked getting Lynx deodorant ! I still buy it for them for Xmas as a joke !They're not impressed !

@Nadi we unwrap on our bed too- 5 big kids and two cats. We keep saying 'this must stop' - last year someone sat on my jam toast- but we carry on. :) AND, my husband's only dessert is also the infamous trifle. It's a family joke, because it is rarely successful, despite his crowing!

@Eastmum I absolutely love Gogglebox. This reminded me I have a special tv show with two of my sons that only we watch together. The first is MMA mixed martial arts which I watch with my middle son. We were introduced to this by my wonderful father-in-law who passed away from melanoma and watching it together makes us think of him. The second is Survivor which I have been watching for over 12 years with my youngest son. Survivor is kind of special. Coincidentally many past contestants have come on to that show while their mother has been battling breast cancer or has died from breast cancer. We watched this together before, during and after my diagnosis. My son mentioned that he could now 'qualify' because of my BC which was a little sad. During chemo he also began rubbing my bald head while we watched it. Guess he found my baldness strange. Then he would comb my fuzz after my hair began to grow back. Now he's too cool for all that, but we still watch together.

Unique family traditions and quirks that make you smile

35 Replies

Nadi
Member
8 years ago
Father's Day today, in keeping with tradition of giving unsuitable cards, my sons (24,21 and19) gave hubby a Get Well Soon card. They upped the ante with totally obscure messages, such as "Sorry about the diagnosis Dad, love you no matter what", "Hang in there Dad, we're here with you through the tough times", and "Happy Father's Day, sorry about your car- Brett." We don't have a son called Brett and when we asked "What's that referring to?" They all said, "Oh no, it's worse than we thought!" Couldn't stop laughing at that! Absolutely love their humour and cheekiness.

Hubby and I have decided to top it. They are going to get unsuitable presents for xmas. Maybe a Barbie doll, pull-up training undies and a tiara....
arpie
Member
8 years ago
That's Gorgeous @Sister - and well done Hubby to save the day! :) So sorry FIL has passed on :(

@jennyss - hahaha - there are SO many songs with 'misunderstood' words ....... When we do 'Whilst Shepherds Watched their flocks at night' I ALWAYS sing "Whilst shepherds washed their socks at night all seated round the tub, the angel of the lord comes down & tells them all to scrub!" (I just can't help myself!)

We sing every week at Nursing Homes/Old Age facilities ..... one song this current session is Rivers of Babylon with the line "and the meditation of your heart' & I keep singing 'medication of your heart' - seems to fit nicely! ;)
jennyss
Member
8 years ago
This is a 'words misunderstood' story , not a family tradition. As a child care worker in a toddler room many years ago I read a book to the children several times titled 'The Cow Who Fell Into the Canal'. It was set in Holland and the cow knocked over stacks of little round cheeses. I would say 'look at the baby cheeses rolling everywhere'. A month later we are learning Christmas songs and I realize at least three of the children are singing 'little baby cheeses cradled in the hay'. Woops!
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
What a very dear tradition. I'd be teary too @Sister.
Sister
Member
8 years ago
When the kids were little and we would drive off from his Mum and Dad (whether it was at their house or someone else's) we would wait until we were about to drive forward, have all of the windows down and co-ordinate a very loud, long "Bye". They get a bit embarrassed now as teenagers but it still happens if it's not too public.

That also reminds me of a tradition that my husband's father started with my girls by accident. Sadly, he passed away earlier this year (small cry, here) but it will always be remembered fondly. He thought that he was being playful with my eldest daughter when she was about 18 months old, and he growled at her. She looked startled and terrified and my FIL was devastated. My husband quickly jumped in and told my daughter to growl back at him. Bravely, she did and my FIL caught on and looked suitably frightened in a jokey way. That became their habitual greeting to each other, taken up by my youngest daughter too, when she was old enough. (very teary, now - reaching for the tissues)
arpie
Member
8 years ago
My nephew (when about 8) misheard my mother when she called him 'Sweetheart' .... thinking she'd called him "Wheatheart'' (a breakfast cereal!) He said - "That's ok Nana - you can call me 'Wheatheart' - you can even call me 'Corn Flakes'!!" I thought that was absolutely GORGEOUS! Not sure if it became a family tradition tho! LOL
Beryl_C_
Member
8 years ago
This idea is delightful, can't help but smile and appreciate how the small things strengthen relationships and well-being.
Our family word for disaster or not coping comes from a Monty Python skit "Albatross" eg, 'How did you get on with Centrelink today?' reply, "ALBATROSS!" (disaster and frustrating beyond belief, nothing achieved). We also speak of 'inventures', eg, 'well, shopping for a new handbag was quite an inventure'. Our son at 3yrs old could not say adventure, he's now 44 and still tells us of his latest 'inventure'.
onemargie
Member
8 years ago
@Nadi Our kids aged 19 and 22 still loves Xmas and are like toddlers Xmas morning under the tree. No lone money or gift cards alllowed for any birthday Xmas etc a gift card to accompany another gift is ok but it’s preferred we got out and get something to unwrap

. We still get hand written cards for hubby and me for birthdays fathers and Mother’s Day and for my birthday this year they got me one that said happy birthday grandma! I had a slight stroke as I took it literally for around 3 seconds but it was just a dig at my age the little fuckers! They still come for breaky on a Sunday morning at least twice a month.

I always make us all have a family pic at least once a year. They all whinge at the time but later on they all love it x
Nadi
Member
8 years ago
@Ellamary98 love those sayings! How adorable.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Ellamary98 My eldest was tripped up by 'breakfast' as well. He said "breaksrp" which I still use from time to time.